Sharon Redd: The Disco and Hi-NRG Diva
Sharon Redd was an American singer who became a defining voice of the late-disco and early Hi-NRG dance music eras. Her powerful vocals and club anthems, particularly the enduring classic "Can You Handle It," cemented her legacy in dance music history.
Early career
Born in 1945 in Norfolk, Virginia, Sharon Redd began her professional music career as a backing vocalist. Her first major break came in the late 1970s when she joined the group B.T. Express, contributing vocals to their album Energy to Burn.
This experience led to session work with notable artists like Ashford & Simpson, showcasing her formidable voice in the studio. Her talent soon attracted the attention of producers looking for a lead vocalist with soulful power and dance-floor appeal.
Breakthrough
Redd's solo breakthrough arrived in 1980 with the release of her self-titled debut album on the Prelude Records label. The album's lead single, "Can You Handle It," co-written and produced by pioneering DJ and producer Frankie Knuckles, became an instant club phenomenon.
While it achieved modest success on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 46, "Can You Handle It" dominated discotheques and laid the groundwork for the emerging Hi-NRG sound. Its success established Redd as a premier dance music artist and a staple on the Prelude roster.
Key tracks
Can You Handle It — This Frankie Knuckles-produced track is her signature song, a foundational Hi-NRG anthem that defined her career.
Beat the Street — The title track from her second album became another major club hit, further solidifying her status in the early 1980s dance scene.
In the Name of Love — This 1982 single showcased a smoother, more R&B-influenced side of her vocal style while maintaining a danceable groove.
Never Give You Up — A later-career track that demonstrated her ability to adapt to the evolving electronic production of mid-80s dance music.
Her second album, 1982's Beat the Street, continued her success on the dance charts and included the popular title track. Sharon Redd remained a vital figure in the New York dance music circuit throughout the 1980s, performing regularly at legendary venues like the Paradise Garage.
Her work with Prelude Records placed her among labelmates who were shaping the sound of underground dance music. Though she did not achieve massive pop chart dominance, her influence and reputation within the disco and Hi-NRG genres were undeniable.
Fans of Sharon Redd's powerful dance-floor style also enjoy the music of Evelyn Champagne King, who similarly transitioned from disco to boogie with a strong vocal presence. The early electronic productions of Thelma Houston share a similar blend of soul and sequenced energy. For the quintessential Prelude Records sound, listen to Musique, another act that helped define the label's output. The anthemic quality of her music can also be heard in the work of Loleatta Holloway, another diva whose voice powered countless club classics.
Sharon Redd's music maintains a strong rotation on dedicated disco and classic dance music radio stations. Her tracks are frequently featured on specialty shows focusing on 1980s dance and Hi-NRG genres across various online radio streams and independent music stations.
The music of Sharon Redd, the American disco and Hi-NRG pioneer, can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover her iconic voice and dance anthems through the classic dance and specialty genre stations available on onairium.com.
