DALLAS — After almost a year and a half spent under close medical supervision as he recovered from a "massive stroke" suffered in April 2023, Dallas musician Shaun Martin died on Saturday, August 3, his wife announced in a social media post on Sunday.
He was 45 years old.
A product of the region's two most acclaimed music education programs, the seven-time Grammy Award winner is among the most celebrated musicians Dallas has ever produced.
Martin had had a truly fruitful almost three-decade career.
He hadn't yet graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA) 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 Erykah Badu's sophomore album, "Mama's Gun"
His art was rightly acclaimed and properly decorated.
While working as the music director for Franklin's backing band, he earned four Grammys: Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album in 2006 ("Hero"); Best Gospel Album in 2012 ("Hello Fear"); Best Gospel Album in 2017 ("Losing My Religion"); and Best Gospel Album in 2020 ("Long Live Love").
He also earned three additional Grammys for his work as part of the UNT-launched jazz ensemble Snarky Puppy: Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2017 ("Culcha Vulcha"); Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2021 ("Live at the Royal Albert Hall"); and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2023 ("Empire Central").
Beyond his work with Franklin and Snarky Puppy, Martin also regularly performed on keys as a member of Badu's backing outfit and toured as part of Chaka Khan's backing band, among many other collaborations.
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.
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."
Whether he knew it, Martin accomplished his aim. After news of his passing broke, countless North Texas musicians took to social media to voice their affection for and appreciation of both Martin's talents and his spirit.
In their own social media post about his passing, Martin's Snarky Puppy bandmates called him "a music legend and, more importantly, a beautiful, luminous human being."
"Shaun Martin touched so many people during his life and through the beautiful immortality of music, will continue to do so," the post continued. "There’s so much that can be said but words can’t do justice."
Mere days before his passing, friends and peers of Martin's announced plans to host a September 14 concert at Dallas' The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) that will honor his music contributions and raise funds to help cover his medical bills.
The list of artists slated to perform at that gig -- billed as an "A Salute to Pianist Extraordinaire Shaun Martin" -- is a testament to his influence in the local and global music spheres alike. His past collaborators Badu and Snarky Puppy will headline the show alongside singer-songwriter Norah Jones, who was Martin's classmate at both BTWHSPVA and UNT.
Other scheduled performers include: 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. Fittingly, Friendship-West's pastor, Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes, will host September's tribute to Martin.
Proceeds from the event were initially meant to cover Martin's medical bills from the past year and a half of care. They will now be used to help set up Martin's family and their future. Tickets to the concert range in cost from $100 to $400. They are currently on sale through Ticketmaster at this link.
That so many are so willing to come pay homage to Martin is no surprise. He lived a life of generosity and infectious joy, and his smile was bright enough to illuminate even the darkest of stages.
He is survived by his wife Monica Wilson Martin and his son Harlem Martin.
Two celebrations of Martin's life will be held later this month. The first will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, at Disciple Central Community Church in DeSoto and will consist of a public viewing and a gospel music jam session. The second will occur on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Friendship-West Baptist Church with a public viewing starting at noon and the celebration of life services themselves starting at 1 p.m.
