Sharon Rae North is a talented songstress who sings jazz (straight- ahead, contemporary, smooth, standards). Her latest album, a Smooth Jazz/Adult Contemporary EP titled Sincerely Yours was a first ballot contender in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017 and has had two songs hit the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart, "Lonely Nites" and the title track, "Sincerely Yours."
"Lonely Nites" took off like a rocket, peaking at #15 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart. In addition, It also peaked at #16 on the Smooth Jazz Top 50 chart and spent a significant amount of time on many secondary charts.
Sincerely Yours was produced by two-time Grammy nominated hitmaker Chris “Big Dog” Davis dropped, the first single, a cover of Sting’s “Sister Moon,” immediately soared to #5 Billboard Most Added Smooth Jazz, #4 Smoothjazz.com Top 50 Albums and charted/went on playlists worldwide. It where it peaked at #14 on the U.K. Soul Chart.
Her previous CD “Gee Baby,” a collection of straight-ahead jazz standards, followed in the footsteps of her first studio CD, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, a Smooth Jazz/Adult Contemporary project which continues to receive airplay in markets internationally and has received phenomenal reviews.
Sharon sounds just as good live as she does in the studio. She puts on a fabulous performance and has opened for many national acts, including Bob James, Joe Sample and the Jazz Crusaders, Patti LaBelle. She has been included among opening acts for artists such Chaka Khan, Lalah Hathaway, Stanley Clark, Boney James, Chuck Mangione, Norman Brown, Poncho Sanchez, Marcus Johnson, Bob Baldwin and many others. Following her performances at the Jazz at Maymont festival in Richmond, Va. Baldwin has expressed an interest in working with her.
She has performed at venues throughout the U.S. and abroad, including Serenade en Chalabre Festival in Chalabre, France, Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium, Triad Theater and The Metropolitan Room in New York City, Natalie’s in Columbus, Ohio, Blu Jazz+ in Akron, Ohio, Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, GA, Second Street Festival and Capital Ale House Concert Hall in Richmond, VA, Sambuca in Atlanta, GA, the Hippodrome in Richmond, VA. Isaac Hayes Restaurant in Memphis, Twins Jazz in D.C., James River Cellars in Richmond, VA, Bayfest in Mobile, AL, CenterStage in Richmond, VA, Fridays at Sunset and Jazz at Maymont in Richmond, VA, Durham Summer Music Series in NC.
Sharon has performed and/or recorded with top musicians in the industry, including Chris “Big Dog” Davis (Maysa, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Phil Perry, Alex Bugnon, etc.), vocalist/vocal arranger Fred “Freddyboy” Sawyers (Isaac Hayes, Will Downing), James Lloyd (Pieces of a Dream), piano virtuoso Frank “Buzz” Amato (Curtis Mayfield), Others include, Robert “Mousey” Thompson (James Brown) and Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson (Jimmy Smith), keyboardists Earl Fleming (Tyler Perry band and Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players), the late Keith “Keecho” Rawls (Peabo Bryson and UniverSoul Circus).
Sharon returns to the studio with "Big Dog" and "Freddyboy" in late 2017 to work on her next project. There will be some other renowned producers on the upcoming project as well. Stay tuned.
