Linda Sharrock
Encyclopedia
Linda Sharrock (born Linda Chambers, April 2, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is an American jazz
singer.
Sharrock sang in church choirs as a child. Interested in both folk music
and jazz
, she studied art while in college and became interested in avant garde music. She performed with Pharaoh Sanders in the mid-1960s; late in 1966 she married Sonny Sharrock
and began using the spelling Lynda professionally. She worked with him and Sanders into the early 1970s, as well as with Herbie Mann
(1969-70). One of her best-known performances is on the 1969 Sonny Sharrock album Black Woman, released on Vortex Records. She toured Istanbul
in 1973 and recorded with Joe Bonner
in 1974. She divorced Sharrock in 1978 and returned to using "Linda", though she kept his surname. She moved to Vienna
, where she worked with Franz Koglmann
, Eric Watson
, and Wolfgang Puschnig well into the 1990s. She worked with ensembles such as the Pat Brothers, Red Sun, and AM4 in the 1980s, and with Harry Pepl in 1992.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) is an American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer.
Sharrock sang in church choirs as a child. Interested in both folk music
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....
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, she studied art while in college and became interested in avant garde music. She performed with Pharaoh Sanders in the mid-1960s; late in 1966 she married Sonny Sharrock
Sonny Sharrock
Warren Harding "Sonny" Sharrock was an American jazz guitarist. He was once married to singer Linda Sharrock, with whom he sometimes recorded and performed....
and began using the spelling Lynda professionally. She worked with him and Sanders into the early 1970s, as well as with Herbie Mann
Herbie Mann
Herbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
(1969-70). One of her best-known performances is on the 1969 Sonny Sharrock album Black Woman, released on Vortex Records. She toured Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in 1973 and recorded with Joe Bonner
Joe Bonner
Joe Bonner is a jazz pianist who is featured in The Bonner Party, a jazz quartet.He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and studied at Virginia State College, but indicates he learned more by musicians he worked with. In the seventies he played with Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, and Billy...
in 1974. She divorced Sharrock in 1978 and returned to using "Linda", though she kept his surname. She moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where she worked with Franz Koglmann
Franz Koglmann
Franz Koglmann is an Austrian jazz composer. He performs on both the trumpet and flugelhorn in a variety of contexts, most often within avant-garde jazz and third stream contexts...
, Eric Watson
Eric Watson (musician)
Eric Watson is a US-American jazz pianist and composer living in France.After graduating from Oberlin Conservatory Watson moved to Paris. In 1982 he completed his first trio recording with Paul Motian and Ed Schuller followed by two solo albums...
, and Wolfgang Puschnig well into the 1990s. She worked with ensembles such as the Pat Brothers, Red Sun, and AM4 in the 1980s, and with Harry Pepl in 1992.