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{{Short description|American singer (1945–1992)}} |
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{{Cleanup|date=May 2007}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}} |
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{{Infobox musical artist |
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| image = Sharonredd.jpg |
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| caption = Redd in 1988 |
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| name = Sharon Redd |
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| background = solo_singer |
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| birth_name = |
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| alias = |
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| birth_date = {{birth date |1945|10|19}} |
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| birth_place = [[Norfolk, Virginia]], U.S. |
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| death_date = {{death date and age|1992|05|01|1945|10|19}} |
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| origin = [[New York City]], U.S.<!--No boroughs/neighborhoods, just cities per format.--> |
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| instrument = Vocals |
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| genre = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[House music|house]]|[[post-disco]]<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sharon-redd-mn0000744730/biography|title=Artist Biography|first=Andy|last=Kellman|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=December 22, 2008}}</ref>}} |
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| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|actress}} |
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| years_active = 1967–1992 |
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| label = {{hlist|[[United Artists Records|United Artists]]|[[Prelude Records (record label)|Prelude]]}} |
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| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Bette Midler]]|the [[Harlettes]]}} |
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| website = |
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}} |
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'''Sharon Redd''' (October 19, 1945 – May 1, 1992)<ref name="soulw"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=454}}</ref> was an American singer from [[New York City]]. She was the half sister of [[Snap!]] singer [[Penny Ford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snapmusic90.com|title=Snap! with Penny Ford official website|accessdate=January 17, 2022}}</ref> |
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==Life and career== |
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'''Sharon Redd''' ([[October 19]] [[1945]] - [[May 1]] [[1992]]) was an American [[house music]] and [[urban contemporary]] singer from [[New York City|New York]]. |
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Redd was born on October 19, 1945, in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], to [[De-Lite Records|Gene]] and Katherine Redd. Gene Redd was a producer and musical director at [[King Records (United States)|King Records]], and her stepfather performed with [[Benny Goodman]]'s orchestra.<ref name="AllMusic"/> Her brother Gene Redd Jr. was a [[songwriter]] and [[record producer|producer]] for [[Kool & the Gang]] and the band BMP.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharon Redd|work=[[Baltimore Afro-American]]|date=February 14, 1981|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BOkmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HgMGAAAAIBAJ&dq=sharon-redd&pg=946%2C1199857|accessdate=September 6, 2010}}</ref> Her half-sister [[Penny Ford]] is also a singer with two solo albums to her credit and known for her work as the main singer for [[Snap!]], [[Soul II Soul]], and [[the S.O.S. Band]].<ref name="soulw">{{cite web|url=http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Sharon%20Redd.html|title=Sharon Redd Page|website=Soulwalking.co.uk|accessdate=December 10, 2008}}</ref> |
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She is the older sister of former [[Snap]] singer [[Pennye Ford]]. |
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She began her recording career with four singles in 1968 for the [[United Artists]] label, three written and all four produced by songwriter and record producer [[Bobby Susser]]. Susser chose the [[Hank Williams]] song "[[Half as Much]]" to be Redd's first single. Redd's vocals, against Susser's heavy-bass track, made her presence very quickly known to R&B radio stations.<ref>''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Magazine]]''. October 1969.</ref> Redd, as a budding actress, got a major break when she starred in an [[Australia]]n production of the [[rock musical]] ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]''.<ref name="AllMusic"/> She was among a troupe of young [[African Americans|African American]] imports to the [[Sydney]] production, a group which notably included [[Marcia Hines]]. Redd appeared in the production from its June 6, 1969, premiere through 1971.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |
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==Early career== |
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She was one of the young [[African-American]] imports to the 1969 [[Sydney]] production of the [[rock musical]] ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]''. |
