Sheri Kershaw

Sheri Kershaw (born Sheri Pogmore in 1953) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician and vocal therapist. From 1983 to 2008 she was married to Nik Kershaw. She toured extensively with him and sang backing vocals on his early albums, achieving a No. 3 singles hit with his song "The Riddle".

Sheri Kershaw
Kershaw performing live at the High Barn in Braintree, Essex, 2013
Background information
Birth nameSheri Hamill
Born1953 (age 67–68)
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • vocal therapist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1970–present
Associated acts
Websitesherikershaw.com
Spouse(s)Nik Kershaw (divorced)

Early years

Sheri Kershaw's parents were from Birmingham, England, and she was born in Pickering, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. When she was 13, her cousin Robert came to visit from England and introduced her to the guitar and songwriting. She took over her brother's guitar and went to work learning to play. She took lessons briefly, but in 1969 her parents returned to England and enrolled her in secretarial school, which they felt was more respectable than a career in music.[1]

Music career

In 1970, Kershaw left home and joined a band with English musician Robbie Gladwell,[2] playing with him in a duo. They later formed a folk band with Ken Elson and Trevor Martin called Sine Nomine, where they wrote and played their own songs. From folk rock festivals in the Colchester/Ipswich area they went on to play in Turkey and tour Germany. During and after her break-up with Gladwell, Kershaw broadened her experience singing in a dinner dance band and in a jazz quartet with jazz musicians Bill Haig, Bob Dore and Mick Hansen. Subsequently she moved on to work in cabaret in the North where she met Bruce Hamill when he joined the band she was in, on keyboards.

In 1979, she lost her voice and took Bel canto lessons to recover it with Jean Marshall (who also had Linda Lewis as one of her students). At the end of 1979, after her voice had recovered, she met and started to live with Nik Kershaw when he joined the band Fusion in which she was already singing. Supporting Nik with what little money they had to make an album of his songs and place an advertisement in Melody Maker, their life of fame began. Sheri toured with him in his band the Krew[3] and worked on three of his albums.[4] The band's album The Riddle reached No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Platinum, while the lead single of the same name reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.[5][6]

After marrying Kershaw, Sheri took time off from her music career to have children and certified as a teacher for disabled children. She also trained and worked as a psychotherapist[7] and a vocal therapist.[8][9] At about the age of 40, Kershaw picked up songwriting again. After the final break up of their marriage she formed a band with Martyn Hewitt and Chris Brimley based in Braintree, Essex, and has released two albums.[10]

Personal life

Sheri Kershaw married Robbie Gladwell in 1970, but they later divorced. While working in cabaret she met American musician and composer Bruce Hamill and was married to him for several years, separating in 1979 and divorcing in 1980. Her third husband was the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw.[1] The couple married in July 1983 and had three children together, Rudi, Ryan and Izzy.[11] They divorced in 2008.[12]

For many years, Kershaw has been a member of the School of Economic Science group which promotes meditation and the Gurdjeiff group, choosing to become a Buddhist and study Buddhist philosophy.[1]

Discography
Solo
  • Blue Pillows (2001)
The Sheri Kershaw Band
  • Kettles in the Kitchen' (2011)

References
  1. Kershaw, Sheri. "sherikershaw.com". Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  2. Acoustic Club, retrieved 17 June 2016
  3. Larkin, Colin (2007), The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Omnibus
  4. Sheri Kershaw, AllMusic, retrieved 17 June 2016
  5. Phillips, Matt (2 December 2016), No Mullet Required: Nik Kershaw's The Riddle, retrieved 18 June 2016
  6. The Riddle, retrieved 18 June 2016
  7. Sheri Kershaw, retrieved 17 June 2016
  8. Nik Interview Chat Transcript, retrieved 17 June 2016
  9. Newhan, Paul (1998), Therapeutic Voicework: Principles and Practice for the Use of Singing as a Therapy, Jessica Kingsley, ISBN 9781853023613, retrieved 17 June 2016
  10. 2014 – 25th July – Sheri Kershaw Band + Tim Hooper, retrieved 17 June 2016
  11. Lester, Paul (4 October 2014). "Whatever happened to 'I Won't Let the Sun Go Down On Me' singer Nik Kershaw". Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  12. Wenn (17 November 2003). "Nik Kershaw Splits From Wife". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
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