Martha v Sharron

Songwriter, Producer. Born in Ohio, Martha Vanessa Sharron was raised in South Florida, where the self-taught musician formed a singing duo with her brother, Stephan, called "The Sharrons." After graduating from Fort Lauderdale High School and the University of Miami, she worked as an in-house songwriter for TK Records in Miami before moving to Los Angeles. In 1983, Marti caught her big break when her song, "Jump (For My Love)," was recorded by The Pointer Sisters, a Top 10 Billboard hit and the best-selling American dance single in 1984. In addition, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1985. She went on to work with Phil Collins and Phillip Bailey, contributing songs to their album, "Easy Lover," as well as writing "Own the Night" for Chaka Khan, which was featured in the TV show "Miami Vice." Besides writing songs, Sharron was also a producer and was behind the board for Anita Baker's 1986 LP, "Rapture," while penning the Baker's hit song from the record, "No One in the World." Her career continued to flourish, and she wrote or produced music for such acclaimed artists as Barbara Streisand, Céline Dion, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, Ben E. King, Ray Charles, Phyllis Hyman, Michael Bolton, and Patti LaBelle. Sharron also taught songwriting workshops, and in 2005, she returned to her alma mater, the University of Miami, to deliver a guest lecture on songwriting. She passed away at age 56 in Los Angeles of undetermined causes.