Sherlie Matthews
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Sherlie Matthews (born 1934) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a backing vocalist for Pop, R&B and Rock groups from the mid 1960s to the present time.
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[edit] Mirwood
Employing her unique talents as both a clever lyricist and innovative composer, she created most of the '60s & '70s hits for Mirwood Records' artists: Jackie Lee, The Olympics, Bobby Garrett, The Mirettes, The Belles and Bob & Earl.
[edit] Motown
Frank Wilson [1], a personal friend, who was a producer/writer with Motown Records, enhanced her professional career when he introduced her to that record company in December, 1964. Soon thereafter, she was signed as a singer/songwriter/producer. She performed with Diana Ross and Lionel Richie and The Commodores onstage and wrote and produced recordings for: The Jackson Five, The Supremes, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Celebration, Stacie Johnson, and The Blackberries, a much sought-after trio that she formed with fellow backing vocalists, Venetta Fields and Clydie King. She also collaborated with songwriter/producer, Deke Richards, [2] on many of the above projects.
[edit] Session singing credits
Her voice has become a familiar sound as a result of extensive work in voice-overs, commercials and as backup vocalist for many popular recording artists, including Steely Dan, B.B.King, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Rita Coolidge & Kris Kristofferson, Burt Bacharach, Linda Ronstadt, Cher, The Rolling Stones, Lionel Ritchie, Ike & Tina Turner, Bill Cosby, Paul McCartney & Wings, Ella Fitzgerald, Steppenwolf, Neil Diamond, Bob Seger, The Temptations, Humble Pie, Beach Boys, Seals and Crofts, Richard Harris, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Dickey Betts, Bob Dylan and Elton John.
Several of the hundreds of recordings she appeared on are: "Stayin' Alive" with the BeeGees, "With A Little Help From My Friends" with Joe Cocker, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" with Stevie Wonder, "Black Cow" with Steely Dan, "The Bitch is Back" with Elton John, and "Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" and "I Been Workin' On You" with The Doobie Brothers, "You're No Good" with Linda Ronstadt. Full list of credits on her official website. [3]
[edit] Melbourne, Australia
She lived and worked in Australia from 1984 through 1988. While there she sang backing vocals for Australian Crawl, John Justin, John Farnham, Joe Camilleri, Renée Geyer, Peter Blakely, Richard Clapton, Stephen Cummings, Swanee, David Reyne, Beeb Birtles, Red Symons, Cattletruck, Paul Agar, Max Merritt, Tim Finn, Martin Armiger, One World, The Arc of Baghdad and Venetta Fields' groups, 'Venetta's Taxi' and 'The Gospel Jubliee'.
Sherlie recorded several commercials and voice overs in addition to performing on-stage and recording as one of the lead singers with Yu-En, ZwaDaVee and The Hi Tones.
She formed the children's performing group, "BABE" and wrote and produced two songs for them: "A Fuzzy Ball Of Fur"[4] and "A Christmas Medley." The eight-member group made several public and TV appearances under her guidance. She continued working with them until her family's situation demanded her full time help and she had to returned to the USA. Upon her return she resumed working in the entertainment industry, while earning an additional degree from UCLA in Computer Graphics/Animation.
[edit] Cleethorpes, England
In June, 2005, she accepted an invitation from Adrian Croasdell of Ace Records, London, [5] to sing for a weekend concert. With vocalists, Jim Gilstrap and Marva Holiday, she performed many of her originals from the Mirwood era for a '60s and '70s music-loving crowd at a Cleethorpes venue.
[edit] Currently, California, USA
As of 2006, she is preparing to release a solo CD of original songs. With Donna Samuel, her sister and co-writer, she is also releasing a CD of original children's songs. Currently, her group, The Circle of Love [6] has a CD available online.
[edit] Early life
Matthews started performing as a soloist in church at the age of two. Then at age four, she began harmonizing. She sang alto parts in vocal duets with her 2 year old sister. Her grandmother, who was an accomplished musician/composer, recognized her musical talents and was her first piano/voice teacher and mentor. She provided piano accompaniment for Sherlie and her sister for many years at various local venues, tea parties, weddings, church services, concerts, etc. From her early nurturing Sherlie continued to develop her natural abilities, which includes a five octave vocal range [7] for all phases of the performing arts, through school, college, community and professional workshops.
At the age of 10 years she began setting Bible verses to music to help children learn Bible texts. She's written and arranged over 500 songs, both secular and sacred. Many of these have been recorded. She's also written three children's musical comedies, two movie themes, and several commercials. She's created innumerable vocal arrangements. Many of which are still being performed internationally, in churches, schools and on recordings.
After earning a BA in Pre-Social Welfare from UCLA, she earned her living for several years as a Medical Social Worker [8], before embarking on a successful career in the music industry, reflected by her substantial resume.
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.frankandbunny.com/frank.htm
- ^ http://www.posterpalace.com/
- ^ http://www.sherliematthews.com
- ^ http://sherliematthews.com/Poetry.html
- ^ http://www.acerecords.co.uk/
- ^ http://cdbaby.com/cd/circleoflove
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_range
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_social_work