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As Redd was becoming famous in Australia, she was interviewed by Barry Sloane on a 1971 episode of ''[[GTK (TV series)|GTK]]''.{{cn|date=January 2022}} Her popular adverts for [[Amoco]] led to her own television special. Redd and ''Hair'' co-star Teddy Williams were asked to leave Australia by the Immigration Department in April 1971 for reasons they believed were race-motivated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two blacks from 'Hair' get boot from Australia|work=[[The Miami News]]|date=April 9, 1971|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DtIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q_MFAAAAIBAJ&dq=sharon-redd&pg=4885%2C3903083|accessdate=September 6, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Hair' players await visas|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=April 30, 1971|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DVIVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ceUDAAAAIBAJ&dq=sharon-redd&pg=4453%2C10120768|accessdate=September 6, 2010}}</ref> Aside from ''Hair'', Redd also appeared in ''Ti-Jean and His Brothers'' and, in 1974, traveled to London to star in an American production of ''The Wedding of Iphigenia''.<ref name="AllMusic"/> In 1977 Redd played the role of Sherrye in the U.S. [[sitcom]] television series ''[[Rhoda]]''.<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0788928/|series=Rhoda|title=To Vegas with Love|date=13 March 1977|season=3|number=24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611075128/https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0788928/|archive-date=June 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|url=https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0788771/|series=Rhoda|title=Johnny's Solo Flight|date=11 December 1977|season=4|number=9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611075136/https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0788771/|archive-date=June 11, 2011}}</ref> 1978 also saw Redd feature as a guest in the musical ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imdb.com/name/nm2222621/|title=Sharon Redd - IMDb|publisher=Akas.imdb.com|date=2009-05-01|accessdate=2012-04-23}}</ref> |
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==Music career== |
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Sharon Redd was easily the most successful artist at New York City based dance music label [[Prelude Records (record label)|Prelude]] during the early to mid 1980s. |
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Redd placed several songs on the [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] chart in the early 1980s, the most successful being the ''[[Redd Hott]]'' [[album]] which hit [[Chart-topper|number one]] in 1982. Her fanbase at the time was comprised mainly of both gay men and Urban radio listeners. Although the single, "Love Insurance" was credited to another singer, it was no doubt Sharon's uniquely toned contralto vocals that made the song such a massive hit. |
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In the mid-1970s, [[Bette Midler]] was looking to replace Merle Miller and Gail Kantor, both of whom had left after Midler's 1973 [[concert tour|tour]] to pursue their own interests. Midler auditioned over 70 performers, but Redd landed the job, becoming one of Bette's [[Harlettes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestaggeringharlettes.com/SharonRedd.htm|title=Sharon Redd|publisher=The Staggering Harlettes|date=1945-10-19|accessdate=2012-04-23|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226193058/http://www.thestaggeringharlettes.com/SharonRedd.htm|archivedate=2012-02-26}}</ref> Aside from performing as a Harlette, Redd also provided [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]] for [[Carol Douglas]] ("Burnin'" and "Night Fever") and [[Norman Connors]] ("You Are My Starship").<ref name="AllMusic"/> Having ended their association with Midler, Redd, Charlotte Crossley, & Ula Hedwig released an LP, ''Formerly of the Harlettes'', in late 1977. In 1978, RCA Victor released "Love Insurance" on a 12-inch disco as Front Page with Sharon Redd. She was credited on that version. |
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While mounting a comeback in the early 1990s, Redd died of [[AIDS]]-related complications in 1992. Sharon Redd's albums and all her singles have become considered highly regarded and respected. To this day, her music has lived on thanks to the deep grooves and rhythms of producers [[Francois K]] and Eric Matthew. Her 'best of' compilation album has been a steady seller worldwide since. |
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In 1979, Redd recorded the disco hit "Love Insurance", released by Panorama Records under the name Front Page, her own vocals going uncredited. But she soon signed a [[recording contract]] with [[Prelude Records (record label)|Prelude Records]],<ref name="AllMusic"/> and Redd became the label's most successful artist. Her debut studio album, 1980's self-titled ''Sharon Redd'', was closely followed by two more: ''Redd Hott'' (1982) and ''Love How You Feel'' (1983).<ref name="AllMusic"/> Redd had several charting songs on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Dance Club Songs|Hot Dance Club Play]] chart, including "Beat the Street", "In the Name of Love" and "Love How You Feel".<ref name="VF"/> |
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==Early life== |
