Sharon O'Neill

Last updated

Sharon O'Neill
Birth nameSharon Lea O'Neill
Born (1952-11-23) 23 November 1952 (age 71)
Nelson, New Zealand
Genres Rock, pop, new wave
Occupation(s)Singer, musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active1970–present
Labels Sony, Polydor

Sharon Lea O'Neill [1] (born 23 November 1952) [2] is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and pianist, who had an Australasian hit single in 1983 with "Maxine" which reached No. 16 on both the Australian Kent Music Report and Recording Industry Association of New Zealand charts. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Career

1960s–1977: Career beginnings

Sharon O'Neill is a self taught musician who learned to play guitar by ear and started composing at an early age, by putting chords to her poetry. She began playing the acoustic guitar around Nelson in the 1960s. [6]

O'Neill began recording with Robin Winch and Nancy Richman under the name Suitewater. An entry into the 1970 Mobil Song Quest, saw Sharon & Nancy make the finals with a song called "Life Upon Life" written by O'Neill. Another of her songs, "Nothing Makes It Easy", got her to the finals of the New Faces television talent show in 1972 In 1972, O'Neill released "Love Song" a Lesley Duncan cover on Ode Records. Between 1972 and 1977 O'Neill joined New Zealand band Chapta, a covers band called Jessica, and a rock-pop band called Shiner. In 1977, encouraged by Shiner guitarist and future husband Brent Thomas, O'Neill began concentrating on song writing. [6] O'Neill was featured on the track "If There's Still a Little Love" on Mark Williams' 1977 album Taking It All in Stride, with the song also featuring on Mark Williams Greatest Hits compilation album released in late 1977. O'Neill also supported Williams on tour.

1978–1983: CBS Records

In 1978, O'Neill performed the track "Luck's on Your Table" on the New Zealand TV show The Entertainers, where she finished third. She subsequently signed to CBS Records and released "Luck's on the Table" in September 1978. It reached number 27 on the New Zealand singles chart and was included on her debut album This Heart This Song , which was released in February 1979. In June 1979, O'Neill released "Don't Say No to Tomorrow", which was featured on a Telethon. It reached number 6 on the charts. That same year she received an APRA Silver Scroll Award for the song "Face in a Rainbow" from her debut album. O'Neill won best female artist at the New Zealand Music Awards in 1978, and 1979. In February 1980, O'Neill released her second studio album titled Sharon O'Neill , which peaked at number 3. At the 1980 New Zealand Music Awards, O'Neill won her third Female Artist of the Year as well as her first Album of the Year. The album gained moderate success in Australia with the hit "Words" (AUS #56) and the subsequent singles "Asian Paradise" (AUS #76) and "How Do You Talk to Boys" (AUS #25). O'Neill joined Jon Stevens on a duet called "Don't Let Love Go", which reached number 5 in New Zealand in March 1980.

O'Neill's third studio album Maybe was released in October 1981. It produced the hits "Waiting for You" and "Maybe" (AUS #38). O'Neill supported Boz Scaggs on his Australian tour before she moved to Australia to settle. [7] O'Neill provided the soundtrack to Roger Donaldson's 1982 movie Smash Palace . It was a five-track extended play and won Best Film Soundtrack/Cast Recording/Compilation at the 1983 New Zealand Music Awards.

O'Neill's fourth studio album Foreign Affairs was released in May 1983. It contained the tracks "Losing You" (AUS #26) and "Maxine" (AUS #16), [4] a song which chronicled the life of a Kings Cross prostitute. [8] In a 2016 interview, O'Neill said: "I was living in a hotel in Kings Cross when I got the inspiration to write 'Maxine'. She was always out there working at 3am when we'd get home bleary-eyed from a gig." [7] Foreign Affairs was certified gold in New Zealand. [9]

1984–1999: Polydor Records and compilations

A legal battle with her then-record company CBS caused a delay in her career. [2] In 1984, CBS budget label J&B released a best of collection titled So Far . During the enforced hiatus, O'Neill wrote songs for ABC's 1984 TV series Sweet and Sour including the title song performed by Deborah Conway (later recorded by O'Neill as "In Control") and "Glam to Wham". [1] She wrote "Blood Red Roses" for the movie soundtrack of "Street Hero" and music for "Dancing Daze". O'Neill met American keyboardist and songwriter Alan Mansfield on Dragon's Body and the Beat Tour of New Zealand in 1984—they later became domestic and professional partners. [10]

In October 1987, O'Neill returned with her fifth studio album Danced in the Fire on Polygram, [2] which featured some biographical songs about her legal wrangles with CBS. "Physical Favours" peaked at number 25 in New Zealand and 39 in Australia. In 1988, CBS Records released a series of four-track EPs; Volume 18 was O'Neill and featured four of O'Neill's greatest hits.

