Sharon Anderson Biography
Sharon Anderson was a recording artist for Capitol, Curb, Liberty and Royalty records between the late 80’s and mid 90’s, writing for various publishing companies on the famed music row in Nashville, and touring the midwestern and southern United States.
Before that she had been raised in and travelled throughout northwestern Canada, hopping from town to town playing a single in pubs and lounges along pipeline, oilrig, logging, and farming communities, in cities and all along the upper west coast.
Her adventures took her through remote forest areas, the great Canadian Rockies, prairies, and foothills of Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Yukon, making regular stops at ski hills and pristine scenic areas like Whistler, Banff, Jasper, and many “off the beaten trail” destinations that were just as beautiful. Her music reflected the stylings of Country, Blues, R&B, and Folk – depending on what venues she gigged at, and whether she was in a duo, trio or band at any given time. Her influences were the Canadian greats; Joni Mitchell, Ian Tyson, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, and the Band.
She also loved James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, The Beatles, Sinatra, and Ray Charles, among hundreds of others. In the realm of true Country music, her biggest influence was Merle Haggard. As a teen in the mid 70’s she listened to the great Rock bands of that era and the groups she played with out of Edmonton emulated those styles also, mixed in with their many flavored originals. It was a grand time and the north was pristine… no cell phone towers, satellites or computers with no attachment to any one place.
Sharon led the life of a travelling gypsy. After heading south and meeting her husband in the late 80’s near Nashville, she settled down, had a son and daughter and began working day jobs. She studied programming in college, and did some cabinet shop work, cad drafting/ interior architectural design, then Photoshop and bookblock editing work for the iconic Ingram book company for many years.
So, writing music, the road, and performing writers nights, took a back burner. Still, she has been crafting songs with a fresh ingenuity and passion, using software at her home desk.
With the help of friends in the Nashville area, Sharon has stayed prolific. These later songs are of a free nature, no longer bound by the thought of commercialism, and they cover a variety of subject matter, from ancestral integrity stories, to heroic portraits of say, a little racehorse who help saved the US troops during the Korean war. Then there is the plight of the wild horses in the Chicolten area of British Columbia, and inspirational matters-of-the-heart-songs. As she grows older, her sensitivities are reflected ever more intently in a unique art form, and among the songs you will see at the music store on this site, you will find a wide variety of new and old.
Thoughtful philosophies weaved into poetic melodies, spiritual gems, and good old folk and contemporary country tunes, something for everybody. She has performed with acts like Charlie Rich, Dan Seals, Gene Watson, Jo-dee Messina, Nitty Gritty Dirt band, Tom T Hall, Ian Tyson and even Wilf Carter. She has been produced by and has written with many Nashville industry greats.
Sharon has written songs for over 70 artists including the Judds, Susan Jacks, One Horse Blue, Lucille Starr, Lisa Brokop, Cris Cuddy and Kim Beggs. She has had three top 10s in Canada and especially prizes a successful songwriting partnership with a folk-harmony trio called Trinity Lane in the late 80’s (Curb records). Sharon has written three books, illustrated by sister Ollie Anderson, that are also available. More to come. Thanks for staying tuned!
