Sharon Robinson

Sharon Robinson Bio

Sharon Robinson is an American singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer whose career has spanned more than four decades. Born in 1958 in San Francisco, California, she is widely recognized for her long-running partnership with Leonard Cohen, with whom she co-wrote several of his most celebrated songs. In addition to her work with Cohen, Robinson has written for an extensive list of pop, soul, and adult contemporary artists and has released her own solo material.

Beyond her songwriting credits, Robinson has built a reputation as a versatile vocalist, producer, and arranger who has contributed to film soundtracks, studio albums, and international concert tours. Her work bridges folk, rock, soul, and adult contemporary traditions, and her Grammy Award win in 1985 cemented her standing within the contemporary music industry.

Early Life and Background

Sharon Robinson was born in 1958 in San Francisco, California, and grew up in the United States. The cultural richness of the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s and 1970s exposed her to a wide range of musical influences, from folk and rock to rhythm and blues, which would later shape her approach as a songwriter and performer. This regional heritage helped lay the foundation for her interest in music from a young age.

During her formative years, Robinson developed the vocal and keyboard abilities that would become central to her career. By the time she was preparing to enter the professional music world, she had cultivated a sound that blended singer-songwriter intimacy with pop, soul, and adult contemporary textures. Her San Francisco upbringing provided a creative backdrop for the diverse genres she would later explore.

Path to Music

Sharon Robinson began her recording career in 1977, releasing an album on the Baby Grand label. Because of tax-shelter complications tied to the label, she chose not to use her own name and instead recorded under the project name Terea, a name she had used previously and that is believed to be her middle name. The album featured backing from members of the band Street Feet, who had also recorded for Baby Grand that year.

Her early career took a significant turn in 1979, when she joined Leonard Cohen’s touring band as a backup singer, a role she held through 1980. This period introduced her to a wider audience and initiated a creative partnership that would last for decades. Her growing reputation as both a vocalist and a songwriter positioned her to take on increasingly prominent projects in the years that followed.

Sharon Robinson Career

Early Career (1977–1984)

After her 1977 debut, Sharon Robinson spent the next several years honing her craft as a session vocalist and songwriter in the Los Angeles and New York music scenes. She contributed material to artists including The Pointer Sisters, Aaron Neville, Brenda Russell, Diana Ross, Don Henley, Michael Bolton, and Randy Crawford, demonstrating the range of her songwriting across pop, soul, and adult contemporary styles.

These years of studio work helped her develop a reputation as a reliable creative partner. By the mid-1980s, she was well established enough to land one of the most high-profile songwriting assignments of her early career, setting the stage for her breakthrough moment.

Breakthrough (1985–2007)

Sharon Robinson won a Grammy Award in 1985 for co-writing the song “New Attitude,” which was recorded by Patti LaBelle for the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. The song became a signature hit for LaBelle and remains one of Robinson’s most recognized compositions. The Grammy win brought her wider industry attention and led to additional high-profile assignments.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Robinson deepened her collaboration with Leonard Cohen. She co-wrote “Everybody Knows,” released in 1988, and “Waiting for the Miracle,” released in 1992, both of which were featured on Cohen’s studio albums. In 2001, she co-wrote, produced, arranged, and performed the backing tracks for Cohen’s album Ten New Songs, and she also appeared alongside him on the album’s cover.

Her work with Cohen continued on the 2004 album Dear Heather, to which she contributed three tracks, and she also dueted with Cohen on “The Letters.” In 2004, Robinson was interviewed about her life, career, and creative partnership with Cohen. The following year, she wrote “The High Road” for Bettye LaVette’s album I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise, a song that appeared on Amazon’s Editor’s picks for 2005. She has also written material for Chris Botti.

Notable Works and Milestones

Among Sharon Robinson’s most notable works are the songs “Everybody Knows” and “Waiting for the Miracle,” as well as the Grammy-winning “New Attitude.” Her solo albums Everybody Knows (2008) and Caffeine (2015) showcased her abilities as a writer, producer, and lead performer, while her contributions to Cohen’s Ten New Songs and Dear Heather solidified her reputation as a trusted long-term collaborator.

Sharon Robinson Award Nominations

Sharon Robinson has received recognition across her career for both her songwriting and her vocal performances, particularly through her work on film soundtracks and collaborative projects. Her most prominent nomination period surrounded the 1985 Grammy cycle, when her songwriting was acknowledged by the Recording Academy and ultimately resulted in a win.

Sharon Robinson Awards Won

Sharon Robinson won a Grammy Award in 1985 for the song “New Attitude,” recorded by Patti LaBelle for the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. The award remains the most significant honor of her career and highlighted her ability to craft commercially successful and critically recognized pop and soul material.

Sharon Robinson Family

Public information about Sharon Robinson’s immediate family is limited, and the available verified sources do not provide details about her parents, siblings, or children. She has generally kept her personal and family life private throughout her decades-long career in the music industry.

Personal Life

Sharon Robinson has kept most of her personal life out of the public eye. Verified sources confirm her birth in San Francisco and her long residence in the United States, but do not provide confirmed information about partners, children, or current residence. Her professional focus has consistently remained on her music, songwriting, and ongoing collaborations.