It is 1965. The girl, who is only 16 but already a showbiz pro who has been singing for country and western audiences since she was 4 years old, has traveled to Toronto from her home on a farm in southwestern Ontario. It’s not her first visit – she’s even been on TV there and in Hamilton – but to be on her own in Canada’s largest city is still a big deal. Well, not completely on her own, of course; she’s staying with the family of the man producing what will turn out to be her only album.
She’s in Toronto for a week, seven long days of recording sessions and overdubs with Ben Weatherby, the Arc Records house producer, and a bunch of session musicians (one of whom is guitarist Mickey McGivern) who are nice to her even though she’s a bit nervous at first and sometimes bored by the endless retakes. One of the songs that will eventually be included on the LP has been written specifically for her, a ballad named “I Need You.” She sings it in the guileless, hopeful voice of the teenage girl she is, with a melancholic edge befitting a song of love not yet realized.
Everything about the song is big; her voice continually threatening to escape the bounds of Weatherby’s Owen Bradley-on-a-budget arrangement, itself an attempt to transcend the limitations of the Arc studio. Another track on the LP, “Put Your Arms Around Me Honey,” is further evidence of Weatherby’s ambitions, featuring as it does a highly unusual (for country music) pairing of organ and vibraphone.
The album finished, she returns home and continues to perform for another couple of years (her parents nixing the prospect of an American tour under the care of Johnny Cash’s manager Saul Holiff), until she gets married at the age of 18 and gives up singing professionally for good in favour of married life as a mother of three children, and a career as a reflexologist. The LP, Sincerely…, is not a hit, but does turn out to be one of Arc’s best releases and waits to be rediscovered by lucky diggers searching through the thrift stores of Ontario.
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Where can I get this album.. I use to have the same album when I was a kid. I listen to it over and over again. I do not know where my album went to but would love to hear Sharon sing these songs again. I am from the same village Sharon was from. We went to the same church. I lived watching Sharon on Circle 8 Range.
Feb 21. I also have the album, was an ad vide follower of Sharon, and the Circle 8 show. How I wish we were back there listening to Sharon perform.
hi Sharon I loved your album too. did you release anymore albums.
Hi..this is my record…made in 1965 in Toronto at Arc Sound. Now I am a Mom, Grandma and still a music lover..thanks for the great comments
I’m not sure where you live but I’ve seen it in wingham at the restore recently
Hi Sharon, apparently I’m somehow related to you. But my gramma played your record all the time and all of my moms brothers and sisters all had your record too. I recently was so excited when i found a copy it brings back memories of my grammas house!
she had a wonderful voice so sadly under appreciated by the market at that period of time
God. I loved this album as a kid. still listen to it. was one of 5 albums kept.
Listened to this album so many times as a kid. Great memories!
can we get in contact with Sharon Strong . still have her album ,loved her voice . just wanted to say thank you loved the album