Todd Sharpville’s New CD, Medication Time, Set for Revised Global Release Date of July 8th on DixieFrog Records
North American Distribution by Redeye, with European Distribution by Proper Music.
Medication Time, the highly-awaited album from longtime British Blues-Americana guitarist/singer/songwriter Todd Sharpville, explores a period of his life 16 years ago where the stress of a child contact battle during a messy breakup resulted in a total breakdown and a two-month stay in a mental hospital in West Wales. The album has been re-scheduled for a global release on July 8th from the DixieFrog label and distributed in the US by Redeye Distribution, with European distribution by Proper Music.
Speaking of his experience in a mental institution, Todd explains the circumstances that led him there. “I wasn’t emotionally prepared for the sudden separation from my children that came with the divorce. Up until then I was somewhat of a control freak, so the realization that control is but an illusion never really dawned on me until I found myself floored by reactive depression, suicidal, and sectioned within a state-run facility. Men rarely discuss these kinds of emotions with one another, so they can often surprise the hell out of us and prove to be too overwhelming to cope with. Being a musician, I was lucky that I was able to fit the practicalities of my working life around my predicament. I also have some amazing friends. I managed to get back on my feet. Many people don’t have these luxuries. Many fall by the wayside and never get back up again.”
Spanning 12 blues/rock-fueled tracks (consisting of nine originals and three covers), Medication Time examines and expresses many of the emotions that led to the breakdown, the hospital stay, and the slow climb back to figurative normality. The album was recorded at West Lake Recording in Greenwich, Rhode Island, produced by two-time Grammy nominee and multi Blues Music Award-winner Duke Robillard and features two duets: one with Detroit guitarist/singer Larry McCray; the other with multi-BMA winner Sugar Ray Norcia.
The first single is the duet with McCray entitled “Brothers,” to be released on April 15th. Larry has been a close friend of Todd’s for over 30 years.
On their relationship, Todd says: “Larry called me most days when I was in hospital. He didn’t always know quite what to say, but simply did his best to give me brotherly advice and remind me that I was loved. Fast forward all these years later, and Larry and I have shouldered each other through so many more of each other’s trials & tribulations. Addiction recovery, divorce, financial strife, grief, cancer, you name it! Larry was an integral part of my Medication Time story, so I wanted to write a song that aptly documented a brotherly friendship of thirty five years that exists regardless of the physical contrasts of race, nationality and background. To quote BB King, ‘...we are our brother's keeper. Red, white, black, brown or yellow, rich or poor, we all have the blues.’”
For promo copies or more information, please contact:
US and Canada: Mark Pucci Media / mpmedia@bellsouth.net
Europe: Jo Donnelly / jo.donnelly@propermusicgroup.
Joshua Hart / joshua.hart@propermusicgroup.
MORE ON TODD SHARPVILLE:
Todd Sharpville has been at the vanguard of the British Blues Scene for 30 years. His first album, Touch Of Your Love was released in 1992 on Red Lightnin' Records, winning “Best Album” and “Best Guitarist” in the British Blues Awards, marking the beginning of an international career that’s seen Todd and his band perform at the vast majority of blues venues and festivals across the globe.
Originally turned onto the blues as a child thanks to the music of Freddie King, Todd’s burgeoning guitar style ended up being further inspired by the likes of T Bone Walker, BB King, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Eric Clapton, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Albert King, Otis Rush, Peter Green and Magic Sam, among others. He was mentored through his teens by Californian bluesman Joe Louis Walker, changing his life forever.
The ‘90s saw Todd regularly put together European backing bands for visiting American artists, working with the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Ike Turner and Byther Smith, and touring relentlessly; participating in Mick Ronson’s memorial concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1994 alongside Dana Gillespie, Gary Brooker, Bill Wyman, Ian Hunter, Roger Taylor and Roger Daltrey. The decades since have seen him recording and performing with a plethora more luminaries, heroes, and household names. Standout career moments include playing with Taj Mahal, Peter Green, Little Milton, Lonnie Brooks, Duke Robillard, Little Charlie Baty, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Branford Marsalis, Anson Funderburgh, Lonnie Mack, Ronnie Earl, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Terence Simien. Todd was the first European artist to ever appear on the bill of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, and has subsequently performed at eight of these floating Caribbean festivals, alongside Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, Dr John, Etta James, Little Milton, Otis Clay, Tyrone Davis, Shemekia Copeland and a host of other luminaries. His 2001 record, Meaning Of Life (Cathouse/Revolver Records CRCD0057) featured guest appearances from Snowy White, Paul Lamb, Leo Sayer and ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor (who went on to tour the album with Todd across Europe). Todd’s confessional divorce album, Diary Of A Drowning Man, featured a duet with much-loved British vocalist/songstress Sam Brown (“Sweet Redemption”). Between 2005 and 2007, Sharpville was European tour support act for both Joe Cocker and Pink, as well as opening up on the last night of BB King’s farewell tour at the D’coq Arena, Luxembourg. His 2010 release Porchlight (Mig / SPV Records 20032) included guest appearances from Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Joe Louis Walker, and Medication Time producer Duke Robillard. Todd can be found on more than 35 compilation albums, and at least five Dana Gillespie releases.
The start of the Covid pandemic saw Sharpville form the world’s only professional lockdown band living under one roof. Along with Jools Holland bassist Dave Swift, he pulled together an experienced lineup (including wives, children and pets), and de-camped to Norfolk, England, where he rented a property large enough to provide space and privacy for all. They spent six months living together, making music together, and live streaming the experience with the world.
Also over the course of the Covid crisis, Todd remotely recorded a duet of his song, “Love Knows No Bounds,” with pop icon Robbie Williams (string arrangement by the acclaimed film composer David Arnold). This will be released at the end of the year for the musician’s mental health and addiction charity, Music Support.
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