Kevin Grant Sharp (December 10, 1970 – April 19, 2014) was an American country music singer, author, and motivational speaker. Sharp came on the country music scene in 1996 with his first single: a cover of Tony Rich's "Nobody Knows", which topped the Billboard country chart for four weeks. The same year, Sharp released his first album, Measure of a Man. Having survived a form of bone cancer in his teenage years, Sharp became actively involved in the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He wrote an inspirational book about his life and his fight with cancer, and occasionally toured the United States as a motivational speaker. Sharp died from complications of stomach surgery in April 2014.

Biography Early years Kevin Grant Sharp was born December 10, 1970, in Redding, California.Kevin Sharp biography, allmusic.com. Accessed April 27, 2014. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Weiser, Idaho, to open a restaurant. Sharp performed in local musicals in high school, and stayed active in music after his family moved to Sacramento, California, in 1985. Starting in 1989, he began to experience dizziness and fatigue. He was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer,CMT.com: Kevin Sharp: Leave It To Mr. Fix It Kevin Sharp and was given little chance of recovery. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, Sharp met the record producer David Foster, with whom he soon became friends. After two years of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, when still in his early 20s, the cancer went into remission by the early 1990s, although he permanently lost all of his hair as a result of the radiation treatment. In high school, Sharp played football and basketball, but was unable to participate in either sport during his senior year because of his cancer.Country singer Kevin Sharp dies at 43 The doctors eventually discovered that the cancer had spread to his lungs.Country singer Kevin Sharp dies Sharp was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Kevin Sharp He graduated from Bella Vista High School.Obituary: Fair Oaks’ Kevin Sharp, 43, battled cancer to thrive in country music

Musical career After remission, Sharp worked at Great America in Santa Clara, California, while working on a demo tape, which he sent to various talent shows, and later to David Foster. Foster introduced him to A&R representatives and, by 1996, Sharp was signed to Asylum Records. His first album, Measure of a Man, was released in September 1996. The album's first single, a cover version of the R&B artist Tony Rich's "Nobody Knows", spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. He became a spokesperson for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and was awarded the foundation's Wish Granter of the Year award, in 1997. He was named New Touring Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association and nominated for Top New Male Vocalist award by the Academy of Country Music.

In 1998, Sharp collapsed backstage at the TNN Music City News Country Awards, and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, due to problems with steel rods in his hip. As a result, he had to cancel several tour dates.Kevin Sharp: Sharper Than Ever Measure of a Man produced two more top 10 country singles, "She's Sure Taking It Well" and "If You Love Somebody". The album's fourth single, "There's Only You", peaked at No. 43. His second album, Love Is, released in 1998 on Asylum, failed to produce any successful singles, and Sharp was dropped from Asylum's roster.Notice of death of Kevin Sharp, cmt.com; accessed April 27, 2014.

Sharp continued to perform as a musician, as well as a motivational speaker, and was also a spokesperson for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Sharp wrote a book, Tragedy's Gift, and published it in 2004. His third album, Make a Wish, was released on the independent Cupit Records label in 2005, although none of its five singles charted.

Death Sharp died on April 19, 2014, at the age of 43, of complications from stomach surgeries and digestive problems.- He was survived by his mother Elaine Sharp, his ex-wife Traci Williams Sharp, and his siblings Lisa, Mary, Ron, Greg, Richard, Larry, and Genni.Kevin Sharp Kevin was preceded in death by his father, Glen Sharp, in 2009. Sharp never remarried.

Discography

Studio albums Title Album details Peak positions Certifications US Country US US Heat CAN Country CAN Measure of a Man Released: September 24, 1996 Label: Asylum Formats: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming 4 40 1 2 79 CAN: Platinum US: 2× Platinum Love Is Released: June 23, 1998 Label: Asylum Formats: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming 38 — — — — Make a Wish Released: July 26, 2005 (US only) Label: Cupit Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles As lead artist Single Year Peak positions Album US Country CAN Country "Nobody Knows" 1996 1 1 Measure of a Man "She's Sure Taking It Well" 1997 3 4 "If You Love Somebody" 4 7 "There's Only You" 43 — "Love Is All That Really Matters" 1998 51 63 "If She Only Knew" 61 — Love Is "Beautiful People" 2001 — — "Your Love Reaches Me" 2005 — — Make a Wish "I Think I'll Stay" — — "You Are the Reason Why" 2006 — — "Make a Wish" 2007 — — "Let Me Rock You to Sleep" 2011 — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist Title Year Album "God Bless the Children" 2006 Turbo Twang'n "Dare the World" 2010

Music videos Video Year Director "Nobody Knows" 1996 Jeffrey Phillips "She's Sure Taking It Well" 1997 Norry Niven "There's Only You" "Love Is All That Really Matters" 1998 "I Think I'll Stay" 2005 David Abbott "You Are the Reason Why" 2006 Chris Rogers

Awards and nominations YearOrganizationAwardNominee/WorkResult1997Academy of Country Music AwardsTop New Male VocalistKevin Sharp1998American Music AwardsFavorite Country New ArtistKevin SharpTNN/Music City News Country AwardsMale Star of TomorrowKevin Sharp

References

External links