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When Sharon Redd was born on [[October 19]], [[1945]], you could say that she already had music swimming in her veins. Her father, Gene Redd, was an executive producer at [[King Records]] and her stepfather performed with the [[Benny Goodman]] band. Her brother was a [[writer]] and [[Record producer|producer]] for [[Kool & the Gang]] and [[BMP]], and her sister, [[Pennye Ford]], is also an accomplished singer with two albums to her credit. |
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After these releases, Redd returned to her successful career as a backing vocalist, most notably with the group Soirée, which also included among its members [[Luther Vandross]] and [[Jocelyn Brown]]. |
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Sharon grew up in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. As a child, she took lessons in classical vocals and also had operatic training. In her mid-twenties, Sharon was a budding actress. She also recorded four singles in 1968 for [[United Artists]], three written and all four produced by [[songwriter]] and [[record producer]], [[Bobby Susser]]. Susser chose the [[Hank Williams]] song, "[[Half As Much]]" for Sharon's first single. Sharon's extroadinary vocals against Susser's bass pounding musical track, made Sharon's presence very quickly known in the music industry, though it was not a big hit. Sharon got a major break starring in an [[Australian]] [[production]] of ''Hair ''. |
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In early 1992, she had a UK top 20 hit with a re-recorded version of "[[Can You Handle It]]", with "Tom's Diner" remixers [[DNA (duo)|DNA]] and appeared with the duo, singing live vocals, on BBC One's ''Top of the Pops'' on January 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0013cfk|title=Top of the Pops|date=January 30, 1992|website=[[BBC]]|accessdate=January 17, 2022}}</ref> Following the success of this new version of "[[Can You Handle It]]", she recorded a single entitled "All the Way to Love",<ref name="soulw"/> with [[L.A. Mix|L.A. Mix's Les Adams]]. This was to be her last solo recording and remains unreleased. |
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She also appeared in her own television special and, in 1974, traveled to London performing in an American production of ''The Wedding Of Iphigenia''. |
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In the midst of mounting a comeback in the early 1990s, Redd died of [[pneumonia]] on May 1, 1992. ''[[Dance Music Report]]'' magazine reported that her death was [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]]-related.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Dance Music Report|DMR]]|title=The First Cut|author=Andyboy|page=3|volume=15|issue=9|date=1992-05-22|quote=The impact of AIDS on the dance music industry has been felt by many on an excruciatingly personal level. News this week of Prelude artist Sharon Redd's recent death due to AIDS once again brought reality into chillingly clear focus.}}</ref> The virus had weakened her immune system, which had become ineffective following the singer stepping on broken glass on stage. |
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Shortly thereafter, she moved back to the United States and appeared in a popular marketing campaign, which brought her widespread recognition. |
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In 1993, Redd's vocals featured on the duet track "Under Pressure", as found on her half-sister Penny Ford's self-titled album. |
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At around this same time, [[Bette Midler]] was looking to replace [[Merle Miller]] and Gail Kantor, who had left after Bette's 1973 tour, to pursue their own interests. Bette auditioned over 70 performers, but Sharon's talent, experience, and exposure as the 'Shaffer Beer Girl', may have given her the edge she needed. She landed the job and officially became one of Bette's [[Harlettes]]. (Photo: From left to right, Redd, Ula Hedwig, and Charlotte Crossley) |
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==Legacy== |
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Despite not being as recognized as other stars, Redd was able to establish herself as a Diva on the [[disco]] scene in the late 70s and early 80s.<ref name="stianeriksen">{{cite web|url=https://stianeriksen.com/2012/03/23/sharon-redd-20-years-on/|date=9 June 2023|title=Sharon Redd – 20 Years On….}}</ref> |
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Redd was honored by the [[National AIDS Memorial]], in an online exhibit to commemorate Black History Month along with other celebrities like [[Sylvester James|Sylvester]] and [[Arthur Ashe]].<ref name="Gay Cities">{{cite web|url=https://www.gaycities.com/articles/52916/black-lives-lost-aids-commemorated-heartbreaking-virtual-exhibition/|date=9 June 2023|title=Black lives lost to AIDS commemorated in heartbreaking virtual exhibition}}</ref> In 2011, Redd was posthumously honored at the 2011 Divas Simply Singing music benefit. Her name was among the number of celebrities featured on a special made red quilt displayed during the event. |
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==Discography== |
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Aside from performing as a Harlette, Sharon also provided backing vocals for [[Carol Douglas]] ('Burnin' & 'Night Fever'), and Norman Connors ('You Are My Starship'). In 1979, Sharon sang the smash disco hit 'Love Insurance', released under the artist name Front Page (Panorama Records), and, though her vocals were uncredited, producers had started to sit up and take notice of her amazing voice. Soon she had a recording contract with Prelude Records. |
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===Albums=== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year |
