Sharon Forrester "Bring Back To Me"
Sharon Forrester is a rare find. Her music is Jazzy! Awesome! Massive and even Great! She is a Writer, Actress, Author, Cabaret Singer and one of Reggae’s most gifted Songbirds. Forrester is a minefield of versatility and is as adroit at singing The Blues, Jazz, Soul and R&B, as she is at home with her native Reggae. She believes that this versatility has been fostered through“…exposure to an international audience” whose “varied musical appetites” had to be appeased. “Jazz, R&B, Blues and Reggae were staples in my nightly performances. Such an introduction to my musical career prepared me for the world.” Her mega hit, “Love Inside” is testament to this as she blasted her way onto both the Dancehall and Dance Music circuits in 1996. From the talented ten-year-old emergent in a local church, to the time of her professional foray on the hotel circuit of Jamaica’s famous North Coast; Sharon Forrester’s contribution to Reggae is immeasurable. The Coast, with its white sand beaches, exclusive hotels and steady influx of the world’s “sand and sea worshippers”, was home to a burgeoning entertainment scene and one of the main contributors to the proliferation of Lovers Rock. While Kingston was the mecca of “Roots Reggae”, its studios churning out a plethora of hits from the likes of Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown and others in that vein; it was the singers working in Tourism who through their nightly repertoire, pursued, explored and showcased Reggae’s most sensual side. Sharon Forrester was there! Sharon’s role in the development and international embrace of Roots Music’s soulful sub-genre cannot be over-emphasized. Her collaboration with ace musician, Geoffrey Chung of “Now Generation Band” fame, produced her first international hit, “Silly Wasn’t I” and aided in her thrust to the forefront.She had now joined the esteemed company of peers like Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and Britain’s Louisa Marks. It was around this period that Sharon Forrester began waging her own musical onslaught and in the process, tossed the world an impressive cache of timeless chart toppers. A subsequent creative partnership with U.K. based Vulcan Records (Ashanti) put her ahead of the pack. Her album, “Sharon”, won “Album of The Year” while she went on to cop “London’s Black Music” and “Best New Artist” awards. An additional slew of recordings followed, including her cover of Rose Royce’s, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” which also made its way onto various world music charts. Forrester’s impact on Reggae music in England is difficult to ignore! Heads turned and tongues wagged positively when she appeared on the British Television hit show, “Aquarius”, singing George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun”. That same year, she debuted on “the big screen”. Alongside American punk/rock saxophonist, Danny Ray, the super talented singer/actress played the character of a Jamaican mother in the British Film Institute’s production, “Moon Over the Alley”. Again, critics and movie patrons raved about her superb performance. Sharon was proving to be an unstoppable talent! Always in demand as a supporting vocalist and studio artist, she has toured with The Wailers, Dennis Brown, Garnett Silk, and Cynthia Richards. Still others like Grammy winners, Burning Spear and Julio Iglesias, Chakademus and Pliers, Gregory Isaacs, Jack Radics, Alpha Blondy, Toots and Steel Pulse have tapped this “singers’ singer” as a back-up talent at different intervals throughout her outstanding career. A master at self-revalidation, Forrester is once again forcing industry pundits and radio to stop and listen. Her latest single, “Jamaican Man”, exploits the genius of first- class producer and arranger, Willie Lindo and has resulted in a master production. Sharon’s pure and unadulterated musical prowess and superior vocal ability is again on show. “Jamaican Man” is not only a catchy tune in which she effortlessly romps up and down the varying scales and octaves; it is also a piece in which she also toasts like a dancehall diva. She currently sits at the top of several charts. Her silence while lengthy, has afforded this singer, the creative haven she has always craved. She is now an uncoiling ball of inspiration, poised to unleash a barrage of relevant material, borne from an updated perspective. While the world awaits the inimitable sound that is Sharon, her current single, “Jamaican Man” is but a tester. The Writer/Singer/Hit Maker/Chart Buster and luminary, says, “There is still so much left of me to share.” Sharon Forrester is back!
