Shaun Martin dead at age 45: Singer and keyboardist for Grammy-award winning jazz fusion group Snarky Puppy passes away

Shaun Martin, a member of the Grammy-award winning jazz fusion group Snarky Puppy, has passed at age 45. 

The band announced Martin’s passing in a statement posted to their X account on Sunday, along with a photo of the musician hitting the stage. 

‘Yesterday, we lost 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. There’s so much that can be said but words can’t do justice. RIP,’ the statement read. 

Martin was a singer and keyboardist for the group, which last year received its fifth Grammy award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Empire Central. 

While a cause of death remains unknown, the musician had been afflicted with an undisclosed illness for over a year. 

Prior to his death, a benefit concert for Martin was set to be held in September. Erykah Badu and Norah Jones were among the performers scheduled to hit the stage for the concert.