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! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
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! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Label |
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! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Format |
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! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
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|- |
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! width="45"|<small>[[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]</small><br><ref name="VF"/> |
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! width="45"|<small>[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]</small><br><ref name="UK"/> |
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|- |
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| 1980 |
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| ''Sharon Redd'' |
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| rowspan="3"|[[Prelude Records (record label)|Prelude]] |
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| rowspan="3"|[[LP record|LP]], [[CD]] |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| 1982 |
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| ''[[Redd Hott]]'' |
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| align=center | 1 |
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| align=center | 59 |
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|- |
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| 1983 |
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| ''Love How You Feel'' |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
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|} |
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===Compilations=== |
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Sharon released her first album in 1980 (self-titled 'Sharon Redd'), closely followed by two more ('Redd Hott' - 1982, and 'Love How You Feel' - 1983), which sealed her reputation as a true "disco diva". These recordings featured such disco classics as 'You Got My Love', 'Never Give You Up', 'In the Name of Love', 'Love How You Feel', 'Beat The Street', and the piece de resistance 'Can You Handle It' featuring Redds unparalleled raw vocal delivery woven into the alternating lush orchestration and stripped down funk of one of Disco's most stunning and sublime productions. |
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* ''The Classic Redd'' (Prelude, 1985) |
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* ''Beat the Street: The Best of Sharon Redd'' (Unidisc, 1989) |
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* ''The Complete Sharon Redd on Prelude 1980–1985'' (Karamel, 1990) |
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* ''Essential Dancefloor Artists Vol. 3: Sharon Redd'' (Deepbeats, 1994)<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> |
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===Singles=== |
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After these releases, Sharon returned to her successful career as a background vocalist. Then, in 1991 she released a single entitled 'All The Way To Love'. This was to be her last solo recording. She died the following year. |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year |
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! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Single |
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! scope="col" colspan="6"|Peak chart positions |
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|- |
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! width="45"|<small>[[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]</small><br><ref name="VF">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Sharon+Redd.art|title=Sharon Redd Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|work=Music VF|accessdate=September 5, 2020}}</ref> |
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! width="45"|<small>[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]</small><br><ref name="VF"/> |
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! width="45"|<small>[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]</small> |
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! width="45"|<small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small><br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="UK">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18841/sharon-redd/|title=SHARON REDD - full Official Chart History|work=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=September 5, 2020}}</ref> |
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! width="45"|<small>[[Dutch Top 40|NL]]</small><br><ref>{{cite web|title=Discografie Sharon Redd|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sharon+Redd|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=20 January 2022|language=Dutch}}</ref> |
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! width="45"|<small>[[Recorded Music NZ|NZ]]</small><br><ref>{{cite web|title=Discography Sharon Redd|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sharon+Redd|website=charts.org.nz|access-date=20 January 2022}}</ref> |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1"| 1967 |
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| "[[Half as Much]]" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1"| 1968 |
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| "I've Got a Feeling" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1"| 1969 |
