Linda Sharar
Encyclopedia
Linda Sharar is an American folk
singer/songwriter. She began singing, playing guitar
, and writing songs as a teenager, inspired by James Taylor
and Neil Young
. While attending college at the University of Virginia
and playing soccer for the school, she performed at open mike
s in Charlottesville, Virginia
. After graduation, she moved to New York City
to begin her career as a singer-songwriter. Linda was active in the group of New York songwriters who gathered weekly at Jack Hardy
's Houston Street apartment, and recorded for Fast Folk
during this time. In 1996, Sharar moved to Cambridge, MA and became involved in New Folk movement then based in and around Boston.
In 1995, Sharar teamed up with musicians Gregg Cagno
and Christian Bauman
and the bands The Marys, Big Happy Crowd and The Amazing Incredibles to create the musical collective Camp Hoboken. The artists collaborated on songs and performances until 1999, and released two recordings. Sharar, Cagno, and Bauman often toured under the Camp Hoboken name, frequently with the late Rachel Bissex
. Bauman later went on to become a novelist, and in interviews with National Public Radio and on Vin Scelsa
's Idiot's Delight
he said that the Camp Hoboken era was the basis for his third novel "In Hoboken" (2008) and that the character of Lou was loosely based on Sharar.
In 1997, Sharar was a co-producer of the Respond compilation, a benefit for domestic violence
causes, and the compilation (including Sharar's song Any Kind of Love) and her own first album, Participate, were both released in 1998. Her second album, Any Second Street, followed in 2001. More recently she has released her third album Everyday, a collection of songs influenced by the birth of her first daughter and the death of her mother.
Linda Sharar continues to perform occasionally, and now lives in Maine.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer/songwriter. She began singing, playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and writing songs as a teenager, inspired by James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
and Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
. While attending college at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and playing soccer for the school, she performed at open mike
Open mike
An open mike or open mic is a live show where audience members may perform at the microphone. Usually, the performers sign up in advance for a time slot with the host or master of ceremonies. These events can be focused on poetry and the spoken word, music, comedy, and the open format of open...
s in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. After graduation, she moved to 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...
to begin her career as a singer-songwriter. Linda was active in the group of New York songwriters who gathered weekly at Jack Hardy
Jack Hardy (singer-songwriter)
John Studebaker "Jack" Hardy was an American lyrical singer-songwriter and playwright based in Greenwich Village, who was influential as a writer, performer, and mentor in the North American and European folk music scenes for decades...
's Houston Street apartment, and recorded for Fast Folk
Fast Folk
Fast Folk Musical Magazine , was a combination magazine and record album published from February 1982 to 1997...
during this time. In 1996, Sharar moved to Cambridge, MA and became involved in New Folk movement then based in and around Boston.
In 1995, Sharar teamed up with musicians Gregg Cagno
Gregg Cagno
Gregg Cagno is an American songwriter and touring performer in the singer/songwriter and folk genres. -Career:Born in 1969, Gregg grew up in Clinton, New Jersey, and now lives in New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is a 2006 ASCAP award winner in the folk category, and was a finalist in the Kerrville Folk...
and Christian Bauman
Christian Bauman
Christian Bauman is an American novelist, essayist, and lyricist. A former soldier, Bauman is arguably best known for his critically acclaimed 2002 debut novel The Ice Beneath You, about the return of a young American soldier from Somalia...
and the bands The Marys, Big Happy Crowd and The Amazing Incredibles to create the musical collective Camp Hoboken. The artists collaborated on songs and performances until 1999, and released two recordings. Sharar, Cagno, and Bauman often toured under the Camp Hoboken name, frequently with the late Rachel Bissex
Rachel Bissex
Rachel Bissex was an award-winning American folk singer/songwriter...
. Bauman later went on to become a novelist, and in interviews with National Public Radio and on Vin Scelsa
Vin Scelsa
Vincent Anthony Scelsa, better known as "Vin," was born on December 12, 1947 in Bayonne, New Jersey. He is the host of a freeform radio show known as Idiot's Delight....
's Idiot's Delight
Idiot's Delight
Idiot's Delight is a 1939 MGM comedy film, with a screenplay adapted from the 1936 Robert E. Sherwood play of the same name, by Sherwood himself. The movie stars Norma Shearer and Clark Gable. It is notable as the only film where Gable sings and dances, performing a version of the Irving Berlin...
he said that the Camp Hoboken era was the basis for his third novel "In Hoboken" (2008) and that the character of Lou was loosely based on Sharar.
In 1997, Sharar was a co-producer of the Respond compilation, a benefit for domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
causes, and the compilation (including Sharar's song Any Kind of Love) and her own first album, Participate, were both released in 1998. Her second album, Any Second Street, followed in 2001. More recently she has released her third album Everyday, a collection of songs influenced by the birth of her first daughter and the death of her mother.
Linda Sharar continues to perform occasionally, and now lives in Maine.