Sharon Redd

Sharon Redd (October 19 1945 - May 1 1992) was an American house music and urban contemporary singer from New York.

Early career

She was one of the young African-American imports to the 1969 Sydney production of the rock musical Hair.

Music career

Sharon Redd was easily the most successful artist at New York City based dance music label Prelude during the early to mid 1980s. 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 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.

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.

Early life

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 producer for Kool & the Gang and BMP, and her sister, Pennye Ford, is also an accomplished singer with two albums to her credit.

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 .

She also appeared in her own television special and, in 1974, traveled to London performing in an American production of The Wedding Of Iphigenia.

Shortly thereafter, she moved back to the United States and appeared in a popular marketing campaign, which brought her widespread recognition.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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'.

Albums

• Sharon Redd - 1980 - Prelude
• Redd Hot - 1982 - Prelude
• Love How You Feel - 1983 - Prelude
• Beat the Street: The Best of Sharon Redd - 1989 - Unidisc
• Deep Beats: Essential Dancefloor Artists Vol. 3: Sharon Redd - 1994 - Deep Beats

Singles

• "Half As Much" (United Artists, 1968)
• "Do You Want Me?" (United Artists, 1968)
• "I've Got A Feeling" (United Artists, 1968)
• "Since I Lost You" (United Artists, 1968)
• "Can You Handle It"
• "You Got My Love"
• "Beat The Street"
• "In The Name Of Love"
• "You're a Winner"
• "Love How You Feel"
• "Love Insurance"
• "Liar On The Wire"
• "Undercover Girl" (Prelude, 1984)
• "Second to None" (Payne Records, 1988)

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart