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News: Sharon Scott: The Search Is Over

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Superb stuff Andy, great to hear that your search was fruitful, and another artist(e) has belatedly realised her well earned affection and appreciation....... :hatsoff2:

Andy Fantastic work in tracking down another great artist - any new tapes or 45's that haven't surfaced before ?

Very intersted in any further info

Well done

Bang on Andy-canna wait...awesome stuff!!!

ktf tfk :rofl:

great work,cant wait to catch the rest.

Soul Mole rix does it again ! well done mate, it says she only sings for God, well in my book Ady;s well up there so she might be persuaded ? I'd like to know if she is.......

Rob

Top stuff - what a wonderful story & btw "I'm Not Afraid" & "Puttin' My Heart Under Lock & Key are brilliant, brilliant tunes !!!!

Why did'nt the FBI get you on the case Andy, when they were searching for Bin Laden?

Well done mate and I'm sure the good lady has had her day made.

Dave

brilliant detective work,such a tremondous artist,what a voice,well done mate.

The first time I ever heard Don't be afraid was at the Southgate All=dayer via Mr Croasdale. Simply awesome, I even stopped drinking beer. When it had finished I waddled over to Adi and said...

"that record is better than my wifes fanny"

That is fantastic news Andy...thank you for your continued hard work & pse pass our regards to the wonderful Ms Scott....look forward immensly to the full interview.

Many thanks mate

Russ

The first time I ever heard Don't be afraid was at the Southgate All=dayer via Mr Croasdale. Simply awesome, I even stopped drinking beer. When it had finished I waddled over to Adi and said...

"that record is better than my wifes fanny"

Only PD.....brilliant. Well done Andy...

Despite being busy with an event coming up this Friday, i was intrigued as to what news Andy had for me after he left me a mysterious phone message. On hearing he had accomplished his mission impossible I was thrilled to bits and am looking forward to exchanging words with the redoubtable lady once William Bell has been looked after properly. I think Sharon's 6 Pied Piper recordings are among the greatest bodys of work of our mid sixties soulful dance numbers and I'm not going to accept no for an answer from the minister. Maybe Mary Love and Spencer Wiggins can tell Sharon about the loopholes they used for the occasional foray into the secular world.

In no particular order

Putting My Heart (Under Lock & Key) which was played at Sylv's funeral because it meant so much to her.

I'm Not Afraid - stunning soul that has yet to reach its full potential

It's Better

I'd Like To Know

Don't Wait Too Long -under-rated as not that well known.

Could It Be You

6 Tracks she recorded in total, all superb examples of hers and our music.

Now this is what this site is about. Cracking stuff, look forward to the full piece

Ady Croasdell was asked to list his Top 5 Detroit recordings, by Keith Rylatt, for the Groovesville USA website.

For some of us it came as no surprise to see the inclusion of a Sharon Scott recording given how he has championed her work since discovering a batch of her songs in the infamous RCA Vaults find.

Anyone visiting the site will see this review

"SHARON SCOTT I'm Not Afraid (unissued RCA/Pied Piper master tape and acetate)

Kent CD From the fabulous trawl of Pied Piper masters from the RCA vaults, I could have chosen brilliant tracks by Lorraine Chandler, Nancy Wilcox or the Metros but this is the one I never tire of hearing. It's understated arrangement just builds and builds on a ferocious rhythm and Sharon sings wistfully and enigmatically: somebody please find this girl."

I'm pleased that last night I was able to tell Ady that somebody had indeed found that girl. Alive, well and happy, as a Church Minister, in the USA.

It's been a 10 year, on and off, search with not many clues to go on. Prior to the release of the first 'Rare, Collectable And Soulful' Kent CD I recall asking Lorraine Chandler about Sharon. She responded that she was from Philadelphia but had no other information.

Conversations over the years with various Stateside figures yielded nothing more; Jack Ashford was unable to add anything of substance.

A further trawl threw up a reference to one Sharon Scott being a member of a late 50s group, from Harrisburg PA, called The Chanels aka The Five Chanels aka Virgil & The Four Chanels. Their recordings for Julius Dixon's Deb label remain of interest to collectors of that genre

https://doo-wop.blogg...els-272085.html

To cut a long, and tedious, story short my detective work finally paid off last night when a cold call, just like the one to Margaret Little, hit the spot.

Residing many miles from her Harrisburg origins, the now 70 year old Sharon, born on 1st Jan 1942, was speechless to hear of the admiration and affection afforded to her by the rare soul community.

She doesn't use a computer, has no interest in the internet and, therefore, has never 'googled' herself. I suggested that maybe she should.

She's had a lovely life. She remembers her songs well and looked back with a sense of pride. She's lived in New York, Detroit, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia and it sounds like she's loved every minute.

We will of course send her the iconic Pied Piper/RCA tracks and there will be a 'proper' interview as opposed to my erratic ramblings.

