Country music singer Kevin Sharp (1970-2014). Rest in Peace.
For the past two decades the country music industry has been 90% garbage. There's just no other way to put it. It has been suffocated by hundreds of cookie cutter acts, who specialize in bland vocals, irritating music, & stupid lyrics. Uninspiring performers such as Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, etc.,etc. have dominated the country music scene. Honestly, I thought when Kenny Chesney's "
She Think's My Tractor's Sexy" became a huge hit in '99, it was the death knell gloomily announcing country music's demise. However, because of artists such as the incredible Dwight Yoakam, Toby Keith, Martina McBride, The Band Perry, and Kevin Sharp it has somehow survived, and even remained slightly relevant.
Kevin Sharp's death is a big blow to quality country music. He died yesterday, at the age of 43, of complications from past stomach surgeries and digestive issues. Several years ago, Kevin was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He was able to overcome this after two years of chemotherapy and radiation. It was shortly after this that Mr. Sharp became a national spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also wrote a book, entitled "
Tragedy's Gift,"that is about fighting cancer. The book was released in 2004.
In my opinion, Kevin Sharp's music simply can't compare to Dwight Yoakam's or Toby Keith's. That doesn't matter. What resonates is his wonderful voice. A lot of the lyrics in his songs were written by others, and yet when he sings these songs it's his voice alone that owns them. His songs focus on the "working man" and the "working woman." His songs focus on the quiet and beautiful components of relationships. His songs focus on love. There are no sexy tractors in his songs. He also created several beautiful instrumentals. My favorite is the nice, "
I Am The Working Man." Rest in Peace, Kevin Sharp. You will be missed.
"
Measure Of A Man" by Kevin Sharp
"I judge a man by the gold on the inside
I'm not fooled, by the glitter on the outside"
"I give an honest day's work, for an honest day's pay
I'll stand behind every word I say
I seal the deal, with the shake of a hand
if I'm a few rungs short of the top of the ladder
when I meet my maker, what will it matter?"
weird thing is, when I read that he was dead, I was listening to Devo
