Shaun Martin, the vibrant, entertaining keyboardist passed away last week after a long illness. He was renowned for his work with Snarky Puppy and Kirk Franklin as well as his fantastic solo albums.
Shaun was a very special talent but an even more special person and I’m proud to say, a friend of mine. One of his superpowers was making everyone around him feel special. The evidence is all over social media, as news spread of his passing, hundreds of people posted pictures with Shaun, always smiling and always ready to chat (like the main picture, taken just prior to the Empire Central recording sessions at Deep Ellum Art Co.)
I first met Shaun at my second Snarky Puppy show at Terminal West in Atlanta in March 2014. I caught him alone outside on the balcony, introduced myself and started talking to him about the tune “Sleeper” in which he makes masterful use of the voice box. He was funny, warm and patient and when my wife joined us up there, we had our first selfie, out of many, taken with Shaun.
One Snarky Puppy took the stage on that Monday night, I was 100% all-in for all-time for the band. The next night they were playing at the Georgia Theater in Athens, about 1 1/2 hours away and I couldn’t pass up the chance to see them again. That was the start of my barnstorming adventures to see the band. Naturally, I got there early and was right up front, chatting with a couple of college kids before the show telling them how I met Shaun the night before which duly impressed them. But then, unexpectedly, when Shaun came out on stage with the band, he saw me and said “is that you, Jake?” and I was so amazed, not knowing that we would actually become friends.
Every show that I went to that Shaun was at, and there were many, between Snarky Puppy sets, his own shows, late night sets and other bands he played with, we never missed a chance to catch up. He was always a star performer, of course, the M.C. and cheerleader for the band, but he always treated me like I was a star. Take for example, the set shown at the right from Aisle 5 in Atlanta. When I walked in during soundcheck, he shouted out “Funkmayor in the house” and proceeded to wear my logo hat that I gave him during the entire set! That was a super rush.
Everyone knows that Shaun was special. His talents on the keys were immeasurable whether it be on classic piano or super funky synth, he could impact your state-of-mind in amazing ways. I had the opportunity to review his beautiful album Three-O (click here) which was his third following 7 Summers and Focus and then film him again during the support tour and I’m glad to preserve a piece of his memory.
Shaun was loved greatly by everyone that met him. He was the quintessential showman for Snarky Puppy, a master at rousing the crowd during the chorus of Shofukan or Thing of Gold. He’d exhort crowds around the world to get up and sing, perhaps with some expletives laced in. His late-nite Go-Go sessions at GroundUp Music Festivals past were absolutely legend — the first one, spilling into the hotel lobby with him leading the chant, “we’re gonna party and bullshit.” I miss him greatly already – his loss is immeasurable and hard to process. I’m so grateful for having shared time on Earth with him.
“Party and Bullshit” video provided by Wyatt Lee from GUMF
