Sheri Kershaw

Sheri Kershaw

Kershaw performing live at the High Barn in Braintree, Essex, 2013
Background information
Birth name Sheri Hamill
Born 1953 (age 63–64)
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • vocal therapist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active 1970–present
Associated acts
Website sherikershaw.com

Sheri Kershaw (born Sheri Hamill in 1953) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician and vocal therapist. From 1983 to 2003, she was married to Nik Kershaw. She toured extensively with him and sang backing vocals on his early albums, achieving a No. 3 singles hit with his song "The Riddle".

Early years

Sheri Kershaw's parents were from Birmingham, England, and she was born in a small Canadian town called Pickering, Ontario. When she was 13, her cousin Robert came to visit from England and introduced her to the guitar and songwriting. She took over her brother's guitar and went to work learning to play. She took lessons briefly, but in 1969 her parents returned to England and enrolled her in secretarial school, which they felt was more respectable than a career in music.[1]

Music career

In 1970, Kershaw left home and joined a band with English musician Robbie Gladwell,[2] playing with him in a duo. They later formed a folk band with Ken Elson and Trevor Martin called Sine Nomine, where they wrote and played their own songs. Their first well-paid gig was in Turkey, and they went on to tour in Germany and the US. During and after her break-up with Gladwell, Kershaw broadened her experience, singing jazz and cabaret.

In 1979, she lost her voice and took Bel canto lessons to get it back. During this time, she met Nik Kershaw, toured with him in his band the Krew[3] and worked on three of his albums.[4] The band's album The Riddle reached No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Platinum, while the lead single of the same name reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.[5][6]

After marrying Kershaw, Sheri took time off from her music career to have children and certified as a teacher for disabled children. She also worked as a psychotherapist[7] and a vocal therapist.[8][9] At about the age of 40, Kershaw picked up songwriting again. She formed a band with Martyn Hewitt and Chris Brimley based in Braintree, Essex, and has released two albums.[10]

Personal life

Sheri Kershaw married Robbie Gladwell in 1970, but they later divorced. Her second husband was the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw.[1] The couple married in July 1983 and had three children together, Rudi, Ryan and Izzy.[11] They divorced in 2003.[12]

For many years, Kershaw has been a member of the School of Economic Science group which promotes meditation and the Gurdjeiff group, studying Buddhist philosophy.[1]

Discography

Solo
The Sheri Kershaw Band

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kershaw, Sheri. "sherikershaw.com". sherikershaw.com. Web. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Acoustic Club, retrieved 17 June 2016
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007), The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Omnibus
  4. ↑ Sheri Kershaw, AllMusic, retrieved 17 June 2016
  5. ↑ Phillips, Matt (2 December 2016), No Mullet Required: Nik Kershaw’s The Riddle, retrieved 18 June 2016
  6. ↑ The Riddle, retrieved 18 June 2016
  7. ↑ Sheri Kershaw, retrieved 17 June 2016
  8. ↑ Nik Interview Chat Transcript, retrieved 17 June 2016
  9. ↑ Newhan, Paul, Therapeutic Voicework: Principles and Practice for the Use of Singing as a Therapy, Jessica Kingsley, retrieved 17 June 2016
  10. ↑ 2014 – 25th July – Sheri Kershaw Band + Tim Hooper, retrieved 17 June 2016
  11. ↑ Lester, Paul (4 October 2014), Whatever happened to 'I Won't Let the Sun Go Down On Me' singer Nik Kershaw, retrieved 18 June 2016
  12. ↑ Wenn (17 November 2003), Nik Kershaw Splits From Wife, retrieved 17 June 2016
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