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| "Easy to Be Hard" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 32 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="2"| 1980 |
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| "[[Can You Handle It]]" |
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| align=center | 5 |
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| align=center | 57 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 31 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| "Love Is Gonna Get Ya" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1"| 1981 |
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| "You Got My Love" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="4"| 1982 |
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| "Never Give You Up" ‡ |
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| rowspan="4" align=center| 1 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 20 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| "Beat the Street" ‡ |
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| align=center | 41 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| "In the Name of Love" ‡ |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 31 |
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| align=center | 11 |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| "Takin' a Chance on Love" ‡ |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 91 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="3"| 1983 |
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| "Love How You Feel" |
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| align=center | 16 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 39 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| "You're a Winner" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 83 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| "Liar on the Wire" |
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| align=center | 33 |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1"| 1985 |
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| "Undercover Girl" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1"| 1988 |
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| "Second to None" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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|rowspan="1"| 1992 |
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| "Can You Handle It" ([[DNA (duo)|DNA's]] re-recording) |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 17 |
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| align=center | 62 |
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| align=center | 41 |
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|- |
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| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
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|} |
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‡ Denotes tracks from [[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]-charting LP ''Redd Hot'' which included all cuts.<ref name="VF"/> |
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In 1993, Pennye Ford dropped the 'e' from her name and released the album 'Penny Ford', which featured a duet with her sister entitled '[[Under Pressure]]'. |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of Billboard number-one dance club songs]] |
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*[[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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*''Sharon Redd'' - 1980 - [[Prelude Records|Prelude]] |
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*''Redd Hot'' - 1982 - Prelude |
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*''Love How You Feel'' - 1983 - Prelude |
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*''Beat the Street: The Best of Sharon Redd'' - 1989 - [[Unidisc Music Inc.|Unidisc]] |
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*''Deep Beats: Essential Dancefloor Artists Vol. 3: Sharon Redd'' - 1994 - Deep Beats |
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== |
==External links== |
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* [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sharon-redd-mn0000744730 AllMusic] |
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* "[[Half As Much]]" (United Artists, 1968) |
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* {{discogs artist}} |
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* "Do You Want Me?" (United Artists, 1968) |
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* [http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Sharon%20Redd.html Soulwalking.co.uk] |
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* "I've Got A Feeling" (United Artists, 1968) |
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* {{youtube|vjvAXki5Cp0|Max Merritt And The Meteors - Memphis Special (1971)}} |
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* "Since I Lost You" (United Artists, 1968) |
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{{Authority control}} |
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* "Can You Handle It" |
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* "You Got My Love" |
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* "Beat The Street" |
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* "In The Name Of Love" |
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* "You're a Winner" |
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* "Love How You Feel" |
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* "Love Insurance" |
