Andrea Martin, Golden Pen of ’90s and ’00s R&B, Dead at 49
The r&b world is mourning the loss of Andrea Martin, who wrote hits for Monica, En Vogue, SWV, Toni Braxton, and more.
Andrea Martin, the singer, songwriter, and pillar of ’90s and ’00s r&b, has died. She was 49-years-old.
Martin’s passing was announced on Tuesday morning in a statement posted on her Instagram page. “Dear Family and Friends, it is with a heavy heart we inform you of the passing of our beautiful Andrea Martin also known as ‘Annie,’” reads the message (see below.) “Andrea will always be remembered for her passion and dedication to her family and friends. Her impact will continue to be felt and heard for a lifetime.”
Martin landed her first hit writing credit for Monica in 1995 when the singer picked up an unused track originally written for Toni Braxton. “Before You Walk Out of My Life” spent two weeks atop Billboard’s R&B chart. The following year, Martin was behind SWV‘s “You’re The One,” which sold more than 900,000 copies and spent a week at No. 1 on the R&B chart. And in 1997, Martin earned her biggest with En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go,” an iconic anthem that went platinum and spent time at No.1 on the R&B chart and peaked at No.2 on the Hot 100. It would be more than a decade until Martin earned another stud on the R&B chart, but her work on Angie Stone’s “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” made a mark on the Club chart in 2002. It would be several more years until Martin helmed another chart-topper, returning to No. 1 on the r&b chart with Melanie Fiona’s “It Kills Me” in 2009. Along the way, Martin worked with Blu Cantrell, Sean Kingston, Nelly, Leela James, Toni Braxton, and Jennifer Hudson, as recently as 2014.
As news of her death began to circulate, a number of Martin’s friends and former collaborators have sent up tributes via social media. “‘Before You Walk Out Of My Life’ has always had a special place in my heart.. Now it has a deeper meaning for the incredibly talented songwriter,” wrote Monica on Twitter. “So saddened by the loss of Andrea Martin. Not only a talented singer and songwriter but a wonderful person,” said Hudson in her own post. “She was an absolute genius,” writes former Def Jam exec, Drew Dixon.
Read through some of the commemorations below.
“Before You Walk Out Of My Life” has always had a special place in my heart.. Now it has a deeper meaning for the incredibly talented songwriter. Rest well Andrea Martin. We love you always ? pic.twitter.com/Y4khjWsXaa
— Monica (@MonicaDenise) September 28, 2021
So saddened by the loss of Andrea Martin. Not only a talented singer and songwriter but a wonderful person ! pic.twitter.com/x4Z9EALqNx
— Jennifer Hudson (@IAMJHUD) September 28, 2021
While I was being filmed for @OnTheRecordDoc I introduced Andrea Martin to @EllaWylde, the young artist signed to my new label. I was so excited to be making music with Andrea again. I can’t believe she’s gone. She was an absolute genius. ??#RIPAndreaMartin pic.twitter.com/xQJDmSepXy
— Drew Dixon (@deardrewdixon) September 28, 2021