Sharon Forrester
Encyclopedia
Sharon Forrester is a Jamaica
n reggae
singer who had success in the 1970s and 1990s.
in 1956, Forrester was born into a musical family and began singing at an early age, singing in church choirs from the age of six. After performing to tourists on Jamaica's north coast, she appeared on television alongside Richard Ace, and was introduced to Geoffrey Chung
. She had success in 1973 with the single "Silly Wasn't I", produced by Chung and backed by his Now Generation Band
, and performed alongside The Wailers at the Ethiopian Benefit Concert later that year. Chung also produced her debut album, Sharon, mostly recorded in the United Kingdom
in 1974 due to a musicians strike in Jamaica. While in the UK, she appeared in the BFI
film Moon Over the Alley alongside Danny Ray
. In the autumn of 1974 she was part of the Jamaica Showcase international tour, along with Dennis Brown
, The Maytals, and Cynthia Richards
, and she also appeared on the UK television show Aquarius, performing a version of George Harrison
's "Here Comes the Sun
". For much of the next twenty years she only recorded intermittently, and worked occasionally as a backing vocalist, but returned with the "Love Inside" single in 1994, which was a top 50
hit in the UK, and the This Time album in 1996. Since then she has provided guest vocals or backing vocals on recordings by other artists including Alpha Blondy
, Burning Spear
, Jimmy Cliff
, The Heptones
, and Yami Bolo
.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
singer who had success in the 1970s and 1990s.
Biography
Born in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in 1956, Forrester was born into a musical family and began singing at an early age, singing in church choirs from the age of six. After performing to tourists on Jamaica's north coast, she appeared on television alongside Richard Ace, and was introduced to Geoffrey Chung
Geoffrey Chung
Geoffrey Chung was a Jamaican musician, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:Chung was born in 1950 in Kingston, Jamaica...
. She had success in 1973 with the single "Silly Wasn't I", produced by Chung and backed by his Now Generation Band
Now Generation Band
The Now Generation Band was a Jamaican reggae band during the late 1960s into the 1970s. Beginning as a dance band on the road, they gradually undertook more recording dates and, in 1972, quit road work to concentrate on studio work....
, and performed alongside The Wailers at the Ethiopian Benefit Concert later that year. Chung also produced her debut album, Sharon, mostly recorded in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1974 due to a musicians strike in Jamaica. While in the UK, she appeared in the BFI
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
film Moon Over the Alley alongside Danny Ray
Danny Ray
Danny Ray, is an American tenor saxophonist, known for his exploding sax style, evolved from early punk rock and R&B roots....
. In the autumn of 1974 she was part of the Jamaica Showcase international tour, along with Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
, The Maytals, and Cynthia Richards
Cynthia Richards
Cynthia Richards is a Jamaican singer whose career began in the 1960s.-Biography:Born in Disney Land, Kingston, Jamaica, in 1944, Richards attended the Denham Town Primary School where after impressing teachers with a performance at an end-of-term concert she was encouraged to appear on the Vere...
, and she also appeared on the UK television show Aquarius, performing a version of George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
's "Here Comes the Sun
Here Comes the Sun
"Here Comes the Sun" is a song by George Harrison from The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road. It is regarded as one of the most popular Beatles songs. The song was written while Harrison was away from all of these troubles...
". For much of the next twenty years she only recorded intermittently, and worked occasionally as a backing vocalist, but returned with the "Love Inside" single in 1994, which was a top 50
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
hit in the UK, and the This Time album in 1996. Since then she has provided guest vocals or backing vocals on recordings by other artists including Alpha Blondy
Alpha Blondy
Alpha Blondy is a reggae singer and international recording artist. Alpha Blondy was born Seydou Koné in Dimbokro, Côte d'Ivoire. He sings mainly in his native language of Dioula, in French and English, and sometimes in Arabic or Hebrew...
, Burning Spear
Burning Spear
Winston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.-History:...
, Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican musician, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...
, The Heptones
The Heptones
The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady with their three-part harmonies.-History:Leroy Sibbles, Earl...
, and Yami Bolo
Yami Bolo
Yami Bolo is a Jamaican reggae singer and performer.-Biography:Rolando Ephraim McLean, better known as Yami Bolo, is a Jamaican reggae singer, musician, artist, and performer. He was born on October 1, 1970 and grew up in Kingston 13...
.