Texas keyboardist
Shaun Martin is a highly respected solo performer and sideman whose adept, jazz-trained chops have found him working in a variety of styles from instrumental jazz to gospel to hip-hop and R&B. Emerging in the '90s,
Martin initially built his reputation as session player, working with
Kirk Franklin on hit albums like 1997's God's Property and 2007's
The Fight of My Life. Since 2010, he has been a regular member of
Snarky Puppy, appearing on Grammy Award-winning albums like 2014's Family Dinner, Vol. 1 and 2017's
Culcha Vulcha.
A native of Dallas,
Martin first began playing music around age four, studying classical and jazz piano. As a teenager, he attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts, where he joined the ranks of such alumni as trumpeter
Roy Hargrove and vocalist
Erykah Badu (the latter a future collaborator). After high school, he attended Weatherford College and the University of North Texas where he earned his Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences.
After graduating college,
Martin established himself as an in-demand studio musician and collaborator. In the late '90s, he began what would become a longtime association with
Kirk Franklin, working as the gospel artist's musical director.
Martin's profile grew even bigger after performing and co-writing with
Badu for her sophomore album, 2000's
Mama's Gun. Since then, he has either produced, recorded, and/or toured with a bevy of name artists including
Timbaland,
Chaka Khan,
Yolanda Adams,
Tamela Mann, and others. With
Franklin,
Martin has won three Best Album Grammys, including one for 2011's gold-certified
Hello Fear. In 2014,
Martin took home a fourth Grammy, this time for Best R&B Performance with the experimental outfit
Snarky Puppy, of which he has been a member since 2010's
Tell Your Friends.
When not on tour,
Martin also serves as Minister of Music at Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas. In 2015,
Martin released his debut solo album, the largely instrumental, jazz-infused 7 Summers. His sophomore album,
Focus, followed in 2018. Also that year, he guested on guitarist
Doc Powell's single "Steppin Out," appearing alongside flutist
Althea Rene and sax player Kelley O'Neal. ~ Matt Collar