it was perhaps inevitable that Sharon’s music would turn to country/folk neo-traditionalism. From Cort’s early heroes Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and the Byrds, harmony and duet singing has always been at the forefront of her sound. From Johnny & Jack, Dolly Parton, Buck Owens, and the Louvin Brothers, she gained a love of true country music. In 1988, Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Laurie Lewis, and a host of “who’s who” of today’s Americana music began to find a home at an unlikely club called "The Breakaway" in Venice, which had spawned what was coined as a “nu-folk” movement, and summoned the L.A. underground press to pay attention. Soon “coffee houses” began to spring up along the Melrose and Hollywood, hosting some of the best singer-songwriters in today’s music, and Sharon was invited to play regularly.
Together with teacher and mentor Howard Yearwood, they were featured on a CD recorded live "The Best of the Breakaway," and together with singer- songwriter John Gonzalez, performed their brand of acoustic/folk/country all over Southern California. Sharon decided to bring her singing and further her songwriting to Nashville in 1995, performing at the Bluebird Cafe, The Station Inn, and regularly at the gritty Robert’s Western Wear on Broadway (Home of BR5-49). She collaborated with some of Nashville's finest songwriters, including Danny Bear Mayo "Keeper of the Stars."
Sharon branched into a more traditional bluegrass sound alongside Ernie Sykes, Butch Baldassari, Bill Keith & Jeff Wisor as New River Ranch to high praise, and continues to tour extensively in Europe. The original members Howard Yearwood, Tom Corbett, Andrew Paddock & Walden Dahl toured France at the invitation of "Americaen," a French Association who sponsor an American band annu
ally led by William and Nathalie Varall. Highlights of the tour included an appearance at France's premier festival, "Country Rendevous" in Crapponne.
For over two decades now, Sharon has found herself lucky enough to play a small part in the furthering of roots music. This means more to her than any accolades that most artists look for. She continues to tour regularly in Europe, and even performed on French television in Paris in 2007 as part of a tribute to the “Father of French Bluegrass Music,” her late friend Mick Larie. It offered a rare glimpse into American country and roots music, not often seen on French television.
Milan Bogdan
Sharon is excited that Milan Bogdan, legendary engineer & producer and recipient of 10 Grammys, has stepped in to master her latest project, "Country Cafe," recorded at Sidekick Sound by Mark Thornton, a talented producer and guitar player himself.
Sharon explains her sound like this: “I try to do what’s right for the song and tend not to worry too much about fitting into a certain style or mold. I prefer to sing whatever the mood of the song dictates, rather than sound like what you expect to hear.”
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