Award-winning producer and songwriter LaShawn Daniels has been killed in a car accident, aged 41.
Daniels’s wife April confirmed the news on social media, saying he had been a “beloved husband, father, family member and friend “.
Originally from New Jersey in the US, Daniels worked with Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins to create some of the biggest hits of the last few decades.
Daniels’s songbook included Monica and Brandy’s The Boy Is Mine, Holler by the Spice Girls and Telephone by Lady Gaga and Beyonce.
In 2001, Daniels won the Grammy for best R&B song for Say My Name by Destiny’s Child, going on to be nominated in 2013 for the same award for his Love And War collaboration with singer and reality star Tamar Braxton.
In an interview with the Recording Academy to celebrate Say My Name’s 20 th anniversary, Daniels had explained the song came about after a woman he was dating kept calling him to make sure he loved her.
“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 said.
Last year, Daniels, who was known as Big Shiz, released his debut solo gospel album, The Big Shiz Project.
The music industry has been grieving for the death of Daniels, with many musicians and artists tweeting their condolences.
RIP to Lashawn Daniels đ he’s only co written / vocal produced literally all of our favorite records – this is so sad 💔
– MNEK (@MNEK)September 4, 2019
British singer-songwriter MNEK, former Danity Kane and Dirty Money singer Dawn Richard, and musician Kehlani have all shared their memories of the artist on Twitter.
Daniels leaves behind his wife April, a hair stylist and clothing designer, and three children.
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