Sharon Forrester is a rare find. Her music is Jazzy! Awesome! Massive and even Great! She is a Writer, Actress, Author, Cabaret Singer and one of Reggae’s most gifted Songbirds. Forrester is a minefield of versatility and is as adroit at singing The Blues, Jazz, Soul and R&B, as she is at home with her native Reggae. She believes that this versatility has been fostered through“…exposure to an international audience” whose “varied musical appetites” had to be appeased. “Jazz, R&B, Blues and Reggae were staples in my nightly performances. Such an introduction to my musical career prepared me for the world.” Her mega hit, “Love Inside” is testament to this as she blasted her way onto both the Dancehall and Dance Music circuits in 1996. From the talented ten-year-old emergent in a local church, to the time of her professional foray on the hotel circuit of Jamaica’s famous North Coast; Sharon Forrester’s contribution to Reggae is immeasurable. The Coast, with its white sand beaches, exclusive hotels and steady influx of the world’s “sand and sea worshippers”, was home to a burgeoning entertainment scene and one of the main contributors to the proliferation of Lovers Rock. While Kingston was the mecca of “Roots Reggae”, its studios churning out a plethora of hits from the likes of Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown and others in that vein; it was the singers working in Tourism who through their nightly repertoire, pursued, explored and showcased Reggae’s most sensual side. Sharon Forrester was there! Sharon’s role in the development and international embrace of Roots Music’s soulful sub-genre cannot be over-emphasized. Her collaboration with ace musician, Geoffrey Chung of “Now Generation Band” fame, produced her first international hit, “Silly Wasn’t I” and aided in her thrust to the forefront.She had now joined the esteemed company of peers like Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and Britain’s Louisa Marks. It was around this period that Sharon Forrester began waging her own musical onslaught and in the process, tossed the world an impressive cache of timeless chart toppers. A subsequent creative partnership with U.K. based Vulcan Records (Ashanti) put her ahead of the pack. Her album, “Sharon”, won “Album of The Year” while she went on to cop “London’s Black Music” and “Best New Artist” awards. An additional slew of recordings followed, including her cover of Rose Royce’s, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” which also made its way onto various world music charts. Forrester’s impact on Reggae music in England is difficult to ignore! Heads turned and tongues wagged positively when she appeared on the British Television hit show, “Aquarius”, singing George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun”. That same year, she debuted on “the big screen”. Alongside American punk/rock saxophonist, Danny Ray, the super talented singer/actress played the character of a Jamaican mother in the British Film Institute’s production, “Moon Over the Alley”. Again, critics and movie patrons raved about her superb performance. Sharon was proving to be an unstoppable talent! Always in demand as a supporting vocalist and studio artist, she has toured with The Wailers, Dennis Brown, Garnett Silk, and Cynthia Richards. Still others like Grammy winners, Burning Spear and Julio Iglesias, Chakademus and Pliers, Gregory Isaacs, Jack Radics, Alpha Blondy, Toots and Steel Pulse have tapped this “singers’ singer” as a back-up talent at different intervals throughout her outstanding career. A master at self-revalidation, Forrester is once again forcing industry pundits and radio to stop and listen. Her latest single, “Jamaican Man”, exploits the genius of first- class producer and arranger, Willie Lindo and has resulted in a master production. Sharon’s pure and unadulterated musical prowess and superior vocal ability is again on show. “Jamaican Man” is not only a catchy tune in which she effortlessly romps up and down the varying scales and octaves; it is also a piece in which she also toasts like a dancehall diva. She currently sits at the top of several charts. Her silence while lengthy, has afforded this singer, the creative haven she has always craved. She is now an uncoiling ball of inspiration, poised to unleash a barrage of relevant material, borne from an updated perspective. While the world awaits the inimitable sound that is Sharon, her current single, “Jamaican Man” is but a tester. The Writer/Singer/Hit Maker/Chart Buster and luminary, says, “There is still so much left of me to share.” Sharon Forrester is back!