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* "Liar On The Wire" |
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* "Undercover Girl" (Prelude, 1984) |
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* "Second to None" (Payne Records, 1988) |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of number-one dance hits (United States)]] |
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*[[List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:45, 4 August 2024
Sharon Redd | |
|---|---|
 Redd in 1988 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 19, 1945 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 1, 1992 (aged 46) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1967–1992 |
| Labels | |
Sharon Redd (October 19, 1945 – May 1, 1992)[2][3] was an American singer from New York City. She was the half sister of Snap! singer Penny Ford.[4]
Life and career
[edit]Redd was born on October 19, 1945, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Gene and Katherine Redd. Gene Redd was a producer and musical director at King Records, and her stepfather performed with Benny Goodman's orchestra.[1] Her brother Gene Redd Jr. was a songwriter and producer for Kool & the Gang and the band BMP.[5] Her half-sister Penny Ford is also a singer with two solo albums to her credit and known for her work as the main singer for Snap!, Soul II Soul, and the S.O.S. Band.[2]
She began her recording career with four singles in 1968 for the United Artists label, three written and all four produced by songwriter and record producer Bobby Susser. Susser chose the Hank Williams song "Half as Much" to be Redd's first single. Redd's vocals, against Susser's heavy-bass track, made her presence very quickly known to R&B radio stations.[6] Redd, as a budding actress, got a major break when she starred in an Australian production of the rock musical Hair.[1] She was among a troupe of young African American imports to the Sydney production, a group which notably included Marcia Hines. Redd appeared in the production from its June 6, 1969, premiere through 1971.[citation needed]
As Redd was becoming famous in Australia, she was interviewed by Barry Sloane on a 1971 episode of GTK.[citation needed] Her popular adverts for Amoco led to her own television special. Redd and Hair co-star Teddy Williams were asked to leave Australia by the Immigration Department in April 1971 for reasons they believed were race-motivated.[7][8] Aside from Hair, Redd also appeared in Ti-Jean and His Brothers and, in 1974, traveled to London to star in an American production of The Wedding of Iphigenia.[1] In 1977 Redd played the role of Sherrye in the U.S. sitcom television series Rhoda.[9][10] 1978 also saw Redd feature as a guest in the musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.[11]
In the mid-1970s, Bette Midler was looking to replace Merle Miller and Gail Kantor, both of whom had left after Midler's 1973 tour to pursue their own interests. Midler auditioned over 70 performers, but Redd landed the job, becoming one of Bette's Harlettes.[12] Aside from performing as a Harlette, Redd also provided backing vocals for Carol Douglas ("Burnin'" and "Night Fever") and Norman Connors ("You Are My Starship").[1] Having ended their association with Midler, Redd, Charlotte Crossley, & Ula Hedwig released an LP, Formerly of the Harlettes, in late 1977. In 1978, RCA Victor released "Love Insurance" on a 12-inch disco as Front Page with Sharon Redd. She was credited on that version.
In 1979, Redd recorded the disco hit "Love Insurance", released by Panorama Records under the name Front Page, her own vocals going uncredited. But she soon signed a recording contract with Prelude Records,[1] and Redd became the label's most successful artist. Her debut studio album, 1980's self-titled Sharon Redd, was closely followed by two more: Redd Hott (1982) and Love How You Feel (1983).[1] Redd had several charting songs on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, including "Beat the Street", "In the Name of Love" and "Love How You Feel".[13]
After these releases, Redd returned to her successful career as a backing vocalist, most notably with the group Soirée, which also included among its members Luther Vandross and Jocelyn Brown.
In early 1992, she had a UK top 20 hit with a re-recorded version of "Can You Handle It", with "Tom's Diner" remixers DNA and appeared with the duo, singing live vocals, on BBC One's Top of the Pops on January 30.[14] Following the success of this new version of "Can You Handle It", she recorded a single entitled "All the Way to Love",[2] with L.A. Mix's Les Adams. This was to be her last solo recording and remains unreleased.
In the midst of mounting a comeback in the early 1990s, Redd died of pneumonia on May 1, 1992. Dance Music Report magazine reported that her death was AIDS-related.[15] The virus had weakened her immune system, which had become ineffective following the singer stepping on broken glass on stage.
In 1993, Redd's vocals featured on the duet track "Under Pressure", as found on her half-sister Penny Ford's self-titled album.
Legacy
[edit]Despite not being as recognized as other stars, Redd was able to establish herself as a Diva on the disco scene in the late 70s and early 80s.[16] Redd was honored by the National AIDS Memorial, in an online exhibit to commemorate Black History Month along with other celebrities like Sylvester and Arthur Ashe.[17] In 2011, Redd was posthumously honored at the 2011 Divas Simply Singing music benefit. Her name was among the number of celebrities featured on a special made red quilt displayed during the event.
