Sharon Redd

{{Short description|American singer (1945–1992)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = Sharonredd.jpg | caption = Redd in 1988 | name = Sharon Redd | background = solo_singer | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date |1945|10|19}} | birth_place = Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1992|05|01|1945|10|19}} | origin = New York City, U.S. | instrument = Vocals | genre = {{hlist|R&B|house|post-disco<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sharon-redd-mn0000744730/biography|title=Artist Biography|first=Andy|last=Kellman|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=December 22, 2008}}</ref>}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|actress}} | years_active = 1967–1992 | label = {{hlist|United Artists|Prelude}} | associated_acts = {{hlist|Bette Midler|the Harlettes}} | website = }} '''Sharon Redd''' (October 19, 1945 – May 1, 1992)<ref name="soulw"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=454}}</ref> was an American singer from New York City. She was the half sister of Snap! singer Penny Ford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snapmusic90.com|title=Snap! with Penny Ford official website|accessdate=January 17, 2022}}</ref>

==Life and career== Redd was born on October 19, 1945, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Gene and Katherine Redd. Gene Redd was a producer and musical director at King Records, and her stepfather performed with Benny Goodman's orchestra.<ref name="AllMusic"/> Her brother Gene Redd Jr. was a songwriter and producer for Kool & the Gang and the band BMP.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharon Redd|work=Baltimore Afro-American|date=February 14, 1981|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BOkmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HgMGAAAAIBAJ&dq=sharon-redd&pg=946%2C1199857|accessdate=September 6, 2010}}</ref> Her half-sister Penny Ford is also a singer with two solo albums to her credit and known for her work as the main singer for Snap!, Soul II Soul, and the S.O.S. Band.<ref name="soulw">{{cite web|url=http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Sharon%20Redd.html|title=Sharon Redd Page|website=Soulwalking.co.uk|accessdate=December 10, 2008}}</ref>

She began her recording career with four singles in 1968 for the United Artists label, three written and all four produced by songwriter and record producer Bobby Susser. Susser chose the Hank Williams song "Half as Much" to be Redd's first single. Redd's vocals, against Susser's heavy-bass track, made her presence very quickly known to R&B radio stations.<ref>''Billboard Magazine''. October 1969.</ref> Redd, as a budding actress, got a major break when she starred in an Australian production of the rock musical ''Hair''.<ref name="AllMusic"/> She was among a troupe of young African American imports to the Sydney production, a group which notably included Marcia Hines. Redd appeared in the production from its June 6, 1969, premiere through 1971.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

As Redd was becoming famous in Australia, she was interviewed by Barry Sloane on a 1971 episode of ''GTK''.{{cn|date=January 2022}} Her popular adverts for Amoco led to her own television special. Redd and ''Hair'' co-star Teddy Williams were asked to leave Australia by the Immigration Department in April 1971 for reasons they believed were race-motivated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two blacks from 'Hair' get boot from Australia|work=The Miami News|date=April 9, 1971|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DtIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q_MFAAAAIBAJ&dq=sharon-redd&pg=4885%2C3903083|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718213333/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DtIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q_MFAAAAIBAJ&dq=sharon-redd&pg=4885,3903083|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2012|accessdate=September 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Hair' players await visas|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=April 30, 1971|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DVIVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ceUDAAAAIBAJ&dq=sharon-redd&pg=4453%2C10120768|accessdate=September 6, 2010}}</ref> Aside from ''Hair'', Redd also appeared in ''Ti-Jean and His Brothers'' and, in 1974, traveled to London to star in an American production of ''The Wedding of Iphigenia''.<ref name="AllMusic"/> In 1977 Redd played the role of Sherrye in the U.S. sitcom television series ''Rhoda''.<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0788928/|series=Rhoda|title=To Vegas with Love|date=13 March 1977|season=3|number=24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611075128/https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0788928/|archive-date=June 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|url=https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0788771/|series=Rhoda|title=Johnny's Solo Flight|date=11 December 1977|season=4|number=9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611075136/https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0788771/|archive-date=June 11, 2011}}</ref> 1978 also saw Redd feature as a guest in the musical ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imdb.com/name/nm2222621/|title=Sharon Redd - IMDb|publisher=Akas.imdb.com|date=2009-05-01|accessdate=2012-04-23}}</ref>

