Sharon Higgins
Encyclopedia
Sharon Higgins was an American country and gospel
songwriter
. Born in Bonne Terre, Missouri
, Higgins was one of twelve children. When she was nine, her father was killed in a car accident. The loss impacted her greatly. However, music became an outlet for her and she poured herself into the craft.
was an important theme throughout Higgins' life. A love of God and family was instilled in her at an early age and she credited the Lord with saving her life at the age of five when she was stricken with pneumonia
and whooping cough. After the death of her father August "Gus" Black in 1950, Higgins found it difficult to "fit in" in the large family, but felt it was her duty to take care of the little ones left behind. Her mother, Mildred (Blanton), was forced to work several jobs to support the family. Higgins' education
was ultimately put on hold so she could do her part. At the age of 17, Higgins married and left home. By the age of 21, she had her first child. The marriage was tumultuous and ended not long after the birth of their daughter. In an effort to support herself, Higgins went to work and started writing.
. While working the assembly line and dealing with revelations in her own marriage, Higgins penned the words to "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)
". Not long after, she took the very last train from St. Louis to the Union Train Station
in Nashville, Tennessee
.
The next day, Higgins got up, packed her guitar, and headed to Music Row
. She stumbled into the Surefire Music
offices of the Wilburn Brothers. The receptionist told her Teddy Wilburn had no openings that day, but Higgins was determined to wait. That evening as Teddy Wilburn started to leave for the day, he saw the 27-year-old woman on the couch. He felt sorry for her and agreed to hear her songs. That meeting changed her life. Wilburn signed her to an artist development deal
that very day. She was just the second woman to sign such a deal with the company; the first was Loretta Lynn
.
, "Love Ain't Gonna Die" Mel Tillis
, "The Only Way to Hold Your Man" (title cut) Norma Jean, and "Hold on Woman" Jeannie Pruett.
Higgins also helped her siblings find success in country music
. Her brother Damon Black was a close friend to Porter Wagoner
and the father of bluegrass
, Bill Monroe
. Both men recorded his several of his songs. In addition, Higgins sister Joyce McCord had a hit with "Always Always", a duet by Dolly Parton
and Porter Wagoner.
. The song was a co-write with Kris Bergsnes and Lynn Langham. The album was Wynonna's first solo project after leaving The Judds
and it reached triple platinum status. Higgins' faith was the foundation of her life and she loved to write gospel music. In 1994, "I Saw the Master This Morning", a co-write with Dave Gillon and Margie Crumbie, was recorded by Bill Harrell and the Virginians. In 2002, The Oak Ridge Boys
recorded "Beneath the Christmas Tree" a co-write with Jeff Pearson for their "An Inconvenient Christmas" album.
problems most of her adult life. On January 2, 2003 she grew ill. She died on January 3, 2003 at her home in White House, Tennessee
. She was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in White House, where her family still resides. She is survived by her husband and both daughters.
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Born in Bonne Terre, Missouri
Bonne Terre, Missouri
Bonne Terre is a city in St. Francois County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated in 2008 as 6,854. It was 4,039 at the 2000 census. The community was originally settled by the French in 1720 after lead ore was discovered...
, Higgins was one of twelve children. When she was nine, her father was killed in a car accident. The loss impacted her greatly. However, music became an outlet for her and she poured herself into the craft.
Early life
FaithFaith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
was an important theme throughout Higgins' life. A love of God and family was instilled in her at an early age and she credited the Lord with saving her life at the age of five when she was stricken with pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and whooping cough. After the death of her father August "Gus" Black in 1950, Higgins found it difficult to "fit in" in the large family, but felt it was her duty to take care of the little ones left behind. Her mother, Mildred (Blanton), was forced to work several jobs to support the family. Higgins' education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
was ultimately put on hold so she could do her part. At the age of 17, Higgins married and left home. By the age of 21, she had her first child. The marriage was tumultuous and ended not long after the birth of their daughter. In an effort to support herself, Higgins went to work and started writing.
Music Row success
In 1968, Higgins took a job at a factory in St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. While working the assembly line and dealing with revelations in her own marriage, Higgins penned the words to "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)
Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)
"Woman of the World is a 1969 single written by Sharon Higgins and recorded by Loretta Lynn. The single was from the LP Woman of the World / To Make a Man and was Loretta Lynn's third number one on the country charts. "The single spent one week at the top and a total of fifteen weeks on the...