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Year | Album | Label | Format | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [13] |
UK [18] | ||||
| 1980 | Sharon Redd | Prelude | LP, CD | ― | ― |
| 1982 | Redd Hott | 1 | 59 | ||
| 1983 | Love How You Feel | ― | ― | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||
Compilations
[edit]- The Classic Redd (Prelude, 1985)
- Beat the Street: The Best of Sharon Redd (Unidisc, 1989)
- The Complete Sharon Redd on Prelude 1980–1985 (Karamel, 1990)
- Essential Dancefloor Artists Vol. 3: Sharon Redd (Deepbeats, 1994)[3]
Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [13] |
US R&B [13] |
AUS | UK [3][18] |
NL [19] |
NZ [20] | ||
| 1967 | "Half as Much" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |
| 1968 | "I've Got a Feeling" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |
| 1969 | "Easy to Be Hard" | ― | ― | 32 | ― | ― | ― |
| 1980 | "Can You Handle It" | 5 | 57 | ― | 31 | ― | ― |
| "Love Is Gonna Get Ya" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |
| 1981 | "You Got My Love" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |
| 1982 | "Never Give You Up" ‡ | 1 | ― | ― | 20 | ― | ― |
| "Beat the Street" ‡ | 41 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ||
| "In the Name of Love" ‡ | ― | ― | 31 | 11 | ― | ||
| "Takin' a Chance on Love" ‡ | ― | ― | 91 | ― | ― | ||
| 1983 | "Love How You Feel" | 16 | ― | ― | 39 | ― | ― |
| "You're a Winner" | ― | ― | ― | 83 | ― | ― | |
| "Liar on the Wire" | 33 | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |
| 1985 | "Undercover Girl" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |
| 1988 | "Second to None" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |
| 1992 | "Can You Handle It" (DNA's re-recording) | ― | ― | ― | 17 | 62 | 41 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||||
‡ Denotes tracks from US Dance-charting LP Redd Hot which included all cuts.[13]
See also
[edit]- List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Kellman, Andy. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Sharon Redd Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 454. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Snap! with Penny Ford official website". Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Sharon Redd". Baltimore Afro-American. February 14, 1981. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
- ^ Billboard Magazine. October 1969.
- ^ "Two blacks from 'Hair' get boot from Australia". The Miami News. April 9, 1971. Retrieved September 6, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "'Hair' players await visas". Sydney Morning Herald. April 30, 1971. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
- ^ "To Vegas with Love". Rhoda. Season 3. Episode 24. March 13, 1977. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011.
- ^ "Johnny's Solo Flight". Rhoda. Season 4. Episode 9. December 11, 1977. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011.
- ^ "Sharon Redd - IMDb". Akas.imdb.com. May 1, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ^ "Sharon Redd". The Staggering Harlettes. October 19, 1945. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Sharon Redd Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Top of the Pops". BBC. January 30, 1992. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ Andyboy (May 22, 1992). "The First Cut". DMR. 15 (9): 3.
The impact of AIDS on the dance music industry has been felt by many on an excruciatingly personal level. News this week of Prelude artist Sharon Redd's recent death due to AIDS once again brought reality into chillingly clear focus.
- ^ "Sharon Redd – 20 Years On…". June 9, 2023.
- ^ "Black lives lost to AIDS commemorated in heartbreaking virtual exhibition". June 9, 2023.
- ^ a b "SHARON REDD - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Discografie Sharon Redd". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ "Discography Sharon Redd". charts.org.nz. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
External links
[edit]- AllMusic
- Sharon Redd discography at Discogs
- Soulwalking.co.uk
- Max Merritt And The Meteors - Memphis Special (1971) on YouTube
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
Categories:
- 1945 births
- 1992 deaths
- American boogie musicians
- American disco musicians
- American house musicians
- 20th-century African-American women singers
- Prelude Records artists
- Musicians from Norfolk, Virginia
- Deaths from pneumonia in New York City
- AIDS-related deaths in New York (state)
- 20th-century American singers
- Harlettes members
- 20th-century American women singers
- American women in electronic music