Sharon Lee Myers - born on the 21st of August, 1944 in Hazel, Kentucky, USA. This highly talented singer and songwriter was introduced to gospel, country and blues styles while still a child. She was actively performing by the age of 15 and, having travelled to Los Angeles, commenced a recording career in 1960 with a series of releases on minor labels. DeShannon's collaborations with Sharon Sheeley resulted in several superior pop songs including "Dum Dum" and "Heart In Hand" for Brenda Lee and "Trouble" for the Kalin Twins. DeShannon then forged equally fruitful partnerships with Jack Nitzsche and Randy Newman, the former of which spawned "When You Walk In The Room", a 1964 smash for the Searchers. Resultant interest in the UK inspired several television appearances and DeShannon's London sojourn was also marked by songwriting collaborations with Jimmy Page.
Despite a succession of excellent singles, DeShannon's own recording career failed to achieve similar heights, although her work continued to be covered by Helen Shapiro, Marianne Faithfull, the Byrds and the Critters. DeShannon enjoyed a US Top 10 single with the Burt Bacharach/Hal David-penned "What The World Needs Now Is Love" (1965), but her biggest hit came four years later when "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" reached number 4 in the same chart Her position as one of the 60s leading pop composers remains undiminished. Jackie has had an equally significant impact on music history as a composer and as a pioneer of American folk-rock. A contemporary of the great Carole King and Joni Mitchell, she was one of the first successful female songwriters, and as such was a trailblazer helping pave the way for the popular female singer/songwriters of the '70s, including Carly Simon, Laura Nyro, Jennifer Warnes, and Christine McVie. Other performers have long recognized her talent, as proven by the too-numerous-to-count cover versions of her songs. During the late-'50s and then into '60s the following artists recorded songs written or co-written by Jackie DeShannon: the Byrds ("Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe"), the Searchers ("Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room"), the Ventures ("When You Walk in the Room"), Bobby Vee ("You Won't Forget Me"), Sandie Shaw ("You Won't Forget Me"), Del Shannon ("When You Walk in the Room"), the Righteous Brothers ("Burn on Love"), Cher ("Come and Stay with Me"), the Fleetwoods ("He's the Great Imposter"), Brenda Lee ("Dum Dum," "Heart in Hand"), Marianne Faithfull ("In My Time of Sorrow," "Come and Stay with Me," "With You in Mind"), the Crickets ("Right or Wrong"), among dozens of other singers and bands. She's written songs with such luminaries as Van Morrison, Randy Newman, Michael McDonald, and Jimmy Page, she's recorded with legends like Elvis, Barry White, and Dr. John, and she's shared live stages with the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Association, Neil Diamond, Glen Campbell, and many more. Still writing and recording, she has 21 original albums, and a dozen more greatest hits/compilation releases, on her resume. Today Jackie stands as one of the '60s true music legends, someone who helped steer the course of music history for the rest of the century.