". Not long after, she took the very last train from St. Louis to the Union Train Station
Union Station (Nashville)
Nashville's Union Station is a former railroad terminal opened in 1900 to serve the passenger operations of the eight railroads then providing passenger service to Nashville, Tennessee...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
The next day, Higgins got up, packed her guitar, and headed to Music Row
Music Row
Music Row is an area just to the southwest of Downtown Nashville, Tennessee that is home to hundreds of businesses related to the country music, gospel music, and Contemporary Christian music industries...
. She stumbled into the Surefire Music
Surefire Music Group
Surefire Music Group is a production company that provides production, marketing, publishing, and talent networking services. Surefire has three subsidiaries: Surefire Recording Studios, Surefire Management, and Surefire Publishing.-History:...
offices of the Wilburn Brothers. The receptionist told her Teddy Wilburn had no openings that day, but Higgins was determined to wait. That evening as Teddy Wilburn started to leave for the day, he saw the 27-year-old woman on the couch. He felt sorry for her and agreed to hear her songs. That meeting changed her life. Wilburn signed her to an artist development deal
Artist development deal
An artist development deal is often the first of a recording artist's contracts with a major record label. In lieu of high royalties or other desirable rights, the label will promise to develop the skills and public profile of the artist...
that very day. She was just the second woman to sign such a deal with the company; the first was Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
.
Early music
In 1969, the song "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)" was recorded by Loretta Lynn and climbed to #1 on the Billboard Country Music Chart. The song earned Higgins the BMI Citation of Achievement. Higgins found other success with songs like "When You Leave My World" Loretta Lynn, "All I Got Left" Norma JeanNorma Jean (singer)
Norma Jean Beasler , better known as Norma Jean, is an American country music singer who was a member of The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961–1967. She had a number of country singles in the Top 10 and Top 20 between 1963 and 1967, including "Go Cat Go" and "The Game of Triangles", and was...
, "Love Ain't Gonna Die" Mel Tillis
Mel Tillis
Lonnie Melvin Tillis , known professionally as Mel Tillis, is an American country music singer. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s, with a long list of Top 10 hits....
, "The Only Way to Hold Your Man" (title cut) Norma Jean, and "Hold on Woman" Jeannie Pruett.
Marriage and family
Higgins was married at the age of 17. The marriage resulted in one child, Sherry Anne, and ended when Higgins was in her early twenties. She met and married Jerry Higgins in 1965, the marriage lasted ten years. The couple had no children. In 1976, Higgins met and married Ray Loafman. In 1980, the couple had a baby girl, Bethany Brooke. The marriage lasted until her death in 2003.Higgins also helped her siblings find success in country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. Her brother Damon Black was a close friend to Porter Wagoner
Porter Wagoner
Porter Wayne Wagoner was a popular American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. He introduced the young Dolly Parton near the beginning of her career on his long-running television show, and they were a well-known duet throughout the late 1960s and...
and the father of bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
. Both men recorded his several of his songs. In addition, Higgins sister Joyce McCord had a hit with "Always Always", a duet by Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
and Porter Wagoner.
Music of the 1990s and 2000s
In 1992, Higgins' career shot back with the recording of "All of that Love from Here" by Wynonna JuddWynonna Judd
Wynonna Ellen Judd is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds...
. The song was a co-write with Kris Bergsnes and Lynn Langham. The album was Wynonna's first solo project after leaving The Judds
The Judds
The Judds were an American country music duo composed of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna Judd. Signed to RCA Records in 1983, the duo released six studio albums between then and 1991. One of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds won five Grammy Awards for Best Country...
and it reached triple platinum status. Higgins' faith was the foundation of her life and she loved to write gospel music. In 1994, "I Saw the Master This Morning", a co-write with Dave Gillon and Margie Crumbie, was recorded by Bill Harrell and the Virginians. In 2002, The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet.The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s...
recorded "Beneath the Christmas Tree" a co-write with Jeff Pearson for their "An Inconvenient Christmas" album.
Death
Higgins had battled heartHeart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
problems most of her adult life. On January 2, 2003 she grew ill. She died on January 3, 2003 at her home in White House, Tennessee
White House, Tennessee
White House is a city in Robertson and Sumner counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The population was 7,220 at the 2000 census. According to the city website a special census was conducted in 2008 that placed the city population at 9,891 residents, with 3,587 households within the city limits...
. She was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in White House, where her family still resides. She is survived by her husband and both daughters.
External links
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_of_the_World_(Leave_My_World_Alone)
- http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=BMI&cae=63368765&keyID=155316&keyname=HIGGINS+SHARON&querytype=WriterID