She was born Charlyn Marie Marshall in Atlanta, Georgia. Charlyn adopted the nickname Chan in sixth grade.
Charlyn was the second child of Charlie Marshall, a blues musician and pianist, and Myra Lee Marshall (née Russell). She grew up in a chaotic, poor household with her father largely absent. Her parents divorced in 1979 after which Marshall's mom spent a lot of time in bars, dragging her two children along.
At the age of 20, Marshall moved to New York City and found a small basement studio where she could lay down music. Her first two albums, Dear Sir and Myra Lee Marshall, were recorded simultaneously there in December 1994.
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