Kevin Sharp

Biography

Kevin Grant Sharp (December 10, 1970 – April 19, 2014) was an American country music singer, author, and motivational speaker. Sharp came on the country music scene in 1996 with his first single: a cover of Tony Rich's "Nobody Knows", which topped the Billboard country chart for four weeks. The same year, Sharp released his first album, Measure of a Man×Measure of a Man24 September 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Measure of a Man3:072Nobody Knows3:273If You Love Somebody2:304There’s Only You3:105She’s Sure Taking It Well3:206The Strength to Love3:217Love Bomb3:038I’m Already Loving You Too Much3:169Population 4000 Minus 14:2810Somebody’s Baby3:4111Love at the End of the Road3:47. Having survived a form of bone cancer in his teenage years, Sharp became actively involved in the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He wrote an inspirational book about his life and his fight with cancer, and occasionally toured the United States as a motivational speaker. Sharp died from complications of stomach surgery in April 2014.

Early years

Kevin Grant Sharp was born December 10, 1970, in Redding, California. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Weiser, Idaho, to open a restaurant. Sharp performed in local musicals in high school, and stayed active in music after his family moved to Sacramento, California, in 1985. Starting in 1989, he began to experience dizziness and fatigue. He was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and was given little chance of recovery. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, Sharp met the record producer David Foster, with whom he soon became friends. After two years of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, when still in his early 20s, the cancer went into remission by the early 1990s, although he permanently lost all of his hair as a result of the radiation treatment. In high school, Sharp played football and basketball, but was unable to participate in either sport during his senior year because of his cancer. The doctors eventually discovered that the cancer had spread to his lungs. Sharp was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He graduated from Bella Vista High School.

Musical career

After remission, Sharp worked at Great America in Santa Clara, California, while working on a demo tape, which he sent to various talent shows, and later to David Foster. Foster introduced him to A&R representatives and, by 1996, Sharp was signed to Asylum Records. His first album, Measure of a Man×Measure of a Man24 September 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Measure of a Man3:072Nobody Knows3:273If You Love Somebody2:304There’s Only You3:105She’s Sure Taking It Well3:206The Strength to Love3:217Love Bomb3:038I’m Already Loving You Too Much3:169Population 4000 Minus 14:2810Somebody’s Baby3:4111Love at the End of the Road3:47, was released in September 1996. The album's first single, a cover version of the R&B artist Tony Rich's "Nobody Knows", spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. He became a spokesperson for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and was awarded the foundation's Wish Granter of the Year award, in 1997. He was named New Touring Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association and nominated for Top New Male Vocalist award by the Academy of Country Music.
In 1998, Sharp collapsed backstage at the TNN Music City News Country Awards, and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, due to problems with steel rods in his hip. As a result, he had to cancel several tour dates. Measure of a Man produced two more top 10 country singles, "She's Sure Taking It Well" and "If You Love Somebody". The album's fourth single, "There's Only You", peaked at No. 43. His second album, Love Is×Love Is1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Kiss The Girl3:052We Can Get Through This2:563If She Only Knew5:014She Just Has To Be Mine3:195Still Love4:216I'm Trying4:027Typical3:168What Other Man3:589So Tears Won't Fall3:4310Scared Like That Again4:4111Her Heart Is Only Human3:33, released in 1998 on Asylum, failed to produce any successful singles, and Sharp was dropped from Asylum's roster.
Sharp continued to perform as a musician, as well as a motivational speaker, and was also a spokesperson for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Sharp wrote a book, Tragedy's Gift, and published it in 2004. His third album, Make a Wish×Make A Wish26 July 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1I Am the Working Man3:232You Are the Reason Why2:393Let Me Rock You to Sleep3:444I Think I'll Stay2:495Make a Wish3:316Your Love Reaches Me3:417You Showed Me How to Love4:098All I Could Say2:539What Some People Throw Away3:1710They Listen to the Music3:4511Nobody Knows3:2812I Am the Working Man (Music Only)3:2213You Are the Reason Why (Music Only)2:3914Let Me Rock You to Sleep (Music Only)3:4515I Think I'll Stay (Music Only)2:4916Make a Wish (Music Only)3:3117Your Love Reaches Me (Music Only)3:4118You Showed Me How to Love (Music Only)4:1019All I Could Say (Music Only)2:5420What Some People Throw Away (Music Only)3:1821They Listen to the Music (Music Only)3:4522Nobody Knows (Music Only)3:26, was released on the independent Cupit Records label in 2005, although none of its five singles charted.

Death

Sharp died on April 19, 2014, at the age of 43, of complications from stomach surgeries and digestive problems. He was survived by his mother Elaine Sharp, his ex-wife Traci Williams Sharp, and his siblings Lisa, Mary, Ron, Greg, Richard, Larry, and Genni. Kevin was preceded in death by his father, Glen Sharp, in 2009. Sharp never remarried.