I suggested to her that she should come and sing for us but she said her faith meant that she only now sings for God.

We've all heard he moves in mysterious ways so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I was thrilled to speak to her after searching for so long. Ady was really thrilled to have had his plea answered ... and Sharon, well she said she was "humbled" by what I told her.

We'll keep you posted

Andy Rix

Andy,

I am not surprised. When the Northern Soul folks put their minds and hearts together, the world changes (or stays the same!). I'm glad she's well. If you all show her a quarter of the kindness you've shown me, you might get her to cross the pond. I'm sure you and Ady will work it out. What a beautiful voice. Dibs on writing her next song!

Lorraine

Ady Croasdell was asked to list his Top 5 Detroit recordings, by Keith Rylatt, for the Groovesville USA website.

For some of us it came as no surprise to see the inclusion of a Sharon Scott recording given how he has championed her work since discovering a batch of her songs in the infamous RCA Vaults find.

Anyone visiting the site will see this review

"SHARON SCOTT I'm Not Afraid (unissued RCA/Pied Piper master tape and acetate)

Kent CD From the fabulous trawl of Pied Piper masters from the RCA vaults, I could have chosen brilliant tracks by Lorraine Chandler, Nancy Wilcox or the Metros but this is the one I never tire of hearing. It's understated arrangement just builds and builds on a ferocious rhythm and Sharon sings wistfully and enigmatically: somebody please find this girl."

I'm pleased that last night I was able to tell Ady that somebody had indeed found that girl. Alive, well and happy, as a Church Minister, in the USA.

It's been a 10 year, on and off, search with not many clues to go on. Prior to the release of the first 'Rare, Collectable And Soulful' Kent CD I recall asking Lorraine Chandler about Sharon. She responded that she was from Philadelphia but had no other information.

Conversations over the years with various Stateside figures yielded nothing more; Jack Ashford was unable to add anything of substance.

A further trawl threw up a reference to one Sharon Scott being a member of a late 50s group, from Harrisburg PA, called The Chanels aka The Five Chanels aka Virgil & The Four Chanels. Their recordings for Julius Dixon's Deb label remain of interest to collectors of that genre

https://doo-wop.blogg...els-272085.html

To cut a long, and tedious, story short my detective work finally paid off last night when a cold call, just like the one to Margaret Little, hit the spot.

Residing many miles from her Harrisburg origins, the now 70 year old Sharon, born on 1st Jan 1942, was speechless to hear of the admiration and affection afforded to her by the rare soul community.

She doesn't use a computer, has no interest in the internet and, therefore, has never 'googled' herself. I suggested that maybe she should.

She's had a lovely life. She remembers her songs well and looked back with a sense of pride. She's lived in New York, Detroit, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia and it sounds like she's loved every minute.

We will of course send her the iconic Pied Piper/RCA tracks and there will be a 'proper' interview as opposed to my erratic ramblings.

I suggested to her that she should come and sing for us but she said her faith meant that she only now sings for God.

We've all heard he moves in mysterious ways so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I was thrilled to speak to her after searching for so long. Ady was really thrilled to have had his plea answered ... and Sharon, well she said she was "humbled" by what I told her.

We'll keep you posted

Andy Rix

Andy ,wonderful post , one of the best I've read on here. Well done sir.

Now this is what this site is about. Cracking stuff, look forward to the full piece

Same from me, thanks for posting this taster.

  • 3 years later...

Excellent news.

I hope that she gets some comfort in the knowledge that her recording career has not gone unnoticed.

Well done.

Your a bloody dark horse Mr Rix, and you are bloody good at what you do. Well done mate Gilly and Nicola

This thread is from June 2012 folks! :yes:

Wouldn't mind an update and summary of what was subsequently discovered though 

Cheers

Richard

  • 2 weeks later...

Folks,

I have kept Sharon abreast of all the news about her.  She knows about the highlights of her career and what you mean to her.  She is grateful and thankful.  I'm working on her to reply to you all.  It would be a thrill!

Lorraine

Thank you Lorraine .

You go above and beyond with your help to us here in the UK.

As you, one of our most revered soul artists are one of only a few who understand what this means to us.

We all thank you.

Steve

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I think it's fair to say that I've been very tardy in following my original post up with further information ... my apologies

Ady referenced the discussion I had with Sharon in the liner notes for the Pied Piper CD 'Follow Your Soul' (Kent CDKEND 429) where he set out her personal history and recording career.

After I had tracked her down and passed on the information to Ady, and Lorraine, I've taken a back seat and left it to them to stay connected.  I guess I felt that I'd done my job at that point.

When I can find the time I will go through my material again ... but wouldn't it be great if Sharon could join the forum to tell her own story. When we last spoke she didn't access the internet so that might prove to be a barrier.

Andy

   

 

Andy -Great work  the time and effort you spend finding these artists and sharing is a credit to you  for us all to enjoy

well done

Chris

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