Grammy award winner Randy Sharp returns home

As far as local roots go, the ones that Grammy Award winning songwriter Randy Sharp has planted in the Central Valley go deep.

The 1969 Redwood high school graduate grew up in a time when the hands of families were as needed as much for manual labor on the farm as they were on musical instruments to encourage them to work through the obstacles of each day.

The struggles of Dust Bowl migrants in the Central Valley were famously illustrated in John Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning novel "The Grapes of Wrath," and in an interview with the Times Delta Randy Sharp shared his own perspective as a budding musician during that time.

It was from visiting his grandparents in Woodlake that Sharp's love for music was cultivated. During multigenerational family gatherings, Sharp would join more than 20 friends and neighbors in playing folk country music.

"Guitars came out," he said. "We sang country songs. You could muddle your way through the chords."

Randy Sharp is hosting a similar gathering in Woodlake, Saturday, July 11, for those fellow musicians currently muddling their own way through the chords with an intimate songwriting workshop and evening dinner performance.

Although California is still in a drought, Randy Sharp seeks to allow creativity to flow by gearing the occassion towards budding musicians who have always dreamed of becoming songwriters.

As students they will join other famous musicians who have benefitted from Sharp's talent including Linda Ronstadt, Reba McEntire, Alabama, and the Dixie Chicks, to name a few.

Randy Sharp boast seven #1 one songs and 35 charting songs to his name, and the number of hits only continue to grow.

His most recent release, a children's album titled "Calling All Elephants," was awarded CD of the year by iTunes, and was followed by his album of R&B and folk songs "I Won't Let Go" in June of this year.

He has also written songs for Big Bird of Sesame Street, Blood, Sweat and Tears and Art Garfunkel.

After having spent his childhood in the Valley, and 40 years in the music industry, there's no shortage of musical knowledge and local history Randy Sharp has available to be unearthed by fellow fans and music lovers alike.

Details: Randy Sharp hosts an intimate songwriting workshop and evening dinner show July 11 at Roseland Studios in Woodlake. Tickets for the workshop are $99 and include premium seating for the show with dinner. Show tickets are $25. Call 471-6920 to purchase tickets and make reservations.