Sharon Prabhakar (born 4 August 1955) is an Indian pop singer, theatre personality and public speaker.
Sharon Prabhakar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 4 August 1955 Delhi, India |
| Genres | Playback singing, Indipop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, theatre actress |
| Years active | 1982–present[1] |
| Website | sharonprabhakar |
Personal life
editPrabhakar was born to a Punjabi father who was a public servant, and a Christian mother who was a music teacher. Along with her brother and sister, she had a mixed upbringing, growing up speaking both Punjabi and English.
When she was in her twenties, she married Bryan Mascarenhas, though they later divorced.
In 1986, Prabhakar married Alyque Padamsee, with whom she has a daughter, Shazahn Padamsee.[2] The couple have since separated.
Background
editIn the past, Prabhakar has been referred to by India Today as one of Bombay's most talented folk singers with a style reminiscent of Joan Baez.[3] By the mid-1980s, she achieved recognition and fame for singing in popular overseas styles in Hindi language.[4] According to an article in The Hindustan Times, even before artists such as Alisha Chinai, Baba Sehgal and Daler Mehndi were described as Indi-pop, she was the original pop star of Hindi music that wasn't related to films.[5] She achieved popularity in Hindi pop and disco.[6] During her career, she has shared the stage with Celine Dion, represented India abroad and sung for members of the White House.[7]
Music career
edit1980s to 1990s
editPrabhakar had involvement in the production of Obsession '77, an album by psychedelic and hard rock band Atomic Forest.[8]
In 1980, her album Feeling Good was released on the Polydor label.[9][10]
Sharon also had sung an English song for a Kannada movie. The song is I wake up in the middle of the night for the movie : Udayavagali cheluva namma Kannada naadu Record Label The Gramophone Company of India Limited Record number :7EPE 11504
2000s
editIn 2007, her album Dilrooba was released via Raga to Rock.[11] In January 2019, Prabhakar was performing at the SoBo Festival. She invited politician Milind Deora to come up on stage and perform with her. Milind is a musician in his own right and a blues guitarist.[12]
Discography
edit| Title | Release info | Year | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chal Disco Chal "Chal Disco Chal", "Dekho Dekho" / "Daku Daku", "Mere Habib" |
Multitone Records Ltd. 2222 814 | 1981 | 7-inch EP | with Musarrat Nazir |
| "What A Wonder It Will Be" / "Don't Ever Leave Me" | Polydor 2067 839 | 1981 | 7-inch single | with Bashir Sheikh |
| "Aaj Ki Raat" / "Chhupke Kaun Aya" | Outernational Sounds OTR 6 | 2019 | 7-inch single | Sharon Prabhakar only on side A Usha Uthup only on side B[13] |
| Title | Release info | Year | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feeling Good | Polydor 2392921 | 1980 | LP | |
| Chal Disco Chal | Polydor 2392 996 | 1981 | LP | with Musarrat Nazir, Peter Moss and Deepak Khazanchi |
| Musical Multiplication Tables | Multi-Sound 2392 567 | 1981 | LP | |
| What A Wonder... | Polydor 2392 952 | 1981 | LP | with Bashir Sheikh |
| Disco Mastana | Multitone 2393 850 | 1982 | LP | |
| London Calling (The Best From The West - Hindi Disco Hits) |
Multitone 2393 893 | 1983 | LP | with Salma Agha and Nazia Hassan |
| Shabash Sharon | EMI ECSD 2982 His Master's Voice ECSD. 2982 |
1984 | LP | |
| Pyar Chhalke | Music for Pleasure MFPE 1051 | 1985 | LP | with Bappi Lahiri |
| Shararat | Master's Voice PSLP 1401 Odeon PSLP 1401 |
1986 | LP | music by Anand Milind |
| Suno Suno | Music India CDNF043 | 1988 | compact disc | |
| Burning | Padmini Music PP - 304 | 1996 | compact disc | [14] |
Web series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain | Ananya and Amairas' mother | ALTBalaji and ZEE5 | Season 3 |
References
edit- ^ "Sharon Prabhakar". IMDB. Retrieved 21 July 2009. [unreliable source?]
- ^ The Times of India, 14 April 2002 - Sharon Prabhakar: In search of the self
- ^ India Today, Volume 31, Issues 39-52 - Page 18
- ^ The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent, Edited by Alison Arnold - Page 428
- ^ The Hindustan Times, 8 May 2013 - It was Shazahn’s idea: Sharon Prabhakar - Nirmika Singh
- ^ How to Arrange a Wedding, Neeta Raheja, Adishwar Puri - Page 119
- ^ The Times of India, 14 April 2002 - Sharon Prabhakar: In search of the self
- ^ Record Collector - Fallout Boys
- ^ Discogs - Sharon Prabhakar, Discography, Albums
- ^ Wind of Fire: The Music and Musicians of Goa by Mário Cabral e Sá - Page 197
- ^ AllMusic - Sharon Prabhakar, Dilrooba (CD - Raga To Rock #29819)
- ^ Mid-Day, 30 January 2019 - Milind Deora plays the guitar with Sharon Prabhakar at SoBo fest
- ^ Discogs - Sharon Prabhakar, Discography, Singles & EPs
- ^ Discogs - Sharon Prabhakar, Discography, Albums