In the mid-1970s, Bette Midler was looking to replace Merle Miller and Gail Kantor, both of whom had left after Midler's 1973 tour to pursue their own interests. Midler auditioned over 70 performers, but Redd landed the job, becoming one of Bette's Harlettes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestaggeringharlettes.com/SharonRedd.htm|title=Sharon Redd|publisher=The Staggering Harlettes|date=1945-10-19|accessdate=2012-04-23|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226193058/http://www.thestaggeringharlettes.com/SharonRedd.htm|archivedate=2012-02-26}}</ref> Aside from performing as a Harlette, Redd also provided backing vocals for Carol Douglas ("Burnin'" and "Night Fever") and Norman Connors ("You Are My Starship").<ref name="AllMusic"/> Having ended their association with Midler, Redd, Charlotte Crossley, & Ula Hedwig released an LP, ''Formerly of the Harlettes'', in late 1977. In 1978, RCA Victor released "Love Insurance" on a 12-inch disco as Front Page with Sharon Redd. She was credited on that version.

In 1979, Redd recorded the disco hit "Love Insurance", released by Panorama Records under the name Front Page, her own vocals going uncredited. But she soon signed a recording contract with Prelude Records,<ref name="AllMusic"/> and Redd became the label's most successful artist. Her debut studio album, 1980's self-titled ''Sharon Redd'', was closely followed by two more: ''Redd Hott'' (1982) and ''Love How You Feel'' (1983).<ref name="AllMusic"/> Redd had several charting songs on the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Play chart, including "Beat the Street", "In the Name of Love" and "Love How You Feel".<ref name="VF"/>

After these releases, Redd returned to her successful career as a backing vocalist, most notably with the group Soirée, which also included among its members Luther Vandross and Jocelyn Brown.

In early 1992, she had a UK top 20 hit with a re-recorded version of "Can You Handle It", with "Tom's Diner" remixers DNA and appeared with the duo, singing live vocals, on BBC One's ''Top of the Pops'' on January 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0013cfk|title=Top of the Pops|date=January 30, 1992|website=BBC|accessdate=January 17, 2022}}</ref> Following the success of this new version of "Can You Handle It", she recorded a single entitled "All the Way to Love",<ref name="soulw"/> with L.A. Mix's Les Adams. This was to be her last solo recording and remains unreleased.

In the midst of mounting a comeback in the early 1990s, Redd died of pneumonia on May 1, 1992. ''Dance Music Report'' magazine reported that her death was AIDS-related.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=DMR|title=The First Cut|author=Andyboy|page=3|volume=15|issue=9|date=1992-05-22|quote=The impact of AIDS on the dance music industry has been felt by many on an excruciatingly personal level. News this week of Prelude artist Sharon Redd's recent death due to AIDS once again brought reality into chillingly clear focus.}}</ref> The virus had weakened her immune system, which had become ineffective following the singer stepping on broken glass on stage.

In 1993, Redd's vocals featured on the duet track "Under Pressure", as found on her half-sister Penny Ford's self-titled album. ==Legacy== Despite not being as recognized as other stars, Redd was able to establish herself as a Diva on the disco scene in the late 70s and early 80s.<ref name="stianeriksen">{{cite web|url=https://stianeriksen.com/2012/03/23/sharon-redd-20-years-on/|date=9 June 2023|title=Sharon Redd – 20 Years On….}}</ref> Redd was honored by the National AIDS Memorial, in an online exhibit to commemorate Black History Month along with other celebrities like Sylvester and Arthur Ashe.<ref name="Gay Cities">{{cite web|url=https://www.gaycities.com/articles/52916/black-lives-lost-aids-commemorated-heartbreaking-virtual-exhibition/|date=9 June 2023|title=Black lives lost to AIDS commemorated in heartbreaking virtual exhibition}}</ref><ref name="CBS">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/aids-quilt-display-golden-gate-park-pride-month/|date=26 March 2026|title=Never forgotten; Massive AIDS Quilt display set for Golden Gate Park during Pride Month}}</ref><ref name="Billboard">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/freddie-mercury-eazy-e-sylvester-aids-memorial-quilt-7882487/|date=26 March 2026|title=Freddie Mercury, Eazy-E, Sylvester & More Are Stitched Together in 54-Ton AIDS Memorial Quilt}}</ref> In 2011, Redd was posthumously honored at the 2011 Divas Simply Singing music benefit. Her name was among the number of celebrities featured on a special made red quilt displayed during the event.

