Sharon Robinson
Encyclopedia
Sharon Robinson is an American
songwriter, record producer
, and vocalist. She is best known as a frequent writing collaborator with Leonard Cohen
, although she has written songs for a number of other artists as well, including Aaron Neville
, Diana Ross
, Don Henley
, Randy Crawford
, Roberta Flack
, The Temptations
and others.
in West Virginia. Halfway to her degree, money and music proved a stronger draw, so she left school to front a touring Top-40 band for several years. Burnout on the road brought her back to college; this time to the California Institute of the Arts
to study music.
She toured as back-up singer for Cohen in 1979 and 1980, and then again in 2008, 2009 and 2010. They collaborated on writing his much acclaimed songs "Everybody Knows" and "Waiting for the Miracle", released in 1988 and 1992 respectively. In 2001 she co-wrote, produced, arranged and performed the backing tracks (as well as appearing alongside Cohen on the cover) for his album Ten New Songs
. Robinson also contributed to three tracks on Cohen's 2004 album Dear Heather
, and duetted with Cohen on "The Letters".
She was awarded a Grammy in 1985 for the song "New Attitude
" (from Beverly Hills Cop
soundtrack), recorded by Patti LaBelle
.
In 2004, Sharon Robinson gave a full-length interview discussing her life, career and work with Leonard Cohen (available on her site).
In 2005, Robinson's new song "The High Road" was performed by Bettye LaVette
on her album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise
, which was picked as #59 at Amazon's best of 2005 Editor's picks. Robinson's recent work also includes the songs written for Chris Botti
.
In 2008, Robinson released her debut solo album Everybody Knows, which includes three songs she co-wrote with Cohen: "Alexandra Leaving," "Everybody Knows," and "Summertime", their first collaboration, originally recorded by Diana Ross
for her 1987 album Red Hot Rhythm & Blues
. The set also includes "The High Road", and 6 new tracks written by Robinson.
On October 27, 2008, Vibrant Records released Everybody Knows in the United Kingdom and Europe, replacing the original artwork from Leonard Cohen with a photo of Robinson. In February 2009, Vibrant Records closed its doors due to the bankruptcy of its distributor Pinnacle. In April 2009, UK label Freeworld Records re-released Everybody Knows in Europe with the original Leonard Cohen drawn cover art. Sharon self-released the album in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and vocalist. She is best known as a frequent writing collaborator with Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, although she has written songs for a number of other artists as well, including Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
, Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
, Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
, Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
, The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
and others.
Biography
She excelled in school as well, and as a National Merit semi-finalist she earned a scholarship to Salem CollegeSalem College
Salem College is a liberal arts women's college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina founded in 1772. Originally established as a primary school, it later became an academy and finally a college. It is the oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college...
in West Virginia. Halfway to her degree, money and music proved a stronger draw, so she left school to front a touring Top-40 band for several years. Burnout on the road brought her back to college; this time to the California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
to study music.
She toured as back-up singer for Cohen in 1979 and 1980, and then again in 2008, 2009 and 2010. They collaborated on writing his much acclaimed songs "Everybody Knows" and "Waiting for the Miracle", released in 1988 and 1992 respectively. In 2001 she co-wrote, produced, arranged and performed the backing tracks (as well as appearing alongside Cohen on the cover) for his album Ten New Songs
Ten New Songs
Ten New Songs is Leonard Cohen's tenth studio album, released in 2001. It was co-written and produced by Sharon Robinson. She played all the instruments except Bob Metzger's guitar on 'In My Secret Life'...
. Robinson also contributed to three tracks on Cohen's 2004 album Dear Heather
Dear Heather
Dear Heather is Leonard Cohen's eleventh studio album, released in 2004.It shows a further departure from Ten New Songs, with more female lead singing and a marked increase in read poetry over sung lyrics, two of these being poems by other writers....
, and duetted with Cohen on "The Letters".
She was awarded a Grammy in 1985 for the song "New Attitude
New Attitude (song)
"New Attitude" is a song performed by Patti LaBelle and written by Sharon Teresa Robinson, Jon Gilutin, and Bunny Hull. It was released in January 1985 and helped launch LaBelle's solo career as a pop music singer after the singer had spent seven years without a hit following the break-up of...
" (from Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop is a 1984 American comedy-action film directed by Martin Brest and starring Eddie Murphy, Lisa Eilbacher, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, and Ronny Cox...
soundtrack), recorded by Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
.
In 2004, Sharon Robinson gave a full-length interview discussing her life, career and work with Leonard Cohen (available on her site).
In 2005, Robinson's new song "The High Road" was performed by Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette is an American soul singer-songwriter who made her first record at sixteen, but achieved only intermittent fame until 2005, with her album, I've Got My Own Hell to Raise...
on her album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise
I've Got My Own Hell to Raise
I've Got My Own Hell to Raise by Bettye LaVette was released September 27, 2005 on the label ANTI-. The album comprises covers of songs written by other female artists including Aimee Mann, Joan Armatrading, Sinéad O'Connor, Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton and Fiona Apple, whose song "Sleep to Dream"...
, which was picked as #59 at Amazon's best of 2005 Editor's picks. Robinson's recent work also includes the songs written for Chris Botti
Chris Botti
Christopher Stephen "Chris" Botti , is an American trumpeter and composer. In 2007, Botti was nominated for two Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album. On December 4, 2009, he was nominated for three more Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Long Form Music Video...
.
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
for her 1987 album Red Hot Rhythm & Blues
Red Hot Rhythm & Blues
Red Hot Rhythm & Blues is a 1987 album released by Diana Ross on the RCA label. The album was the last contractual album the singer released on RCA before heading back to Motown Records the end of the following year...
. The set also includes "The High Road", and 6 new tracks written by Robinson.
On October 27, 2008, Vibrant Records released Everybody Knows in the United Kingdom and Europe, replacing the original artwork from Leonard Cohen with a photo of Robinson. In February 2009, Vibrant Records closed its doors due to the bankruptcy of its distributor Pinnacle. In April 2009, UK label Freeworld Records re-released Everybody Knows in Europe with the original Leonard Cohen drawn cover art. Sharon self-released the album in the U.S.