Sharon Prabhakar

Summary

Sharon Prabhakar (born 4 August 1955) is an Indian pop singer, theatre personality and public speaker.

Sharon Prabhakar
Background information
Born (1955-08-04) 4 August 1955 (age 68)
Delhi, India
GenresPlayback singing, Indipop
Occupation(s)Singer, theatre actress
Years active1982–present[1]
Websitesharonprabhakar.com

Personal life edit

Prabhakar 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 edit

In 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 edit

1980s to 1990s edit

Prabhakar 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 edit

In 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

Singles Indian releases
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]
Albums Indian releases
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

  1. ^ "Sharon Prabhakar". IMDB. Retrieved 21 July 2009.[unreliable source?]
  2. ^ The Times of India, 14 April 2002 - Sharon Prabhakar: In search of the self
  3. ^ India Today, Volume 31, Issues 39-52 - Page 18
  4. ^ The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent, Edited by Alison Arnold - Page 428
  5. ^ The Hindustan Times, 8 May 2013 - It was Shazahn’s idea: Sharon Prabhakar - Nirmika Singh
  6. ^ How to Arrange a Wedding, Neeta Raheja, Adishwar Puri - Page 119
  7. ^ The Times of India, 14 April 2002 - Sharon Prabhakar: In search of the self
  8. ^ Record Collector - Fallout Boys
  9. ^ Discogs - Sharon Prabhakar, Discography, Albums
  10. ^ Wind of Fire: The Music and Musicians of Goa by Mário Cabral e Sá - Page 197
  11. ^ AllMusic - Sharon Prabhakar, Dilrooba (CD - Raga To Rock #29819)
  12. ^ Mid-Day, 30 January 2019 - Milind Deora plays the guitar with Sharon Prabhakar at SoBo fest
  13. ^ Discogs - Sharon Prabhakar, Discography, Singles & EPs
  14. ^ Discogs - Sharon Prabhakar, Discography, Albums

External links edit

  • Sharon Prabhakar at IMDb