Kevin Sharp (country singer)

Infobox musical artist


Name = Kevin Sharp
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Kevin Grant Sharp
Born = birth date and age|1970|12|10
Origin = Redding, California, USA
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Country
Years_active = 1996-present
Label = Elektra/Asylum
Cupit
Associated_acts = Tony Rich
URL = [http://kevinsharp.com Official website]

Kevin Grant Sharp (born December 10, 1970 in city-state|Redding|California) is an American country music artist, author, and motivational speaker. Sharp made his debut on the country music scene in 1997 with a cover of R&B artist Tony Rich's single "Nobody Knows", a cover which topped the "Billboard" country charts for four weeks. Sharp's debut album, "Measure of a Man", was released the same year, producing additional Top 5 singles in "If You Love Somebody" and "She's Sure Taking It Well". A second album for Elektra/Asylum, entitled "Love Is", was released in 1998. It did not perform as well as his first album, however, and he was dropped from their roster. He did not record another album until 2005's "Make a Wish", released on the independent Cupit label.

Having survived a rare form of bone cancer in his teenage years, Sharp has also become actively involved in the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has also written an inspirational book about his experience, and occasionally tours the United States as a motivational speaker, while maintaining his career in country music.

Biography

Early years

Kevin Sharp was born in 1970 in northern California. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Weiser, Idaho to open a restaurant. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gjftxqegldde~T1 allmusic ((( Kevin Sharp > Biography )))] ] Sharp performed in local musicals in high school, and stayed active in music after his family moved back to California in 1985. Starting in 1989, he began to experience dizziness and fatigue. He was later diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, [http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1473372/20030626/kevin_sharp.jhtml CMT.com : Kevin Sharp : Leave It To Mr. Fix It Kevin Sharp] ] and given little chance of recovery. [ [http://www.huntsmancancer.org/publicweb/content/pressreleases/2006_04_06.html From Nashville to Salt Lake City: Kevin Sharp, country singer and cancer survivor, joins local artists for Huntsman Cancer Institute benefit concert April 13] ] [http://www.sharpbook.com/about.html Tragedy's Gift - A Cancer Survival Story - Kevin Sharp] ] Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation (a foundation which helps grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses), sharp met record producer David Foster, with whom he soon became friends. After two years of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Sharp's cancer went into remission by the early 1990s, although he permanently lost all of his hair as a result of the radiation treatment.

Musical career

After overcoming his cancer, Sharp worked at an amusement park in Santa Clara, California, while working on a demo tape, which he sent to various talent shows, and later to David Foster. Foster introduced him to A&R representatives, and by 1996, Sharp was signed to Elektra Records. His debut album, "Measure of a Man", was released in November 1996. The album's lead-off single, a cover of Tony Rich's "Nobody Knows", spent four weeks at Number One on the "Billboard" Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. [http://www.wish.org/supporters/wish_granting_stars/kevin_sharp Make-A-Wish Foundation : Supporters : Wish-Granting Stars] ] He became a spokesperson for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and was awarded the foundation's Wish Granter of the Year Award in 1997; in addition, he was named New Touring Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association, and nominated for Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. In 1998, Sharp collapsed backstage at the TNN Music City News Country Awards, and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, due to problems with steel rods in his hip. As a result, he had to cancel several tour dates. [ [http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1475130/20030731/kevin_sharp.jhtml CMT.com : Kevin Sharp : Sharper Than Ever] ] "Measure of a Man" produced two more Top 5 country singles in "She's Sure Taking It Well" and "If You Love Somebody". However, the album's fourth single, "There's Only You", peaked at #43. His second album, "Love Is", also failed to produce any successful singles, and Sharp was eventually dropped from Elektra's roster.

Sharp continues to perform as a musician, as well as a motivational speaker. He is also a spokesperson for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 2004, he wrote an inspirational book, titled "Tragedy's Gift". His third album, "Make a Wish", was released on the independent Cupit Records label in 2005, although none of its four singles charted.

Discography

Albums

ingles

*^AFailed to chart.

References

External links

* [http://www.kevinsharp.com/ Official website]