Songwriter, Musician. He will be best remembered for his penning of the Ray Charles hit "Unchain My Heart" (1961). He spent part of his childhood, raised by his grandparents in Los Angeles while his parents established show business careers in New York. Bobby's father a concert tenor found work on Broadway and his mother became involved with theater, he was reunited with them at the age of twelve. It would be music for which helped him grow up and get through the Depression. Following service with the United States Army during World War II, he used the funds he received from the GI Bill and enrolled at Greenwich House Music School and later the Manhattan School of Music. During this period, he learned to play the piano in addition to writing songs. Sharp's initial success was his penning and recording of the song "Baby Girl of Mine" (1956), for which garnered further recognition with Ruth Brown's version that same year. Additionally, he made a name for himself as a musician while with Benny Carter's ensemble. After his song "Unchain My Heart" was recorded by Ray Charles which reached number nine on the Pop Charts in 1961, he sold the rights for fifty-dollars. He later won a judgement in court after it was revealed that he was not being compensated for royalties. In 1963, Charles enjoyed a Top-20 hit with Sharp's "Don't Set Me Free". When not focusing on music, he worked as a substance abuse counselor in the San Francisco-area. In 2005, he recorded the song "Hand in Hand" with singer Clara Bellino which he actually penned in 1947. At one time, Nat King Cole expressed interest in recording a version but died before he was able to accomplish this.
Songwriter, Musician. He will be best remembered for his penning of the Ray Charles hit "Unchain My Heart" (1961). He spent part of his childhood, raised by his grandparents in Los Angeles while his parents established show business careers in New York. Bobby's father a concert tenor found work on Broadway and his mother became involved with theater, he was reunited with them at the age of twelve. It would be music for which helped him grow up and get through the Depression. Following service with the United States Army during World War II, he used the funds he received from the GI Bill and enrolled at Greenwich House Music School and later the Manhattan School of Music. During this period, he learned to play the piano in addition to writing songs. Sharp's initial success was his penning and recording of the song "Baby Girl of Mine" (1956), for which garnered further recognition with Ruth Brown's version that same year. Additionally, he made a name for himself as a musician while with Benny Carter's ensemble. After his song "Unchain My Heart" was recorded by Ray Charles which reached number nine on the Pop Charts in 1961, he sold the rights for fifty-dollars. He later won a judgement in court after it was revealed that he was not being compensated for royalties. In 1963, Charles enjoyed a Top-20 hit with Sharp's "Don't Set Me Free". When not focusing on music, he worked as a substance abuse counselor in the San Francisco-area. In 2005, he recorded the song "Hand in Hand" with singer Clara Bellino which he actually penned in 1947. At one time, Nat King Cole expressed interest in recording a version but died before he was able to accomplish this.
Bio by: C.S.
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