Maia Sharp
Bio
The Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist has seen more than two dozen of her songs recorded by artists that run the genre gamut, from chart-topping pop acts to Rock and Roll Hall of Famers including Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood , Art Garfunkel, Edwin McCain, The Dixie Chicks, Keb' Mo', Terri Clark, Lisa Loeb, Paul Carrack, Cher and Mindy Smith to name a few.
In 1997, she signed with Miles Copeland's Ark 21 label, on which her debut CD, Hardly Glamour, was released. It scored a Triple A radio hit with the rugged and haunting "I Need This to Be Love." Later that year, she was nominated for Triple-A radio's Artist of the Year and Cher recorded a version of one of the cd's highlights, "Don't Come Around Tonight" on her album It's a Man's World.
Sharp then joined up with Art Garfunkel and Buddy Mondlock for their EMI/Blue Note trio project Everything Waits to Be Noticed co-writing several tracks, trading off lead vocals and harmonies with the legend and lending her saxophone chops to the project. Summarizing his time with Maia, Garfunkel simply says, "In the tradition of great female artists, Karla Bonoff, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Shawn Colvin, Sarah McLachlan.....now enter Maia Sharp."
At the same time, Concord Records released her self titled second solo album Maia Sharp to critical acclaim. The singles "Willing to Burn" and "Crimes of the Witness" both landed in the top 10 in the Triple A radio format. This was a very busy time for Sharp promoting both the Garfunkel project and her own simultaneously. After almost a year of off and on touring Sharp was back in the studio to record what ultimately became 2005's Fine Upstanding Citzen on KOCH Records.
Maia's latest album, Echo, produced by grammy award winner Don Was, heralds her ascension into the spotlight. From this point, the secret is out and Sharp stands on her own a uniquely gifted singer, writer and multi-instrumentalist, whose peers are the most discerning artists in the business but whose music on Echo reaches out toward the wider world.
The albums, writing and collaborations have led to years of performing on stage, radio and Television. Maia has been all over the US and UK headlining clubs and theaters, opening for (and often sitting in with) Bonnie Raitt, Art Garfunkel, Jonatha Brooke, Patty Griffin, David Wilcox, Pat Benatar, Edwin McCain, Shawn Colvin, Keb' Mo' and more and appearing on Mountain Stage, Acoustic Cafe, XM, Sirius, NPR's All Things Considered, CBS Early Morning, the Today Show and many other noteworthy forums.
Between touring and writing, Maia has been producing other artists including platinum selling singer songwriter, Edwin McCain's latest album Mercy Bound and Canadian Idol finalist Donny Anderson's self titled EP both available now.
In 1997, she signed with Miles Copeland's Ark 21 label, on which her debut CD, Hardly Glamour, was released. It scored a Triple A radio hit with the rugged and haunting "I Need This to Be Love." Later that year, she was nominated for Triple-A radio's Artist of the Year and Cher recorded a version of one of the cd's highlights, "Don't Come Around Tonight" on her album It's a Man's World.
Sharp then joined up with Art Garfunkel and Buddy Mondlock for their EMI/Blue Note trio project Everything Waits to Be Noticed co-writing several tracks, trading off lead vocals and harmonies with the legend and lending her saxophone chops to the project. Summarizing his time with Maia, Garfunkel simply says, "In the tradition of great female artists, Karla Bonoff, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Shawn Colvin, Sarah McLachlan.....now enter Maia Sharp."
At the same time, Concord Records released her self titled second solo album Maia Sharp to critical acclaim. The singles "Willing to Burn" and "Crimes of the Witness" both landed in the top 10 in the Triple A radio format. This was a very busy time for Sharp promoting both the Garfunkel project and her own simultaneously. After almost a year of off and on touring Sharp was back in the studio to record what ultimately became 2005's Fine Upstanding Citzen on KOCH Records.
Maia's latest album, Echo, produced by grammy award winner Don Was, heralds her ascension into the spotlight. From this point, the secret is out and Sharp stands on her own a uniquely gifted singer, writer and multi-instrumentalist, whose peers are the most discerning artists in the business but whose music on Echo reaches out toward the wider world.
The albums, writing and collaborations have led to years of performing on stage, radio and Television. Maia has been all over the US and UK headlining clubs and theaters, opening for (and often sitting in with) Bonnie Raitt, Art Garfunkel, Jonatha Brooke, Patty Griffin, David Wilcox, Pat Benatar, Edwin McCain, Shawn Colvin, Keb' Mo' and more and appearing on Mountain Stage, Acoustic Cafe, XM, Sirius, NPR's All Things Considered, CBS Early Morning, the Today Show and many other noteworthy forums.
Between touring and writing, Maia has been producing other artists including platinum selling singer songwriter, Edwin McCain's latest album Mercy Bound and Canadian Idol finalist Donny Anderson's self titled EP both available now.