Chi Sharpe

Chi Sharpe is a percussionist extraordinaire. He is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he began his music career with his family band “Hell ‘n’ Highwater.” The band, together 14 years, provided him with most of his early musical experience. His first formal lessons of Afro-Cuban music were in Portland, Oregon during 1976. In 1979, he began to study West African music in Brooklyn, New York. Then on to Toronto, Canada, in 1979, Mr. Sharpe accompanied exercise and dance classes revolving around African drumming,as well as provided music for African dance troupes. The first dance company he performed with was composed of musicians from South Africa. In 1985, he continued his continental drum study journey in several countries in West Africa and has since returned several times to further develop his craft.

As a freelance musician, he has worked with various artists playing many styles of music in diverse venues ranging from small clubs, theaters and concert halls, to television, film and audio recordings. In the late 1980’s and into the 90’s, Mr.Sharpe played percussion on several world tours with accomplished musicians such as Harry Belafonte, Bruce Cockburn, Rodney Kendrick, Big Ron Hunter, Jose Neto, Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble Caren Calder (dance/folktales), Matilda Giampietro, Tariq Abubakar & The Afro Nubians. He also accompanied these musicians on various media recordings including CDs, film and television.

In 1995, he moved overseas to Amsterdam and worked extensively across Europe with several artists from Guinea, West Africa who were living in the Netherlands. Chi returned to the States in 1997, and continues to live and play in New York City.