Sharrie Williams & The Wiseguys
Sharrie Williams knows how to sing the Blues … because she’s lived the Blues!
Born and raised in the projects of Saginaw, Michigan, Sharrie grew up surrounded by music and singing her entire childhood, being raised in a musical family. “My Aunt and Grandma were jazz singers, my father was a gospel/jazz singer in the 1950’s and 1960’s, my brother is a gospel singer and my mother was a gospel singer. Our house was like a Juke Joint - Singing, drinking, dancing and the blues playing, with chicken and fish frying.”
She teamed up with The WiseGuys in 1997, and began appearing regularly at Chicago’s renowned Blues Clubs such as Kingston Mines and Buddy Guy’s Legends.
By 1998 Sharrie Williams and The Wiseguys were on their way to Europe. They started with performances in Germany, and by 2004 they had toured Holland, France, Italy the Netherlands, Spain, Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and Great Britain. In April 2004 Sharrie released “Hard Drivin’ Woman” on the German label Crosscut Records, to international acclaim throughout Europe and the United States.
Word spread back to the US about her captivating performances and rock solid recording. She performed at US festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival and the Pocono Blues Festival soon thereafter. Her CD sales at the Pocono Blues Festival were at the top of sales records for this event - a major contributor in introducing her to the American blues market.
Over her years Sharrie has had the opportunity to collaborate with national recording artists such as Larry McCray and Ron Prince. Her influences are Koko Taylor, Etta James, Pattie Labelle, Aretha Franklin and the legendary Billie Holiday. She is poised for the next level. “I love what I do! I can play for five people and feel like I played for 60.000.”
Sharrie’s unique style of “Rockin’ Gospel Blues” is surrounded by strong and powerful vocals and arrangements, with songs that grab your soul, like “Hard Drivin’ Woman,” “Travellin’” and “Blues Lover”. Sharrie touches souls with her talent and passion for her music, which combined with her smoky, sexy and imitable style she always leaves her audience calling for one more song. She emerges with grace as a humble and rock solid professional - a talented songstress that stands on her own.
“Having lived the blues, I sing to inspire people … not to let the blues get the best of you”.
In 2008 Sharrie was a Blues Music Award Nominee for Traditional Blues Female Artist of The Year!
website: www.sharriewilliams.com
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