Ropeadope artist, Shaun Martin, may ring a bell for some of you Snarky Puppy fans. This Dallas, TX native musician is a four-time Grammy Award winning producer, songwriter, and keyboardist. Aside from being Snarky Puppy’s keyboardist, Martin serves as the music director and producer for Gospel artist Kirk Franklin. 

Martin is also known for writing, playing on, and producing Erykah Badu‘s sophomore album “Mama’s Gun.” Martin has worked with other big names such as Chaka Khan, Snoop Dogg, N’Dambi, Fred Hammond, Myron Butler, making him one of the biggest names in the R&B and Gospel music community.

This playful tune “One Big Party” off of his debut solo album 7 Summers is quite reminiscent of New Orleans music and culture, and sure to get you up and dancing!

In a recent interview, Live For Live NOLA got to sit down with this exuberant musician. In his day to day life, Martin serves as the Minister of Music at Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, TX. However, Martin strives to impact the entire nation’s youth by starting fine arts academies around the U.S. He wants to be able to inspire kids to do anything they want.

In the interview, Martin shared some advice from the great Quincy Jones, that is a pleasant reminder to follow your dreams and explains how he views his influence on future generations.

“Quincy Jones told me the best advice ever a few years ago. He said do everything you want do, then die. Coming from an 80 something year old man that has a twelve year old kid, I was like, you know what? You just might be right. He was like do everything you want to do, then die. And you still living. Still kicking. Still going to Brazil, still messing with girls.

We spend a lot of time building other people’s empires, and at some point I need to build an empire for myself, so when I have kids, I haven’t had any kids yet, you know it’s like when I have kids, my kids need something to be able to point back to and say ‘yo, that was my dad. And this is what he did. And this is part of me, this is who I am, and I’m going to take that and go further.’- It’s called build-able legacy. The hope for them inspires them which will inspire another generation and it keeps going.” 

Watch the full interview below:


It was a true pleasure to sit down and talk with Shaun Martin. We are excited to welcome him back to NOLA next Thursday, Dec. 3rd, as Simple Play Present will be hosting Martin at Gasa Gasa along with the Noah Young Quartet (Naughty Professor). Tickets available here!

7 Summer Tour Dates

11/28- Houston, TX- Warehouse Live
12/1- Lafayette, LA- Feed ‘N Seed
12/2- Baton Rouge, LA- Chelsea’s 
12/3- New Orleans, LA- Gasa Gasa
12/4- Hattiesburg, MS- Thirsty Hippo