SHARRIE WILLIAMS
BIO NL
Het Rabot 23.30-00.30
Sharrie Williams 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 frying.” 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 all over Europe including Holland at the 14th edition Of An Evening With The Blues with a lot of success. In April of the same year 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”.
2009 was for Sharrie a highlight when she appeared at the North Sea Jazz festival. The crowd went crazy. A year later she was nominated in the category Soul Blues Female Artist Of The Year.
Now back at Tiel as the headliner for the 20th edition!
Line Up
Sharrie Williams, vocals
Lars Kutschke, guitar
Pietro Tauscher, piano, keyboards,
Attila Herr, bass
Ryant Bryan, drums
Discography
- I’m Here To Stay
- Hard Drivin’ Woman
- Real Woman
- Live
DVD
Live At Bay-Car Blues festival
Website
www.sharriewilliams.com
Announcer: Peter de Wit
Stagemanagers: Walter Post & Cees van Vianen
Sound: Atlantic Productions
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