In 1990, O'Neill released her sixth studio album Edge of Winter . Two singles were taken from this album, "Satin Sheets" and "Poster Girl", both of which failed to find chart success. The Very Best of Collette and Sharon O'Neill was released in 1991 by J&B Records. It contained eight tracks from Collette Roberts and eight tracks from O'Neill, including the previously non-album single "Power" from 1984.

In 1991, O'Neill collaborated with Robert Palmer and wrote "True Love" together for Palmer's Rhythm & Blues album. She also contributed vocals on that release. In 1994, O'Neill, Palmer, and Palmer's girlfriend Mary Ambrose co-wrote "Love Takes Time" for Palmer's Honey album. O'Neill contributed vocals to that release, as well as to Palmer's 1999 Rhythm & Blues and 2003's Drive .

2000–present: Later career

In 2001, she toured as a guest artist with New Zealand female act When the Cat's Away. In 2005, she toured Australia as a support act for Leo Sayer and a comprehensive collection of her greatest hits was released by Sony Music Australia under the title The Best of Sharon O'Neill . In 2006 and early 2007, O'Neill again toured Australia supporting Leo Sayer.

From August–September 2007, O'Neill toured as part of the 'Countdown Spectacular 2' concert series Australia-wide [11] and toured Australia and New Zealand on The Let It Be Tour (The Beatles tribute show) in November–December 2007. [12]

In 2014, Sony New Zealand released a new greatest hits collection titled Words: The Very Best of Sharon O'Neill . The album peaked at number 6 on the New Zealand albums chart.

In 2018, Sharon performed a duet with Ben Ransom titled "Young Years", the song she co-wrote for the group Dragon. The track is available via digital streaming service Apple Music.

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1978Sharon O'NeillNew Zealand Music Awards - Top Female VocalistWon [13]
1979Sharon O'NeillNew Zealand Music Awards - Top Female VocalistWon [14]
1979"Face In a Rainbow" APRA Awards (New Zealand) - Silver Scroll AwardsWon
1980Sharon O'NeillNew Zealand Music Awards - Top Female VocalistWon [15]
Sharon O'NeillNew Zealand Music Awards - Album of the YearWon [16]
1981Sharon O'Neill Australian Countdown Awards - Most Popular FemaleWon
1982Sharon O'NeillNominated
1983Sharon O'NeillWon
Smash Palace New Zealand Music Awards - Best Film Soundtrack/Cast Recording/CompilationWon
1984Sharon O'NeillAustralian Countdown Awards - Best Female Performance in a VideoWon
Sharon O'NeillAustralian Countdown Awards - Most Popular Female PerformerWon
Sharon O'NeillAustralian Countdown Awards - Best SongwriterNominated
1985"Power"Australian Countdown Awards - Best Female Performance in a VideoWon
1988Sharon O'NeillARIA Music Awards - Best Female ArtistNominated
1989"We're Only Human"ARIA Music Awards - Best Female ArtistNominated
2017Sharon O'Neill New Zealand Music Hall of Fame inductee [17]

