Martina McBride Mourns Sudden Death Of Her Father, “Our Hearts Are Broken”
Daryl Schiff, father of country star Martina McBride, died Tuesday (January 14) at the age of 86.
Martina McBride shared the news of her father’s passing in a social media post, saying, “I really don’t have the right words. My dad passed away Tuesday night. Our hearts are broken. He was 86 and had an amazing life.”
McBride, who credits her father for her music career, shared memories of her dad, the leader of their family band, The Schiffters. “He taught me so much about music, about life, about how to treat others.”
According to his obituary, The Schiffters were a country rock band consisting of Daryl, his daughter Martina, son Marty, and wife Jeanne. The group played every Saturday night for over 17 years. After the Shiffters, Daryl continued to perform and made two solo albums. He even had the opportunity to sing at the Grand Ole Opry twice.
Martina shared with her fans that she and her dad spoke daily ever since the passing of her mom five years ago.
“Over 1800 conversations that I am so grateful I had. I was able to record some of them, some of his stories, and they are priceless to me,” she wrote. “We shared a love of cooking and gardening, often sharing recipes and sending each other videos and photos of what we cooked and how our gardens were progressing. He loved to tell me what he had bought on his almost daily trips to the grocery store. He loved to sit on his porch and always told me when someone stopped by to visit.”
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In 2021, Martina McBride Collaborated with her dad on a new album.
Martina McBride and her brother Marty teamed up with their father for a 15-song collection called Satisfied. The project features songs handpicked by Daryl that reflect moments from his life. Martina and Marty offered background vocals on the album, and each performed lead vocals on a few songs.
“Getting to record this album with my dad after hearing him sing literally for my whole life was such a blessing,” McBride said at the time. “Singing with my brother, hearing our voices blend with his, is really special. Dad sings in such an authentic way. You cannot teach or fake the kind of country singing he does. It comes from a lifetime of loving it and all of the influences he has heard all of his life. The emotion he conveys isn’t some singer’s ‘trick.’ It is real. There were several times I teared up hearing him sing in the studio. I’m so grateful for this musical treasure we will have forever and excited to share it with my fans.”
About Daryl Schiff
Daryl Schiff was born in a farmhouse south of Sharon, Kansas, in 1938, his obituary revealed. He married his wife, Verla Jean, in 1965 and they were married for nearly 55 years at the time of her death. He was a third-generation farmer and member of the National Guard.
He had a love of cooking and gardening, and “loved to sit on the porch with his friends, watching the humming birds and the purple martins and petting Shadow and the rest of the cats that had adopted him. He had coffee every morning with his friends at the Sharon CO-OP before walking down to get his mail … He was known and loved by so many.”
Schiff is survived by his four children: Stephen, Gina, Martina, and Marty. He also leaves behind 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He will be laid to rest on Tuesday, January 21.
