Sharon Shannon

Sharon Shannon (born November 12, 1968 in Corofin, County Clare) is an Irish musician. She is best known for her work with the accordion and for her fiddle technique. She also plays the tin whistle and melodeon. Her 1991 album "Sharon Shannon" is the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released thereref|bio. Beginning with Irish folk music, her work demonstrates a wide-ranging number of musical influences, including reggae, cajun music, Portuguese music, and French Canadian music. Her single "What You Make It (da, da, da, da)" featured hip hop music artists.

Early life

At eight years old, Shannon began performing with Disirt Tola, a band from County Clare. With Disirt Tola, Shannon toured the United States at age fourteenref label|RH|2|b.

Shannon also worked as a competitive showjumper, but gave it up at age sixteen to focus on her performing musicref|RH.

Shannon similarly abandoned studying at University College Cork.

In the mid-1980s, Shannon studied the accordion with Karen Tweedref|AMGbio and the fiddle with Frank Custy, and performed with the band Arcady, of which she was a founding memberref label|RH|2|a.

Early recording career - The Waterboys

Shannon began her own recording career in 1989, working with producer John Dunford and musicians such as Adam Clayton, Mike Scott and Steve Wickham. The work with Scott and Wickham led to Shannon's joining their band, The Waterboys. Shannon was with the band for eighteen months, and contributed both accordion and fiddle to their "Room to Roam" album. Like Wickham, she left the group when Scott and group member Anthony Thistlethwaite wanted to move the band back to a more rock and roll sound.

With Disirt Tola, Shannon toured the United States at age fourteenref label|RH|2|b, whereas her first world tour was with The Waterboys.

First solo recordings

Her 1991 album "Sharon Shannon" is the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released thereref|bio.

Shannon's solo work has achieved remarkable airplay and commercial success, especially in Ireland. After her inclusion on "A Woman's Heart", a compilation album and a tribute to her work on The Late Late Show, Shannon's music received a great deal of exposure, contributing to the record-breaking sales of her debut album [http://www.allcelticmusic.com/artists/Sharon%20Shannon.html All Celtic Music Review] .

Sharon's second album, "Out The Gap" (1994), was produced by Dennis (Blackbeard) Bovell and had a distinctly reggae feel.

Sharon's fourth album titled "Spellbound" was released in September 1998. This compilation featured new material, live tracks and also tracks from previous albums.

Also in 1998 Sharon was asked by violinist Nigel Kennedy to join a him in performing on his "Jimi Hendrix Suite", later performing this work in some major European cities [http://www.allcelticmusic.com/artists/Sharon%20Shannon.html All Celtic Music Review] .

Her 2000 album, "The Diamond Mountain Sessions", which included vocals from a wide variety of artists, was also a commercial success, being certified triple platinum.

Shannon recorded with Steve Earle on the song "The Galway Girl", which was released on both Earle's album "Transcendental Blues", and Shannon & Friends' "The Diamond Mountain Sessions". Both albums were released in 2000.

Another collaboration with Earle was the instrumental "Dominic Street", released on Earle's 2002 album "Sidetracks". Shannon has also worked with Jackson Browne, the band Coolfin, Dónal Lunny, Kirsty MacColl, Christy Moore, Sinéad O'Connor, Liam O'Maonlai, and John Prine, amongst others.

Later work

In 2004 Sharon Shannon released the album Libertango with guest spots from Roisin Elsafty, Sinéad O'Connor and the late Kirsty MacColl.

In 2005, she appeared on Tunes, a collaboration with Frankie Gavin, Michael McGoldrick, and Judy Murray.

In 2006 a celebration of 15 years of recording came out with The Sharon Shannon Collection 1990-2005 .

In 2007 Shannon has worked with Belinda Carlisle for her album Voila.

As a solo musician, Sharon Shannon has toured Australia, Europe, Hong Kong, and Japan. She has also performed for politicians such as Bill Clinton, Mary Robinson and Lech Wałęsa. Shannon has played benefit concerts for causes that she supports, such as animal welfareref|news.

She continues to record her music and perform with her tour band, The Woodchoppers. A live version of "Galway Girl" recorded with Mundy was the most downloaded track in Ireland in 2007, winning a Meteor Award.

Discography

Albums

*"Sharon Shannon" (1991)
*"Out the Gap" (1994)
*"Each Little Thing" (1997)
*"The Diamond Mountain Sessions" (2000)
*"Live in Galway" (2002)
*"Libertango" (2003)
*"Tunes" (2005)
*"collection 1990-2005" (2006)
*"Live at Dolans CD & DVD" (2007)
*"Renegade" (2007)

Videography

*"Live at Dolans" (2007)

Notes

# cite web | title=Sharon Shannon biography 2005 | work=The Daisy Label, archived at The Internet Archive | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060524151625/http://www.daisydiscs.com/ss/public_html/Sharon+Shannon+Biography+2005.pdf | accessdate=July 06 | accessyear=2008|format=PDF
# note label|RH|2|a note label|RH|2|b cite web | title=Sharon Shannon | work=RamblingHouse | url=http://www.iol.ie/~ronolan/shan.html | accessdate=October 30 | accessyear=2005
# cite web | title=Sharon Shannon biography | work=All Music Guide | url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE5721EDF4FA97620CE993A48C5AD23A1598B63E38F162F451BDFBA3C548E197BF159D9A584FDFB75AB7AAFE02CA45A0A9FCEE457FED6673D2DED93&sql=11:4n831v0jzzpa~T1 | accessdate=October 30 | accessyear=2005
# cite web | title=News | work=The Daisy Label, archived at The Internet Archive | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20051030035728/http://www.daisydiscs.com/ss/index.htm | accessdate=July 06 | accessyear=2008

References

External links

* [http://www.daisydiscs.com/ss/ Sharon Shannon homepage]