Television

Television
YearTitlePerformanceNotes
1978 The Entertainers Herself sings "Luck's On Your Table"TV series NZ
1978-1980 Aotearoa Music Awards HerselfTV special NZ
1979The NZ APRA AwardsHerself sings "Face In A Rainbow"TV special NZ
1980 Countdown Herself sings "Words"ABC TV series
1980 Countdown Herself sings "How Do You Talk To Boys"ABC TV series
1980; 1985 The Mike Walsh Show Herself sings "How Do You Talk To Boys"Channel Nine
1981TVNZ Radpics Kiwis Musicians In OzHerselfTV documentary NZ
1981 Countdown Herself sings "Asian ParadiseABC TV series
1981 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "Waiting For You"/"Love Can Be Cruel" segment: DiscussionTV series, 1 episode
1981 Sounds HerselfTV series
1981;1983 Countdown Herself sings "Waiting For YouABC TV series
1981 Countdown Herself Guest host sings "Maybe"ABC TV series
1982Countdown Music & Video Awards 1981Herself sings "Maybe"ABC TV special
1983;1983 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "I've Got You To Thank"TV series, 1 episode
1983 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "Losing You"/"Kids In Our Town"TV series, 1 episode
1983 Countdown Herself Guest host sings "Losing You"ABC TV series
1983 Countdown Herself sings "Maxine"ABC TV series
1983;1987 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "Danger"TV series, 1 episode
1983 Countdown Herself sings "Danger"ABC TV series
1984Countdown Music & Video AwardsHerselfABC TV special
1984 Rock Arena HerselfABC TV series
1984 Sounds HerselfTV series
1984Good Morning AustraliaHerselfTV series
1984Countdown 10th Anniversary Birthday SpecialHerselfABC TV special
1985 The Mike Walsh Show Guest SingerTV series, 1 episode
1985Concert For E.A.T.Herself sings "Imagine"ABC TV special
1987 The Factory Herself sings "Physical Favours"ABC TV series
1987 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "Physical Favours"TV series
1987 Sounds Herself sings "Physical Favours"TV series
1988 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "Danced In The FireTV series
1988The Midday ShowHerself sings "Danced In The Fire"TV series
1988 Video Hits Herself introduces "Danced In The Fire" music clipTV series
1988 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "We're Only Human"TV series
1990 Video Hits Herself introduces "Satin Sheets" music video clipTV series
1990Perth TelethonHerself sings "Satin Sheets"TV special
1990Tonight Live With Steve VizardHerself sings “Satin Sheets”TV series
1990 New Faces Herself sings "Satin Sheets"TV series
1990 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself sings "Satin Sheets"TV series
1991TodayHerselfTV series
1998Good Vibrations: The Concert For Marc HunterHerself sings "Young Years" w Kevin Bennett & Margaret UrlichTV special
2005;2006Mornings With Kerri-AnneHerself on keyboards w Leo SayerTV series
2005The Footy Show MelbourneHerself on keyboards w Leo SayerTV series
2005 Spicks & Specks HerselfABC TV series
2005Home Grown - The Best Of New Zealand's Music VideosHerself in music videosTV special NZ
2006Mornings With Kerri-AnneHerself on keyboards w Leo SayerTV series
2006 RockWiz Herself sings "Maxine"SBS TV series
2007Mornings With Kerri-AnneHerself w Let It Be TourTV series
2007Close UpHerselfTV series NZ
2007SunriseHerself with Let It Be TourTV series NZ
2007SunriseHerself performs w Let It Be TourTV series
2007Countdown Spectacular 2 ConcertHerself sings "Losing You"/"Maxine"ABC TV special
2008Rocked The Nation: 100 NZ Music MomentsHerselfTV special NZ
2017 Aotearoa Music Awards Herself as InducteeTV special NZ

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References

  1. 1 2 "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  2. 1 2 3 Larkin, Colin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1865. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  3. Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara, Paul McHenry with notes by Ed Nimmervoll (2002) [1987]. "ONEILL, Sharon". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN   1-86503-891-1. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2010. Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
  4. 1 2 Australian chart peaks:
  5. New Zealand chart peaks:
  6. 1 2 "Sharon O'Neill". Sergent. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Twelve Questions with Sharon O'Neill". NZ Herald. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  8. Filmarchive.org.nz Archived 3 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Gold and platinum New Zealand albums to 2013". Teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  10. Taylor, Phil (P J) (24 August 2006). "The Times interview, Sharon O'Neill explain yourself to PJ Taylor". Howick and Pakuranga Times. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  11. "The Countdown Spectacular". Frontier Touring Co. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  12. "The Let It Be Tour entry on Sharon O'Neill". Xazz Media Group. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  13. "TOP FEMALE VOCALIST 1978". NZ Music Awads. RMNZ. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  14. "TOP FEMALE VOCALIST 1979". NZ Music Awads. RMNZ. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  15. "TOP FEMALE VOCALIST 1980". NZ Music Awads. RMNZ. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  16. "ALBUM OF THE YEAR 1980". NZ Music Awards. RMNZ. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  17. "HOME INDUCTEES". www.musichall.co.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2021.