Sharon Redd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharon Redd
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Redd in 1988
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| Background information | |
| Born | October 19, 1945 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Origin | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 1, 1992 (aged 46) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1967–1992 |
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Sharon Redd (born October 19, 1945 – died May 1, 1992) was an American singer and actress from New York City. She was known for her powerful voice and hit dance songs. Sharon was also the half-sister of Snap! singer Penny Ford.
Contents
Sharon Redd's Life and Music Journey
Early Life and Family
Sharon Redd was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on October 19, 1945. She came from a very musical family. Her father, Gene Redd, was a music producer and director at King Records. Her stepfather played music with the famous Benny Goodman's orchestra. Sharon's brother, Gene Redd Jr., was also a songwriter and producer for bands like Kool & the Gang. Her half-sister, Penny Ford, is also a well-known singer.
Starting Her Music Career
Sharon began her singing career in 1968. She released four songs with the United Artists record label. A songwriter and producer named Bobby Susser helped her with these first songs. Her very first single was a song called "Half as Much". Sharon's strong voice quickly made her popular on R&B radio stations.
Soon after, Sharon got a big chance to show her acting skills. She starred in an Australian version of the famous rock musical Hair. She was one of several young African American performers who joined the show in Sydney. She performed in Hair from 1969 to 1971.
From Stage to Screen
While in Australia, Sharon became quite famous. She was even interviewed on a TV show called GTK in 1971. She also appeared in popular commercials for Amoco, which led to her own TV special! In 1971, Sharon and her Hair co-star, Teddy Williams, were asked to leave Australia. They believed this was because of their race.
After Hair, Sharon continued acting. She appeared in other plays like Ti-Jean and His Brothers. In 1974, she traveled to London for another play called The Wedding of Iphigenia. Later, in 1977, Sharon played the role of Sherrye in the American TV show Rhoda. In 1978, she also appeared in the musical movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
In the mid-1970s, Sharon joined the famous singer Bette Midler's backing vocal group, the Harlettes. Sharon was chosen after many auditions. Besides singing with Bette Midler, Sharon also provided backing vocals for other artists like Carol Douglas and Norman Connors. After leaving the Harlettes, Sharon, Charlotte Crossley, and Ula Hedwig released an album together in 1977.
Becoming a Solo Star
In 1979, Sharon recorded a popular disco song called "Love Insurance". Soon after, she signed a deal with Prelude Records. She became one of their most successful artists!
Sharon released her first solo album, Sharon Redd, in 1980. She quickly followed it with two more albums: Redd Hott in 1982 and Love How You Feel in 1983. Many of Sharon's songs became hits on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Some of her most famous dance hits include "Beat the Street", "In the Name of Love", and "Love How You Feel".
Later Career and Legacy
After releasing her solo albums, Sharon went back to being a successful backing vocalist. She sang with a group called Soirée, which also included famous singers like Luther Vandross and Jocelyn Brown.
In early 1992, Sharon had another big hit in the UK. It was a new version of her song "Can You Handle It", remixed by the duo DNA. She even performed this song live on the TV show Top of the Pops. After this success, she recorded another song called "All the Way to Love". This was her last solo recording, but it was never officially released.
Sharon Redd was planning a comeback in the early 1990s. Sadly, she passed away on May 1, 1992, due to pneumonia. Her body's defense system had become very weak, which made her unable to fight off the illness.
In 1993, Sharon's voice was featured on a song called "Under Pressure". This song was on her half-sister Penny Ford's album, allowing Sharon's voice to be heard again by her fans.
Her Music Albums
Studio Albums
- Sharon Redd (1980)
- Redd Hott (1982)
- Love How You Feel (1983)
Compilation Albums
- The Classic Redd (1985)
- Beat the Street: The Best of Sharon Redd (1989)
- The Complete Sharon Redd on Prelude 1980–1985 (1990)
- Essential Dancefloor Artists Vol. 3: Sharon Redd (1994)
Popular Singles
Sharon Redd had many popular singles throughout her career. Some of her well-known songs include:
- "Half as Much" (1967)
- "Easy to Be Hard" (1969)
- "Can You Handle It" (1980)
- "Never Give You Up" (1982)
- "Beat the Street" (1982)
- "In the Name of Love" (1982)
- "Love How You Feel" (1983)
- "Can You Handle It" (DNA's re-recording) (1992)
See also
- List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
