Isaías Sharkey

Isaiah Sharkey (nacido el 14 de julio de 1989) es un guitarrista, cantautor y productor estadounidense. Tocó la guitarra como miembro de Vanguard en el álbum Black Messiah de D'Angelo de 2014 , que ganó el premio Grammy al Mejor Álbum de R&B . También es un prolífico músico de acompañamiento y guitarrista de sesión, habiendo actuado con John Mayer , Patti LaBelle , Chris Martin , Paul Simon , Corinne Bailey Rae , Mike Posner , Keith Urban , Brian McKnight , Boyz II Men y Lalah Hathaway , entre otros. ^{[ 3 ]}

Sharkey, antiguo niño prodigio , ^{[ 4 ]} ha sido descrito por Guitar World como "un guitarrista para guitarristas". ^{[ 2 ]}

Isaiah Sharkey nació el 14 de julio de 1989 en Chicago , Illinois . Proviene de una familia de músicos; su padre fue un multiinstrumentista profesional que tocó en varias bandas en Chicago durante las décadas de 1960, 1970 y 1980. ^{[ 4 ]} Su padre, su tía y su tío fueron miembros de una banda llamada The Fugitives. ^{[ 5 ]} Atribuye a su padre, tíos y hermanos mayores el haberle introducido al gospel , el R&B , el blues , el jazz , el funk y el rock . ^{[ 2 ]}

De niño, vivió en Cabrini–Green Homes de Chicago . ^{[ 6 ]} A los cuatro años, cantaba en un coro de iglesia con sus hermanos mayores y recibió su primera guitarra acústica de su tío. También comenzó a tocar el bajo en la iglesia y más tarde recibió su primera guitarra eléctrica para su séptimo cumpleaños. ^{[ 4 ] [ 5 ]} A los 14 años, tocaba en clubes locales de jazz y blues en Chicago, incluido el Velvet Lounge , propiedad de Fred Anderson . Allí, tocó con músicos de jazz como Bobby Irving , Corey Wilkes y el propio Anderson. ^{[ 6 ]} Con su padre y sus hermanos mayores, grabó su primer álbum, Skyliner , una colección de versiones de estándares de jazz , que lanzó en 2005. ^{[ 2 ] [ 4 ]}

Sharkey names guitarists Wes Montgomery and George Benson as early musical influences.^[4]

In 2006, when Sharkey was 16 years old, he went on his first tour performing with gospel singer Smokie Norful.^[7][8] While still a teenager, he also worked with gospel singer Donald Lawrence and R&B singer Ronald Isley, formerly of The Isley Brothers.^[4]

In 2009, when Sharkey was 19, he met R&B musician D'Angelo by coincidence at a music store in Richmond, Virginia. He had previously studied with D'Angelo's late guitarist, Chalmers "Spanky" Alford. The two musicians instantly connected, and Sharkey began touring with D'Angelo over the next five years.^[4][7] Sharkey became one of D'Angelo's core collaborators, along with Pino Palladino, Questlove, Chris Dave, and Roy Hargrove. Together, they created D'Angelo's 2014 album Black Messiah, which was released to critical acclaim and won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.^[4][6] Sharkey said working with D'Angelo was one of his "dream gigs."^[7] His success with D'Angelo brought him opportunities as a sideman and session musician for other artists, including Paul Simon, Chris Martin, Patti LaBelle, and Keith Urban.^[4]

In 2016, Sharkey was rehearsing with The Roots for the Roots Picnic when he met guitarist John Mayer, who came to sit in. Mayer and Sharkey were mutual fans, and after jamming with The Roots, they felt an instant connection. Two weeks later, Mayer invited Sharkey to join his world tour, and he soon joined as Mayer's sideman.^[4][5]

In 2017, Sharkey released his debut solo album Love.Life.Live, which he had been working on intermittently since 2012.^[4] He released his second solo album Love Is the Key (The Cancerian Theme) in June 2019. Around this time, he began collaborating with artists including Common and Cory Henry.^[9]

In 2022, Sharkey released the lead single "Stay" for his third studio album, Black Sunshine. He performed every instrument on the track, recording and producing it himself during lockdown.^[10][11]

Adapted from AllMusic.^[12]

• Sitio web oficial
• Discografía de Isaiah Sharkey en Discogs