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Label ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Format ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |- ! width="45"|US Dance <ref name="VF"/> ! width="45"|UK <ref name="UK"/> |- | 1980 | ''Sharon Redd'' | rowspan="3"|Prelude | rowspan="3"|LP, CD | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- | 1982 | ''Redd Hott'' | align=center | 1 | align=center | 59 |- | 1983 | ''Love How You Feel'' | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- | colspan="6" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |}

===Compilations=== * ''The Classic Redd'' (Prelude, 1985) * ''Beat the Street: The Best of Sharon Redd'' (Unidisc, 1989) * ''The Complete Sharon Redd on Prelude 1980–1985'' (Karamel, 1990) * ''Essential Dancefloor Artists Vol. 3: Sharon Redd'' (Deepbeats, 1994)<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Single ! scope="col" colspan="6"|Peak chart positions |- ! width="45"|US Dance <ref name="VF">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Sharon+Redd.art|title=Sharon Redd Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|work=Music VF|accessdate=September 5, 2020}}</ref> ! width="45"|US R&B <ref name="VF"/> ! width="45"|AUS ! width="45"|UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="UK">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18841/sharon-redd/|title=SHARON REDD - full Official Chart History|work=Official Charts Company|accessdate=September 5, 2020}}</ref> ! width="45"|NL <ref>{{cite web|title=Discografie Sharon Redd|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sharon+Redd|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=20 January 2022|language=Dutch}}</ref> ! width="45"|NZ <ref>{{cite web|title=Discography Sharon Redd|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sharon+Redd|website=charts.org.nz|access-date=20 January 2022}}</ref> |- |rowspan="1"| 1967 | "Half as Much" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="1"| 1968 | "I've Got a Feeling" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="1"| 1969 | "Easy to Be Hard" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | 32 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="2"| 1980 | "Can You Handle It" | align=center | 5 | align=center | 57 | align=center | ― | align=center | 31 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- | "Love Is Gonna Get Ya" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="1"| 1981 | "You Got My Love" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="4"| 1982 | "Never Give You Up" ‡ | rowspan="4" align=center| 1 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | 20 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- | "Beat the Street" ‡ | align=center | 41 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- | "In the Name of Love" ‡ | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | 31 | align=center | 11 | align=center | ― |- | "Takin' a Chance on Love" ‡ | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | 91 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="3"| 1983 | "Love How You Feel" | align=center | 16 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | 39 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- | "You're a Winner" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | 83 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- | "Liar on the Wire" | align=center | 33 | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="1"| 1985 | "Undercover Girl" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="1"| 1988 | "Second to None" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― |- |rowspan="1"| 1992 | "Can You Handle It" (DNA's re-recording) | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | 17 | align=center | 62 | align=center | 41 |- | colspan="8" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |}

‡ Denotes tracks from US Dance-charting LP ''Redd Hot'' which included all cuts.<ref name="VF"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sharon-redd-mn0000744730 AllMusic] * {{discogs artist}} * [http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Sharon%20Redd.html Soulwalking.co.uk] * {{youtube|vjvAXki5Cp0|Max Merritt And The Meteors - Memphis Special (1971)}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Redd, Sharon}} Category:1945 births Category:1992 deaths Category:American boogie musicians Category:American disco musicians Category:American house musicians Category:20th-century African-American women singers Category:Prelude Records artists Category:Musicians from Norfolk, Virginia Category:Deaths from pneumonia in New York City Category:AIDS-related deaths in New York (state) Category:20th-century American singers Category:Harlettes members Category:20th-century American women singers Category:American women in electronic music