Isaiah Sharkey ← THE MATRIX of FABULOUS DISCOVERIES

Worldlines from Isaiah Sharkey: I'LL TAKE YOU THERE! ▶

Isaiah Sharkey

Isaiah Sharkey is within worldlined steps of artists around the planet, in reach of everybody everywhere per the same seemingly miraculous small-world principle which dictates that there are between most human beings on earth 6 or fewer degrees of separation.

The MO: 1) Create categories per those in CURATION CATEGORIES up top 2) Touch category crosses of others (visible when logged in) to recommend 3) Recommended appear in your I'LL TAKE YOU THERE window 4) You appear as curator on pages of your recommended 5) Other artists may recommend your categories

We founded the matrix in the fertile, fecund and atavistic ground zero of Bahia — mindful that when all artists can be steps away, the Brazilians (some — in common with many other artists in many other places — no less brilliant for their obscurity) can be too.

ma·trix /ˈmātriks - originally "source", from "mater", Latin for "mother". We're real mothers for ya!

Who's taking you???

Outgoing curation by: The Matrix

Who I Am & Where I Live

Name: Isaiah Sharkey
City: Chicago, Illinois
Country: United States

My Life & Work

Bio: A native Chicagoan, 29 year old Isaiah Sharkey spent his early years living in Cabrini Green. Perhaps as a precursor to his future career, he lived with his parents in a row house on a street that is now named for Curtis Mayfield.

Coming from a musical household, Isaiah was introduced to music at the age of four. He decided he wanted to be a guitarist and asked his parents to purchase one. Shortly thereafter, Isaiah started learning music under the close introduction of his father, Michael Sharkey. He would learn about different musical genres/styles from gospel music, which came from growing up in the church, to jazz, R&B, blues, rock and funk music. It wasn't long after that Isaiah would become noticed by other musicians in the Chicago area for being a young, new talent. Soon after, he started doing concerts in the church as well as sitting in local jazz club jams.

At the age of 14, Isaiah, along with his father and brothers, released their first album entitled, "Skyliner." This album displayed Isaiah's ability to play covers and some transcriptions from greats like Wes Montgomery and George Benson.

Subsequently, he started his recording career and served as a sideman for gospel artists such as Smokie Norful, Donald Lawrence and Vanessa Bell Armstrong. He also toured as lead guitarist with Ronald Isley and recorded two albums with him.

In 2009, Isaiah started working with artist D'Angelo on his third album, Black Messiah, which won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Based on his work and contribution to the project, Isaiah received his first Grammy.
Isaiah also has worked, recorded, and toured with several world-renown and Grammy award winning artists including John Mayer, Patti LaBelle, Christopher Martin of Coldplay, Paul Simon, Corrine Bailey Rae, Mike Posner, Keith Urban, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, Lalah Hathaway, Raphael Saadiq, Chris Dave and the DrumHedz, Regina Bell, Ruben Studdard, Lupe Fiasco, Kelly Price, Faith Evans, Rance Allen, The Winans, The Clark Sisters and many others.
Isaiah Sharkey is poised to take center stage as he fuses together his background in rock, gospel, jazz, R&B, blues, and funk to create an original sound with an unmistakable dose of soul. His highly anticipated debut album Love.Life.Live. was released in September of 2017 and earned him the iHeart Radio Artist of the Month Award in November for his single “It’s a Shame” featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff.

You can see Isaiah on Cory Henry’s Revival trio tour this year, along with John Mayer and his all-star band. Isaiah will also be hitting the road with his own band this summer so look out for dates near you.