Todd Sharpville has been at the coalface of the British Blues Scene for 30 years. His first album Touch Of Your Love was released in 1992 on Red Lightnin Records, winning “Best Album” & “Best Guitarist” in the British Blues Awards, marking the beginning of an international career that’s seen Todd & his band perform at the vast majority of blues venues & festivals across the globe.
Originally turned onto the blues as a child thanks to the music of Freddie King, Todd’s burgeoning guitar style ended up being further inspired by the likes of T Bone Walker, BB King, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Lightnin Hopkins, Albert King, Otis Rush, Peter Green, & Magic Sam among others. He was mentored through his teens by Californian bluesman Joe Louis Walker, changing his life forever.
The 90’s saw Todd regularly put together European backing bands for visiting American artists, working with the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Ike Turner & Byther Smith, and touring relentlessly; participating in Mick Ronson’s memorial concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1994 alongside Dana Gillespie, Gary Brooker, Bill Wyman, Ian Hunter, Roger Taylor, Roger Daltrey, and the decades since have seen him recording and performing with a plethora more luminaries, heroes, & household names.
Standout career moments include playing with Taj Mahal, Peter Green, Little Milton, Lonnie Brooks, Duke Robillard, Little Charlie Baty, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi, Branford Marsalis, Anson Funderburgh, Lonnie Mack, Ronnie Earl, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Terence Simien. Todd was the first European artist to ever appear on the bill of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, and has subsequently performed at 8 of these floating Caribbean festivals alongside Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, Dr John, Etta James, Little Milton, Otis Clay, Tyrone Davis, Shemekia Copeland, and a host of other luminaries. His 2001 record, Meaning Of Life Cathouse/Revolver Records CRCD0057 featured guest appearances from Snowy White, Paul Lamb, Leo Sayer, and ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor (who went on to tour the album with Todd across Europe).
Todd’s confessional divorce album Diary Of A Drowning Man features a duet with much loved British vocalist/songstress Sam Brown (“Sweet Redemption”). Between 2005 & 2007, Sharpville was European tour support act for both Joe Cocker & Pink, as well as opening up on the last night of BB King’s farewell tour at the D’coq Arena, Luxembourg.
His 2010 release “Porchlight” (Mig / SPV Records 20032) included guest appearances from Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Joe Louis Walker, & Medication Time’s producer Duke Robillard. Todd can be found on more than 35 compilation albums, and at least 5 Dana Gillespie releases.
Todd’s most recent album “Medication Time” is available on Dixiefrog Records, and led to his recent “Rockpalast” performance on national TV in Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Croatia. It was released internationally in October 2023 by Repertoire Records as a live double album / DVD Boxset.
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