Todd Sharpville

Todd Sharpville has been at the coalface of the British Blues Scene for 30 years. His first album “Touch Of Your Love” was released in 1992 on Red Lightnin Records, winning “Best Album” & “Best Guitarist” in the British Blues Awards, marking the beginning of an international career that’s seen Todd & his band perform at the vast majority of blues venues & festivals across the globe.

 

Originally turned onto the blues as a child thanks to the music of Freddie King, Todd’s burgeoning guitar style ended up being further inspired by the likes of T Bone Walker, BB King, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Eric Clapton, Lightnin Hopkins, Albert King, Otis Rush, Peter Green, & Magic Sam among others. He was mentored through his teens by Californian bluesman Joe Louis Walker, changing his life forever.

 

The 90’s saw Todd regularly put together European backing bands for visiting American artists, working with the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Ike Turner & Byther Smith, and touring relentlessly; participating in Mick Ronson’s memorial concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1994 alongside Dana Gillespie, Gary Brooker, Bill Wyman, Ian Hunter, Roger Taylor, Roger Daltrey, and the decades since have seen him recording and performing with a plethora more luminaries, heroes, & household names. Standout career moments include playing with Taj Mahal, Peter Green, Little Milton, Lonnie Brooks, Duke Robillard, Little Charlie Baty, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi, Branford Marsalis, Anson Funderburgh, Lonnie Mack, Ronnie Earl, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Terence Simien. Todd was the first European artist to ever appear on the bill of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, and has subsequently performed at 8 of these floating Caribbean festivals alongside Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, Dr John, Etta James, Little Milton, Otis Clay, Tyrone Davis, Shemekia Copeland, and a host of other luminaries.

His 2001 “Meaning Of Life” album (Cathouse/Revolver Records CRCD0057 featured guest appearances from Snowy White, Paul Lamb, Leo Sayer, and ex Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor (who went on to tour the album with Todd across Europe). Todd’s confessional divorce album “Diary Of A Drowning Man” features a duet with much loved British vocalist/songstress Sam Brown (“Sweet Redemption”). Between 2005 & 2007, Sharpville was European tour support act for both Joe Cocker & Pink, as well as opening up on the last night of BB King’s farewell tour at the D’coq Arena, Luxembourg. His 2010 release “Porchlight” (Mig / SPV Records 20032) included guest appearances from Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Joe Louis Walker, & the album’s producer Duke Robillard. Todd can be found on more than 35 compilation albums, and at least 5 Dana Gillespie releases.

 

The start of the Covid pandemic in early 2020 saw Sharpville form the world’s only professional lockdown band living under one roof. Along with Jools Holland bassist Dave Swift, he pulled together an experienced lineup (including wives, children & pets), and decamped to Norfolk where he rented a property large enough to provide space & privacy for all. They provided the music industry on both sides of the Atlantic with a band for remote recording purposes, whilst streaming shows each week to music fans who were grateful for the calming reassurance of a live band in the midst of all the anxiety & solitude the lockdown had created. They spent 6 months living together, making music together, and sharing their experience with the world

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