Marshall Music Legend Dies

MARSHALL — Marshall’s artist-in-residence David Alexander Elam was found dead over the weekend. Elam, an internationally known boogie woogie music performer, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Marshall Mayor Chris Paddie expressed sadness upon hearing the news. Paddie said, “Well, obviously, the city of Marshall, and the world, for that matter, has lost a musical legend, and it’s just such a tragedy.” Marshall is the birthplace of boogie woogie, and Elam was widely regarded as Marshall’s last living link to the music genre. Elam performed worldwide under the stage name Omar Shariff.