Sharin Anderson

Biography

Anderson was born in Ivanhoe, Victoria and grew up in the Montmorency area attending Briar Hill Primary School and Eltham High School.

Between 1967 and 1973, Sharin studied guitar with Wally Johnson. She started song writing and performing while in High School in school concerts and talent quests as well as solo performances at Melbourne venues such as The Outpost Inn. In 1975, she became backing vocalist with "The Salters Rush Blues Band". After leaving school in 1976, she worked at gigs and a variety of jobs including waitress at Panton Hill Hotel and running a clothing and gift shop in Northcote. In 1977, she began to be given lead vocal parts while working with "Overproof & The Distiller Sisters".

In 1978, she joined with some former members of the Eltham band, "Reuben Tice" to form "The Sharin Anderson Band" and began performing at Melbourne venues such as "Marijuhana House", "Christmas Hills Festival", and "Movement Against Uranium Mining" benefit concerts.

From 1982 to 1986, Sharin performed with the Sharin Anderson Band as well as solo gigs and work with a range of Melbourne bands including "The Perfect Hosts" (backing vocals), "The Robbie Greig Band" (backing vocals), "The Connection" (lead & backing vocals), "Bluey" (main vocals), "The Motown Jackets" (main vocals).

In 1986, Sharin formed "Hey Gringo" and performed originals and covers at venues such as The Cricketers Arms, Panton Hill Hotel and St Andrews Hotel.

In 1988, Sharin modelled for the painter Clifton Pugh whom she had met through her work at the Panton Hill Hotel where he was a regular patron. In gratitude, Shane Pugh (Clifton's son) gave her one of the limited edition colour etchings of the work in which she appeared – "Leda and the Swan 1" (1989). Sharin also modelled several times during 1988–1989 for Rick Amor and Prue Acton at Pugh's property, Dunmoochin.

In 1989, Sharin won a singer/ songwriting competition run by Creative Synergies which provided 250 hours of studio recording time at Silkwood Studios (formerly York Street Studios) in Nth Fitzroy. She recorded 12 original songs including "Do They Say To You", "That's Enough For Me" and "Let's Not Fool".

During 1990–1993, Sharin also found musical work as a session vocalist for advertising jingles with Silkwood Studios and also occasionally with Burkhard Dallwitz. In 1990, Sharin recorded a version of her song titled "Buried Alive" at Peter Mumme's Studio in Christmas Hills (with Peter playing keyboards/synthesiser). Sharin got to the finals in the "Best Unsigned Band Competition" of 1992 run by The Musician Magazine (The finals judges were Chrissie Hynde, Sun Ra, Don Was, Bootsy Collins and John Hiatt).

From 1993 to 1996, Sharin performed at Melbourne venues and festivals with a band line-up called "Sharin Anderson and The Blue Angels". In 1994, she reached the finals in the "Blues Performer of the Year". In 1996, she sang backing vocals on Debbie Morrow's CD "Violence in Animation"

In 1996, Sharin needed a more certain income stream and qualified and commenced work as a support worker for people with intellectual disabilities.

In the mid-1990s, Sharin started drawing with coloured pen and ink and created hundreds of abstract patterned [mandala|mandalas] as well as square and rectangular geometric designs. She also began to create drawings based on the surrounding urban landscapes in the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne.

In 1998, Sharin formed "Lola's Delight" with Nadine Budge and Marni Sheehan and performed around Melbourne in venues such as The Lomond Hotel, The Brunswick Music Festival, Ruckers (now Wesley Annes of Northcote), The Maldon Folk Festival and the Eltham Festival.

In 2002, Sharin occasionally contributed backing vocals and guitar with "The Urban Nomads" and on their recording of "Long Way From Water".

In 2009, Sharin exhibited her artwork in Synergy Art Gallery, Northcote.

Musical Groups

Original Compositions Recorded