Stuart Scharf
Encyclopedia
Stuart Scharf was an American
composer
, guitarist
, and philosopher.
Scharf grew up in Crown Heights and attended Winthrop Junior High School. He was good friends with guitarist Jay Berliner
who was a serious influence on his musical career. In the early 1960s, Scharf was lead guitarist for folk-singer Leon Bibb. He also worked with arranger Walter Raim and folk-singer Judy Collins
as well as bassist Bill Lee, (Spike Lee
's father). For several years he was partners with Martin Gersten, chief engineer of WNCN, in a recording studio at 18 Jones Street in Greenwich Village. They shared this space with Skip Weshner
, a noted folk music broadcaster of the time.
Scharf was a prolific studio musician in New York City
in the 1960s, playing guitar with such artists as Chad Mitchell, Janis Ian, Al Kooper, and Carly Simon
. He also had a producing partnership with Bob Dorough
for many years, and together they produced classic albums by Spanky and Our Gang
. In 1980, he moved to Hamilton Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania
, where he continued his recording business.
With Pearls Before Swine
With Phil Woods
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and philosopher.
Scharf grew up in Crown Heights and attended Winthrop Junior High School. He was good friends with guitarist Jay Berliner
Jay Berliner
Jay Berliner is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Starting with his first television experience at age 7 on NBC’s The Children’s Hour with sister Eve, his career has spanned the globe: from the Metropolitan Opera house , where he was house guitarist and mandolinist; to...
who was a serious influence on his musical career. In the early 1960s, Scharf was lead guitarist for folk-singer Leon Bibb. He also worked with arranger Walter Raim and folk-singer Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
as well as bassist Bill Lee, (Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
's father). For several years he was partners with Martin Gersten, chief engineer of WNCN, in a recording studio at 18 Jones Street in Greenwich Village. They shared this space with Skip Weshner
Skip Weshner
Skip Weshner was a disc jockey on stations in New York and Los Angeles from the mid 1950's until the mid 1980's. In particular, he hosted a popular show on KRHM-FM in Los Angeles. He hosted "Accent On Sound" on WBAI and later WNCN in New York City from about 1959 through about 1964...
, a noted folk music broadcaster of the time.
Scharf was a prolific studio musician 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...
in the 1960s, playing guitar with such artists as Chad Mitchell, Janis Ian, Al Kooper, and Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
. He also had a producing partnership with Bob Dorough
Bob Dorough
Bob Dorough is an American bebop and cool jazz pianist, composer and vocalese singer.He worked with Miles Davis and Allen Ginsberg, and his adventurous style was an influence on Mose Allison, among other singers...
for many years, and together they produced classic albums by Spanky and Our Gang
Spanky and Our Gang
Spanky and Our Gang was an American 1960s folk-rock band led by Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The band derives its name from Hal Roach's popular Our Gang comedies of the 1930s...
. In 1980, he moved to Hamilton Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Hamilton Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Hamilton Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,235 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
, where he continued his recording business.
As sideman
With Al KooperAl Kooper
Al Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to...
- You Never Know Who Your Friends AreYou Never Know Who Your Friends AreYou Never Know Who Your Friends Are was the second album by New York City-based singer-songwriter Al Kooper, issued in 1969 on Columbia Records....
(Columbia, 1969) - Easy Does ItEasy Does It (Al Kooper album)Easy Does It was the third solo album by New York City-based singer-songwriter Al Kooper, recorded and released in 1970 for Columbia Records....
(Columbia, 1970) - Naked SongsNaked SongsNaked Songs is the sixth and final album by singer-songwriter Al Kooper for Columbia Records, released in 1973.A contract-fulfilling release, coming months after Kooper had set up the Sounds of the South label through MCA Records, it was quickly recorded at New York City's Record Plant and at...
(Columbia, 1973)
With Pearls Before Swine
Pearls Before Swine (band)
Pearls Before Swine was an American psychedelic folk band formed by Tom Rapp in 1965 in Eau Gallie, now part of Melbourne, Florida. They released six albums between 1967 and 1971, before Rapp launched a solo career.-Early years, 1965-68:...
- Beautiful Lies You Could Live InBeautiful Lies You Could Live In... Beautiful Lies You Could Live In was the sixth album credited to American psychedelic folk group Pearls Before Swine, and their fourth on Reprise Records. It was released in 1971....
(Reprise, 1971)
With Phil Woods
Phil Woods
Philip Wells Woods is an American jazz bebop alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer.-Biography:...
- Greek CookingGreek CookingGreek Cooking is an album by American saxophonist Phil Woods featuring performances recorded in 1967 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Ken Dryden awarded the album 3 stars stating "Probably one of the more unusual recordings in Phil Woods' considerable discography, Greek...
(Impulse!, 1967)
As producer
With Spanky and Our GangSpanky and Our Gang
Spanky and Our Gang was an American 1960s folk-rock band led by Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The band derives its name from Hal Roach's popular Our Gang comedies of the 1930s...
- Like to Get to Know You (Mercury, 1968)
- "Anything You Choose b/w Without Rhyme or Reason" (Mercury, 1969) wrote 6 songs for this album