Sharrie Williams knows how to sing the Blues…. Because she’s lived
the Blues….
Born
and raised in the projects of Saginaw, Michigan, Sharrie grew up
surrounded by music and singing her entire childhood, being raised in a
musical family. “My Aunt and Grandma were jazz singers, my father was a
gospel/jazz singer in the 1950’s and 1960’s, my brother is a gospel
singer and my mother was a gospel singer. Our house was like a Juke
Joint…..Singing, drinking, dancing and the blues playing, with chicken
and fish fryin.”She teamed up with The WiseGuys in 1997, and began
appearing regularly at Chicago’s renowned Blues Clubs such as Kingston
Mines and Buddy Guy’s Legends.
By 1998 Sharrie Williams and The Wiseguys were on their way to Europe.
They started with performances in Germany, and by 2004 they had toured
Holland, France, Italy the Netherlands, Spain, Africa, Sweden,
Switzerland, Canada and Great Britain. In April 2004 Sharrie released
“Hard Drivin’ Woman “on the German label Crosscut Records, to
international acclaim throughout Europe and the United States.
Word spread back to the US about her captivating performances and rock
solid recording. She performed at US festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival and the Pocono Blues Festival soon thereafter. Her CD
sales at the Pocono Blues Festival were at the top of sales records for
this storied event, a major contributor in introducing her to the
American blues market.
Over her years Sharrie has had the opportunity to collaborate with
national recording artists such as Larry McCray and Ron Prince. Her
influences are Koko Taylor, Etta James, Pattie Labelle, Aretha Franklin
and the legendary Billie Holiday - they have all helped form her unique
style. She is poised for the next level. “I love what I do! I can play
for five people and feel like I played for 60.000.”
Sharrie’s unique style of “Rockin’ Gospel Blues” is surrounded by strong
and powerful vocals and arrangements, with songs that grab your soul,
like “Hard Drivin’ Woman,” “Travellin’” and “Blues Lover”. Sharrie
touches souls with her talent and passion for her music, combined with
her smoky, sexy and imitable style she always leaves her audience
calling for one more song. She emerges with grace as a humble and rock
solid professional, a talented songstress that stands on her own.
“Having lived the blues, I sing to inspire people, Not to let the
blues get the best of you”.
In January 2007, Sharrie signed a recording contract with the
Canadian based Blues label Electro-Fi Records. Andrew Galloway President
& Founder, reports “Sharrie Williams is extremely talented and at the
forefront of a new generation of Women Blues Artists. We are delighted
to welcome her to the Electro-Fi label”.
The record will be released Worldwide in June 2007, Sharrie and the Band
will be touring extensively throughout the USA and Europe in support of
this release.