Four Decades On, Sharon Brown Still Specializes In Love

enOctober 20, 2021

CHOONS

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What was the main topic of the podcast episode?

Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?

Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?

Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?

Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?

Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?

About this Episode

Born into a musical family, Brown found her calling as a little kid watching Sammy Davis Jr. and all the Motown greats at the world-famous Apollo Theater, in New York. With strong will and determination, she went on to become a prolific songwriter for CBS Records, penning lyrics for Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Ronnie Dyson. Brown also had a way of crafting funky tunes for her own with the highly influential “Family Tree,” a massive hit in England’s Northern Soul scene.

Her true shining moment, however, came unexpectedly in the form of a newspaper ad, looking for a “tall, black, willowy-voiced female” to cut a track in the recording studio. That track became “I Specialize In Love,” a slice of early 80s post-disco that perfectly blended R&B, electronics and the emerging sounds of Hip-Hop.

“Specialize” traveled far and wide throughout the European continent before it found its way back to the States, where it became a sizable hit in the dance charts and clubs. Yet, with all the glamour of sudden fame, she faced challenging and devastating situations that managed to virtually kill what was left of her music career.

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Interview with Joyce Sims (Courtesy of Halftime Chat)

https://youtu.be/_fIXHpFvGtU

https://youtu.be/QUqlpyo0NS0

https://youtu.be/V6H2ZlaZ0_U

https://youtu.be/r4Wv1jnSWAw

https://youtu.be/Mj2aJi49s4s

Donate or support the production of Halftime Chat

CASHAPP: £halftimechat

PAYPAL: nesoul

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