DALLAS — Some of the biggest music stars to ever emerge from North Texas -- along with many more acclaimed musicians from across the country -- will gather on stage in Dallas this fall for a concert held in tribute of one of their own.
On Saturday, September 14, at the Naomi Bruton Stage within Downtown Dallas' The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, North Texas-sprung treasures Erykah Badu, Norah Jones and Snarky Puppy will be among the many artists taking part in a night of performances honoring seven-time Grammy winner Shaun Martin, who had been remained under close medical supervision since he suffering a stroke in April 2023.
Martin died on Saturday, August 3. He was 45 years old.
A product of the region's two most acclaimed music education programs, Martin is among the most celebrated musicians Dallas has ever produced.
He hadn't yet graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts when he first began collaborating with the Arlington-based gospel legend Kirk Franklin as a member of the band God's Property. Later, while studying music at the University of North Texas, he helped write and produce Badu's sophomore album, "Mama's Gun"
Martin had had a truly decorated almost three-decade career. He worked as the music director for Franklin's backing band, earning four Grammys for his work alongside the gospel performer. He regularly performed on keys as a member of Badu's backing outfit. He toured as part of Chaka Khan's backing band. He also earned three additional Grammys for his work as part of the UNT-launched jazz ensemble Snarky Puppy.
Somehow, amidst all that, he also found the time to release his own solo material and work as the Minister of Worship and Music at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Oak Cliff, where he regularly led the church's band during Sunday services when not touring the world.
Fittingly, Friendship-West's pastor, Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes, will host September's tribute to Martin.
The rest of the night will find the stage graced by other close collaborators and friends from throughout Martin's career: jazz fusion super-producers Robert Glasper and Terrance Martin; Nicki Minaj and Justin Timberlake music director Adam Blackstone; the God's Property offshoot Myron Butler & Levi; nine-time Grammy-winning jazz and gospel organist Bobby Sparks; acclaimed composer, organist and former Snarky Puppy member Cory Henry; Martin's own Go-Go Band, which Martin had assembled or annual concerts honoring his love of the Washington D.C.-based go-go music genre; and Badu backing band RC & The Gritz, whose frontman RC Williams is among Martin's closest friends.
Shortly after word spread of Martin's hospitalization in April 2023, his longtime collaborator Franklin shared a video update to social media in which he called Martin "arguably one of the greatest musicians in the world" and asked for prayers because "my brother is fighting for his life right now."
In a 2016 interview with Forbes on the release of his debut solo album "Seven Summers", Martin spoke to his desire to put the Dallas music scene on the map.
"One of the things that I still have a desire to do is, I want to be able to help further develop the Dallas music scene on a global scale," he told journalist Shawn Setaro. "There’s so many talented people in Dallas, Texas. A lot of times, because we’re from Dallas, we do get overlooked. But there’s so many super-dope people."
In a social media video promoting the concert, Williams described the upcoming event as "an unforgettable night of music" and "a once-in-a-lifetime celebration." Proceeds from the event will help cover Martin's medical bills from the past year and a half of care, and help set his family up for a future without him.
Tickets to the concert range in cost from $100 to $400. They are currently on sale through Ticketmaster at this link.
