Warren Harding "Sonny" Sharrock (August 27, 1940 – May 25, 1994) was an American jazz guitarist. His first wife was singer Linda Sharrock, with whom he recorded and performed.

One of only a few prominent guitarists who participated in the first wave of free jazz during the 1960s, Sharrock was known for his heavily chorded attack, use of feedback, and distorted saxophone-like lines. His early work also features creative use of slide guitar.

Biography

Early life and career

Sonny Sharrock was born Warren Harding Sharrock on August 27, 1940, in Ossining, New York.

Three albums under Sharrock's name were released from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s: Black Woman,

Career revival

After the release of Paradise, Sharrock semi-retired for much of the 1970s and early 1980s. Undergoing a divorce from his wife and collaborator Linda in 1978, he worked as a chauffeur and a caretaker for mentally challenged children. At bassist and producer Bill Laswell’s urging, Sharrock came out of retirement to appear on Material's 1981 album Memory Serves. Starting in 1986, Sharrock was a member of Last Exit with Laswell, saxophonist Peter Brötzmann, and drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson.

Laswell produced most of Sharrock's later recordings, including the entirely solo Guitar, the "metal-influenced" Seize the Rainbow, and Highlife. Sharrock's band at the time featured Abe Speller on percussion, Lance Carter on drums, Charles Baldwin on bass, and David Snider on keyboards. These albums were followed by Ask the Ages in 1991, which featured Pharoah Sanders and drummer Elvin Jones. One writer described Ask the Ages as "hands down, Sharrock's finest hour, and the ideal album to play for those who claim to hate jazz guitar." Sharrock recorded music, including the opening and ending themes, for Cartoon Network's Space Ghost Coast to Coast with drummer Lance Carter; this was one of the last projects he completed in the studio before his death. A sign was erected on Saturday, October 2, 2010. Sharrock was also inducted into Ossining High School's Hall of Fame.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

  • Black Woman (Vortex, 1969)
  • Monkey-Pockie-Boo (BYG Actuel, 1970)
  • Paradise (Atco, 1975)
  • Dance with Me, Montana (Marge, 1982)
  • Guitar (Enemy, 1986)
  • Seize the Rainbow (Enemy, 1987)
  • Live in New York (Enemy, 1989)
  • Highlife (Enemy, 1990)
  • Faith Moves with Nicky Skopelitis (CMP, 1991)
  • Ask the Ages (Axiom, 1991)
  • Space Ghost Coast to Coast soundtrack (Cartoon Network, 1996)
  • Fragments (Okka Disc, 2003)
  • Whatthefuckdoyouwant with Peter Brötzmann (Trost, 2014)

With Last Exit

  • Last Exit (Enemy, 1986)
  • The Noise of Trouble (Enemy, 1986)
  • Cassette Recordings '87 (Enemy, 1987)
  • Iron Path (Venture, 1988)
  • Köln (ITM, 1990)
  • Headfirst into the Flames: Live in Europe (MuWorks, 1993)

As sideman

With Pheeroan akLaff

  • Sonogram (Mu Works, 1989)

With Roy Ayers

  • Daddy Bug (Atlantic, 1969)

With Ginger Baker

  • No Material (ITM, 1989)

With Brute Force

  • Brute Force (Embryo, 1970)

With Don Cherry

  • Eternal Rhythm (MPS, 1968)

With Miles Davis

  • A Tribute to Jack Johnson (Columbia, 1970)
  • The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions (Columbia, 1970 [2003])

With Green Line

  • Green Line (Nivico, 1970) with Steve Marcus, Miroslav Vitous and Daniel Humair

With Byard Lancaster

  • It's Not Up to Us (Vortex, 1966 [1968])

With F. Robert Lloyd

  • Think About Brooklyn (Delabel DE 391 382, 1993)

With Machine Gun

  • Machine Gun (Mu, 1988)
  • Open Fire (Mu, 1989)

With Herbie Mann

  • Windows Opened (Atlantic, 1968)
  • The Inspiration I Feel (Atlantic, 1968)
  • Memphis Underground (Atlantic, 1969)
  • Concerto Grosso in D Blues (Atlantic, 1969)
  • Live at the Whisky a Go Go (Atlantic, 1969)
  • Stone Flute (Embryo, 1970)
  • Memphis Two-Step (Embro, 1970)
  • Herbie Mann '71 (Embryo, 1971)
  • Hold On, I'm Comin (Atlantic, 1973)

With Material

  • Memory Serves (Celluloid, 1981)

With Niù Abdominaux Dangereux

  • Ghosts (Heron Music, 1989)

With Pharoah Sanders

  • Tauhid (Impulse!, 1966)
  • Izipho Zam (My Gifts) (Strata-East, 1973)

With Wayne Shorter

  • Super Nova (Blue Note, 1969)

With The Stalin

  • Fish Inn (1986 Mix) (Tokuma Onkou, 1986)

With Marzette Watts

  • Marzette Watts and Company (ESP-Disk, 1966)

References

  • Bill Laswell discography (includes profiles on Laswell-produced Sharrock projects)
  • Ossining, New York profile