Sharon Brown (singer)
Encyclopedia
Sharon Brown is a singer-songwriter
and musician who was born in Harlem
, New York
, U.S.
. She is the niece of songwriter Phil Medley
, who co-wrote the song "Twist and Shout
". She is also the daughter of drummer William Brown, who played with musicians such as The Isley Brothers
and Cannonball Adderley.
Brown sang backup vocals on Aretha Franklin
's disco-themed album from 1979, La Diva. In addition to starting her own music publishing company, Tshaym, she has also worked with acts such as Blood, Sweat & Tears
and Todd Rundgren
.
She wrote and recorded a song called "The Family Tree" in 1981 that, despite receiving club play in both the U.S. and the U.K., has never been officially released. She had a hit single on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
chart in 1982 with the song "I Specialize in Love
", which was written by Lotti Golden and Richard Scher. This song spent three weeks at #2 on the Club Play chart, her only solo song to reach this survey. "I Specialize in Love" was later covered
by the group Exposé in the 1990s. Other songs recorded by Brown in the early to mid-1980s include "Love Don't Hurt People", "Programmed Heart" and "I'll Make You Feel Like the First Time".
In 2003, Brown appeared as the defendant in an episode of The People's Court
. The plaintiff in the case was singer Carol Douglas
, who had entered into an agreement with Brown that caused a dispute between the two singers. Judge Marilyn Milian
asked both to sing briefly, with Brown delivering a snippet of "I Specialize in Love" and Douglas singing from her 1974 disco song, "Doctor's Orders".
Brown resides in New York City
, where she works to raise awareness about gang violence and spread positive messages through her writings and recordings. She is also active in prison ministry.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and musician who was born in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She is the niece of songwriter Phil Medley
Phil Medley
Philip "Phil" Medley was an American songwriter notable for his composition "Twist & Shout", which he wrote along with Bert Russell. The song was made famous by both The Isley Brothers and The Beatles. Medley also co-wrote "If I Didn't Have a Dime" for Gene Pitney with Russell...
, who co-wrote the song "Twist and Shout
Twist and Shout
"Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby" and recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles with John Lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album...
". She is also the daughter of drummer William Brown, who played with musicians such as The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
and Cannonball Adderley.
Brown sang backup vocals on Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
's disco-themed album from 1979, La Diva. In addition to starting her own music publishing company, Tshaym, she has also worked with acts such as Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears is an American music group, originally formed in 1967 in New York City. Since its beginnings in 1967, the band has gone through numerous iterations with varying personnel and has encompassed a multitude of musical styles...
and Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
.
She wrote and recorded a song called "The Family Tree" in 1981 that, despite receiving club play in both the U.S. and the U.K., has never been officially released. She had a hit single on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart in 1982 with the song "I Specialize in Love
I Specialize in Love
"I Specialize in Love" is a song written by Lotti Golden and Richard Scher. It was a hit in U.S. nightclubs in the early 1980s when performed by American singer Sharon Brown, the niece of songwriter Phil Medley...
", which was written by Lotti Golden and Richard Scher. This song spent three weeks at #2 on the Club Play chart, her only solo song to reach this survey. "I Specialize in Love" was later covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by the group Exposé in the 1990s. Other songs recorded by Brown in the early to mid-1980s include "Love Don't Hurt People", "Programmed Heart" and "I'll Make You Feel Like the First Time".
In 2003, Brown appeared as the defendant in an episode of The People's Court
The People's Court
The People's Court is a US television court show in which small claims court cases are heard, though what is shown is actually a binding arbitration....
. The plaintiff in the case was singer Carol Douglas
Carol Douglas
Carol Douglas is an American singer whose hit "Doctor's Orders" was a pioneer track in the disco genre.-Early life and acting career:...
, who had entered into an agreement with Brown that caused a dispute between the two singers. Judge Marilyn Milian
Marilyn Milian
Marilyn Milian, , is a former Florida state circuit court judge and currently presides over the American television program The People's Court. She is the first female judge to preside over the long-running show and the second longest-running judge overall.-Early life and education:Born to Cuban...
asked both to sing briefly, with Brown delivering a snippet of "I Specialize in Love" and Douglas singing from her 1974 disco song, "Doctor's Orders".
Brown resides in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she works to raise awareness about gang violence and spread positive messages through her writings and recordings. She is also active in prison ministry.