Lyric Writing
Sharon has co-written with several local (Raleigh, NC) artists and Nashville artists, including the ones listed below. She is primarily a lyricist, although she has contributed to a few melodies, also. Sharon loves the creative and revision process of songwriting, as each writer brings their life experience to the table. She is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association and has recently been working with co-writers in that organization. In February of 2025, Sharon won the Lyric Category of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI); she won with her lyrics for a song called "Don't You Hear Me Say No?" More into is on her home page.
Brooke Hatala
Sharon started writing with Brooke Hatala in 2017 when Brooke was a high school student, & they wrote Just Hold Me (on left) together. Brooke is now a graduate of Belmont University and is making great progress in pursuing her music career in Nashville! Some of their songs are listed on the left. They also worked with producers Billy Smiley and Ed O'Donnell (no relation) in creating these songs. Brooke's Spotify
Brooke was asked by ASCAP to perform at the iconic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville in December of 2017. She performed five songs, including an acoustic version of "Stars", one of the songs which Sharon co-wrote. Sharon was with Brooke and her mom at the Bluebird and was incredibly honored to have Brooke sing one of the songs they wrote together. An amazing experience.
Brooke singing at the
Bluebird Cafe in 2017
Brooke recorded our first song at Dark Horse Studios outside of Nashville, and Sharon loved visiting there with her and producer Billy Smiley and meeting some of the fabulous artists who record there.
Chad Lister
Copyright, 2017
Also in 2017, Sharon worked with Chad Lister of Osceola Studios in Raleigh (along with owner Dick Hodgin) on two demo songs. She wrote the lyrics and discussed the music in great detail with Chad, and he and Dick produced the two songs: an upbeat country song called "It's the Inside that Counts" and a heartfelt slow song about a relationship that is coming to an end called "How Does it Go?"
"It's the Inside that Counts" (copyrighted) is on the top track on the left.
"It's the Inside that Counts" was selected by WQDR radio station, 94.7, in Raleigh, NC as a featured song on its Carolina Homegrown Series in August of 2017.
"How Does It Go?" (copyrighted) is the second track. Also performed by Chad. This song has since been edited to be much shorter with changes in the first verse and chorus changes so that the chorus ends with not remembering the song the couple first danced to.
Reese Mayfield
One of the artists who Sharon has been working with most recently is a young Raleigh artist named Reese Mayfield. Reese began attending Belmont University in 2024. Sharon heard Reese sing on a Youtube video and knew that some lyrics she had written would fit perfectly with Reese's voice. Sharon shared the 'vibe' she was looking for with the melody, and Reese came up with the perfect sound for the song. It's called Where the Bluebirds Went.
Tracy Richardson
Sharon's husband passed away unexpectedly in April of 2023. She and songwriter/artist Tracy Richardson of Terre Haute, IN wrote Still Wearing Your Ring to capture some of the emotions of being someone's wife for 35 years and to then be alone. This is a work tape of this song.
Melanie Lenau
Sharon wrote Golden Girl with Nashville artist/songwriter Melanie Lenau in 2024. The song is about how a person doesn't have to be 'golden' all the time, that everyone makes mistakes and has down times. There seems to be an epidemic of people of all ages with low self-worth, even those who are successful.
Paige King Johnson
This song is based on my dad and how he loved to take 8 mm film and VHS tapes of family and friends. He died at the age of 100 and lived an amazing life. We're blessed that he left behind a treasury of memories for us. He usually was behind the camera, but there is some video here and there that captured him too. I changed him from "Daddy" to Grandpa in this song, so that more people could relate to it -- it's from the grandchild's perspective in this song, but it's about my Daddy.