RIP LaShawn Daniels — Grammy-Winning Songwriter Dead At 41
He wrote Destiny's Child's hit song "Say My Name."
Getty Grammy-winning songwriter LaShawn Daniels has died. His wife announced his passing in an Instagram post on Wednesday, saying he died in a car crash in South Carolina. He was 41-years-old. Daniels was best known for penning "Say My Name" for Destiny's Child. The song was an epic hit and won Daniels a Grammy for best R&B song in 2001. He was nominated for another Grammy in 2014 for "Love and War,"which he wrote for Tamar Braxton.
How did LaShawn Daniels die? Read on for the details.
1. Tragic death announcement
Daniels' wife April posted news of his death on her Instagram page on Wednesday, September 4. “It is with deep and profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, family member, and friend LaShawn Daniels, who was the victim of a fatal car accident in South Carolina," she wrote. " A Grammy-award winning producer and songwriter, Daniels was a man of extraordinary faith and a pillar in our family. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the continuous outpouring of love and sympathy. We ask that you respect the privacy of our entire family during this difficult time.” April went on to say that "In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lashawn Daniels Memorial Fund."
2. Early music career
Daniels grew up in New Jersey, where his father was a preacher. He told QCity Metro that the church never had great attendance but his whole family got involved in making sure it had great music. His father played guitar, his sister played the organ and he played the drums. “My father was very particular about our music. He knew how he wanted things to sound, and he was very precise,” Daniels explained. He started partnering with Rodney "Darkchild" Jenkins on songwriting and the two eventually moved out to LA. The two worked together on numerous hits and remained friends and business partners.
3. Hit-making songwriter
Daniels was a musical force and he wrote some of the greatest songs of his time. People magazine notes that he was behind such singles as Whitney Houston‘s “It’s Not Right but It’s Okay,” Jennifer Lopez‘s “If You Had My Love,” Spice Girls‘ “Holler,” Lady Gaga‘s “Telephone” and Michael Jackson‘s “You Rock My World.” He also collaborated with Brandy, the Spice Girls, Ray J and Janet Jackson during his career. In a recent interview, he recalled what he learned from working with some of the greatest stars in the music business. “Michael Jackson taught me a lot about discipline and to always challenge yourself. Always continue to ask yourself, is this the best you can do?” he said. He continued, “Beyoncé is very direct and has a hands-on approach, and she believes that simplicity is the key.”
4. Say My Name
Daniels was one of the collaborators behind Destiny's Child's 1999 smash hit "Say My Name." In an interview about the 20th anniversary of the song, Daniels recalled the inspiration behind it, telling the Grammys about a possessive girlfriend he had at the time. "I would be places, I would be at work, and if [my girlfriend] would call or hear anyone laughing, or speaking, or doing anything in the background, she'd be like, 'Who is that?'" he recalled."Then she'd be like, 'Well, say my name then, and tell me that you love me.' [The song] was actually the premise of what I would go through, and we had the conversation of 'how embarrassing is that?' Beyoncé was in a relationship at that time, and she could relate well to the situation." The song won Daniels a grammy in 2001.
5. "An amazing husband, father, son & a brother"
LaToya Luckett, a member of Destiny's Child when Daniels wrote Say My Name, took to Instagram to express her sorrow about his passing. "An amazing husband, father, son & a brother to many,” she wrote. "This is a tough one. Thank you for every laugh & every word of encouragement. I can’t even get started on all of your major contributions to music including “Say My Name”. You sat down with 4 young girls & helped to introduce us into the world of writing. Thank you. You definitely left your mark on this world & your legacy will live on forever. Praying for your beautiful family @bigshiz RIH,” she added.
Luckett posted a tribute.
6. "You will surely be missed"
Kelly Rowland also expressed her grief on Instagram, saying: "YOUR gift wasn’t just in your brilliant melody and lyric, it was when you walked into a room, when you laughed! I thank God for your laugh, and the time I got to share with you on this Earth! Our moments in the studio, our talks, Our heart to hearts on life & family! I can not believe this…..You will surely be missed BigShiz!!”
Daniels is survived by his wife April and three children, as well as the music industry that loved him.
Rebekah Kuschmider has been writing about celebrities, pop culture, entertainment, and politics since 2010. Her work has been seen at Ravishly, Babble, Scary Mommy, The Mid, Redbook online, and The Broad Side. She is the creator of the blog Stay at Home Pundit and she is a cohost of the weekly podcast The More Perfect Union.