Maia Sharp
Encyclopedia
Maia Sharp is an American singer and songwriter. In addition to her solo career, she has written songs for and collaborated with several country and pop musicians including Cher
, Trisha Yearwood
, Bonnie Raitt
, Edwin McCain
, and Art Garfunkel
.
, the only child of country songwriter Randy Sharp
and anthropology
professor Sharon Bays. When she was four, the family moved to Los Angeles
. When she was five she recorded her first song. By the age of twelve she played piano
, saxophone
, oboe
, and guitar
, and by her twenties she was performing her jazz/folk songs in L.A.
acoustic venues. Musically, she was inspired by Bonnie Raitt
, Joni Mitchell
, Jackson Browne
and Sting. Sharp studied music theory at California State University, Northridge
and began to focus on song-writing. She came out
as a lesbian
at the age of 23.
and recorded her debut album, Hardly Glamour (1997), on his record label
Ark 21
. Her next album Tinderbox failed to be released when Ark 21 was incorporated into PolyGram
. Three of its songs featured on Sharp's 2002 album Maia Sharp
on Concord
. Her 2005 album Fine Upstanding Citizen
was released by Koch
. 2009's Echo, released by Crooked Crown, is, according to Sharp, her most personal album to date.
During her career, Sharp has collaborated with other musicians including Lisa Loeb
, Carole King
, Jules Shear
and Jonatha Brooke
. As a song-writer, her songs have been recorded by musicians including Cher
, Kim Richey
, Amanda Marshall
, Paul Carrack
, Edwin McCain
, The Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood
and Kathy Mattea
. She collaborated with Art Garfunkel
and Buddy Mondlock on the 2002 album Everything Waits to be Noticed
, Garfunkel's debut as a songwriter.
Sharp contributed the track "Castaway" to the album Music from the Aisle of Lesbos, an album featuring various lesbian artists from different genres. In 2009 Sharp opened for Bonnie Raitt
on several dates. She started a national concert tour in October 2009.
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:While his albums are released under his name, he does have a permanent band, referred to as the Edwin McCain Band...
, and Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel
Arthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, best known as being a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel...
.
Early life
Sharp was born in the Central Valley in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, the only child of country songwriter Randy Sharp
Randy Sharp
Randy Sharp is a country songwriter who has written songs for Clay Walker, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, and the Dixie Chicks. He is also the father of Country singer-songwriter Maia Sharp. In 2002, Sharp released an album titled The Connection....
and anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
professor Sharon Bays. When she was four, the family moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. When she was five she recorded her first song. By the age of twelve she played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and by her twenties she was performing her jazz/folk songs in L.A.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
acoustic venues. Musically, she was inspired by Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
, Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
and Sting. Sharp studied music theory at California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
and began to focus on song-writing. She came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
at the age of 23.
Career
Sharp played her first gig in 1993. Two years later, she met music executive Miles CopelandMiles Copeland III
Miles Axe Copeland III is an American entertainment executive, best known for founding I.R.S. Records. His brother, Stewart Copeland, was part of the pop-rock trio The Police, which Miles managed...
and recorded her debut album, Hardly Glamour (1997), on his record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Ark 21
Ark 21 Records
Ark 21 Records is a record label established by Miles Copeland & Stewart Copeland. The record label is based out of Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California.-Artists:* Ragheb Alamah* Beats Antique* The Badlees* Farrah* Faudel* The Human League* Hakim...
. Her next album Tinderbox failed to be released when Ark 21 was incorporated into PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
. Three of its songs featured on Sharp's 2002 album Maia Sharp
Maia Sharp (album)
Maia Sharp is a 2002 album by American singer-songwriter Maia Sharp. It was released on the Concord Jazz label and produced by Sharp, her father Randy Sharp, and Mark Addison. Randy Sharp co-wrote the track "Crimes of the Witness".-Reception:...
on Concord
Concord Records
Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his...
. Her 2005 album Fine Upstanding Citizen
Fine Upstanding Citizen
-Reception:Writing for Allmusic, Thom Jurek gave the album three and a half stars out of five. He said that it "won't set the charts on fire" but called it "a mature mark from an under-the-radar artist"...
was released by Koch
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
. 2009's Echo, released by Crooked Crown, is, according to Sharp, her most personal album to date.
During her career, Sharp has collaborated with other musicians including Lisa Loeb
Lisa Loeb
Lisa Anne Loeb is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She launched her career in 1994 with the song, "Stay ". She was the first artist to have a number one single in the United States while not signed to a recording contract.Loeb's efforts now include music, film, television, voice-over...
, Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
, Jules Shear
Jules Shear
Jules Mark Shear is a US singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Pittsburgh in 1952. Although he has had only one minor hit as a performer , he has recorded almost 20 albums to date...
and Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist from Illinois.Her music merges elements of folk, rock and pop, often with poignant lyrics and complex harmonies...
. As a song-writer, her songs have been recorded by musicians including Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, Kim Richey
Kim Richey
Kimberly Kay "Kim" Richey is an American singer/songwriter. Though her work fits into the general country music category, her sound is not easily categorized. Her songs have been hits on both the country and pop charts...
, Amanda Marshall
Amanda Marshall
Amanda Meta Marshall is a Canadian pop-rock singer.She grew up in Toronto in a biracial family to a White Canadian father and a Black Trinidadian mother...
, Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
, Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:While his albums are released under his name, he does have a permanent band, referred to as the Edwin McCain Band...
, The Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
and Kathy Mattea
Kathy Mattea
Kathleen Alice "Kathy" Mattea is an American country music and bluegrass performer who often brings folk, Celtic and traditional country sounds to her music. Active since 1983 as a recording artist, she has recorded seventeen albums and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot...
. She collaborated with Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel
Arthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, best known as being a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel...
and Buddy Mondlock on the 2002 album Everything Waits to be Noticed
Everything Waits to Be Noticed
Everything Waits to be Noticed is the ninth solo album by Art Garfunkel, with collaboration from singer-songwriters Maia Sharp and Buddy Mondlock...
, Garfunkel's debut as a songwriter.
Sharp contributed the track "Castaway" to the album Music from the Aisle of Lesbos, an album featuring various lesbian artists from different genres. In 2009 Sharp opened for Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
on several dates. She started a national concert tour in October 2009.
Solo albums
- 1997: Hardly Glamour
- 2002: Maia SharpMaia Sharp (album)Maia Sharp is a 2002 album by American singer-songwriter Maia Sharp. It was released on the Concord Jazz label and produced by Sharp, her father Randy Sharp, and Mark Addison. Randy Sharp co-wrote the track "Crimes of the Witness".-Reception:...
- 2005: Fine Upstanding CitizenFine Upstanding Citizen-Reception:Writing for Allmusic, Thom Jurek gave the album three and a half stars out of five. He said that it "won't set the charts on fire" but called it "a mature mark from an under-the-radar artist"...
- 2009: Echo
Collaborations
- 2002: Everything Waits to be NoticedEverything Waits to Be NoticedEverything Waits to be Noticed is the ninth solo album by Art Garfunkel, with collaboration from singer-songwriters Maia Sharp and Buddy Mondlock...
(with Art GarfunkelArt GarfunkelArthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, best known as being a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel...
and Buddy Mondlock)