The Ledge - Sharon's Answers are Up

Quote:

Originally Posted by takenbythesky

On my computer, the nicksfix's main page says there are new answers for Sharon, but then the page just says "coming soon...", NO answers at all. :( :confused:

note from Sharon:

Sorry to be so slow in getting this first batch of answers to your questions, but with the holiday season, still catching up from being on the road for a year and a half with Fleetwood Mac, some personal issues that genuinely required whatever extra time I have had, and the fact that I wanted to devote the proper attention to the questions it has simply taken this long to get the job done. I know that those whose questions were submitted have had their patience sorely tested, and I hope they will forgive me and understand that the delay was unavoidable. I should be able to keep up better now, so here goes!!! ~Sharon

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Questions and Answers:

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from Michael in the United Kingdom
Hi Sharon,
You were on a world tour with Fleetwood Mac last year. What were your favorite cities outside the United States?

Sharon's answer:

Hi Michael,
On this last Fleetwood Mac World Tour, we went to so many incredible places!!! In Europe, my favorite city to visit was London, England. We did lots of sightseeing including the Tower of London, Big Ben, Windsor Castle and a day trip to the mysterious Stonehenge. We also toured Australia, and one of my favorite cities there is Sydney, which has Sydney Harbor and the magnificent Opera House. I also loved Brisbane, where we cuddled a koala bear and witnessed a baby kangaroo jumping in and out of its mother’s pouch. In Perth, we took a ferry out to Rottnest Island and bicycled all around it, along the beautiful beaches and coastline. I have many great memories that I will cherish forever from this last Fleetwood Mac Tour!!!

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from Ricoh Vigen in Boston, MA
Hey Sharon! I hope you know that die hard Stevie fans feel almost like we know and love you and Lori as well! I saw in a clip from the US Festival Stevie introduces you as her roommate. When did you live together and for how long? Thanks for participating in this!!!

Sharon's answer:

Hi Ricoh,
I lived with Stevie from 1979 to 1984, for five years. I really enjoyed that time period and have lots of great memories from it. Stevie was a great roommate! We had a lot of fun together.

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from Daniel in San Francisco
Hi Sharon... Thank you for doing this Q&A and being such a loyal friend to Stevie. A Stevie Nicks concert wouldn't be complete without you! :) My question... I noticed around the '87 Tango tour, you started to incorporate some fun dance choreography into the shows that's been with the backup singers ever since. Did you choreograph those moves, and if so, did you ever have aspirations to be a dancer?

Sharon's answer:

Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the kind words! The fun dance steps came to be around 1986 on the Stevie “Rock a Little” Tour. At that time, it was Lori Nicks, Elisecia Wright , and myself singing backgrounds. Until then, Lori and I (and on occasion Marilyn Martin or Carolyn Brooks) did a few basic steps together, but mainly freeform movement. As it evolved, we thought it would look better to have more planned synchronized dance steps. Mostly, the dance steps were worked out by whichever singers were involved as we rehearsed the music for the shows. At one point, we had the help of Brad Jeffries, dancer and choreographer. Brad had danced together with Stevie in many of her music videos, and he helped us by giving us some ideas. When Lynn Mabry began singing with Fleetwood Mac in 1990 on the “Behind The Mask Tour”, we incorporated some of her ideas for the two of us that we still do versions of today. When Mindy Stein came to sing with me in 1997 for the Fleetwood Mac “The Dance” Tour, she influenced some of the dance steps we used for the tours she sang on. Similarly, when Jana Anderson came in on the Fleetwood Mac “Say You Will’ Tour, she brought in her ideas to the newly added songs as well. It’s been fun having a chance to interact and learn from all the singers who’ve participated in the tours. In regard to the part of your question about my dancing aspirations, I did take ballet when I was very young, but I have never seriously entertained the goal of becoming a dancer, other than the fun I have had with the choreography as a background singer.

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from Chris McLeod in Locust Grove, GA. USA
Sharon, thanks so much for doing this for Stevie's fans…it's very kind of you.
When a new backup singer like Jana Anderson comes in at the last hour to fill in, is it hard for you to sing with her? And is it hard for her to learn the parts so quickly? Were you the one that basically had to train her?

Sharon's answer:

Hi Chris,
Jana is a fantastic singer, with the versatility to blend and phrase well with other singers, and it has been a total joy and pleasure to sing with her from the very first time I sang with her at a Fleetwood Mac rehearsal. Mindy and I trained Jana together, and Jana was exceptionally fast at learning her parts. Jana and I did, of course, continue to refine our parts, phrasing, etc. as the tour progressed, and as we added new songs. Jana made Mindy and I both very proud, doing such a great job at taking over for Mindy, during the middle of a tour, with barely any rehearsal. Mindy, whose pregnancy necessitated her getting off the road, was able to relax knowing that things were well taken care of in her absence – and I should mention that Mindy is doing great with her beautiful new addition to her family.

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from Melissa Davis in Indianapolis
Hi Sharon,
It has been so much fun going to shows and hearing you sing. You do a fabulous job! I've read the stories about Stevie singing with you in Hawaii (how cool!) and I was wondering how you became involved in singing and if you any advice for aspiring singers? Thanks so much for doing this, it's a real treat for us! :) Take care - Melissa

Sharon's answer:

Hi Melissa,
I always loved to sing, and I knew that was something I wanted to do. Like most people who make a career of singing, I had to simply start by practicing, and eventually performing as opportunities presented themselves. It can be very helpful to take vocal lessons early on, to prevent problems and even damage to your voice later on. I would definitely advise you to take vocal lessons and learn to use your voice in a way that will protect and strengthen it. It’s important to keep up your vocal exercises and practice as much as possible by singing along to your favorite singers. When your opportunities come along, make sure you are ready for them.

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from Sara in Stockton, CA
Hey Sharon. My name is Sara and I'm 15. I was wondering what was the funniest thing you have seen happen on stage in your career?

Sharon's answer:

Hi Sara,
One of the funnier moments, at least for the rest of the band and crew (and perhaps a percentage of audience members), was also one of the most embarrassing for me personally. I’ll never forget, try as I may, the time I was trying to appear cool and graceful in the middle of a performance, while executing a choreographed walk across the stage. All was well until I tripped over a cord and took a rather ungainly tumble, a la Dick Van Dyke, in front of thousands of Stevie’s fans.

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from Tiffany in Riverside, CA
Hi Sharon,
Your harmonies have become so much a part of Stevie's music, I can't imagine an album or tour without you. Can you tell us a little about the process of working out vocal arrangements? Does Stevie usually have the harmonies planned out when she comes to you with a demo, or does she pretty much leave them up to you & Lori?

Sharon's answer:

Hi Tiffany,
Every song is different. Sometimes Stevie has all the harmony ideas worked out herself and recorded on her demos. There are also times when Stevie and I make up the parts, some songs where Stevie and Lori work things out, and some times Lori and I make up our own parts based on Stevie’s approval. There have even been times when we have figured the parts out on the spot in the studio, but it is usually more advantageous to have the harmonies arranged before we get into “The Big Studio” for the final recording.

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from Tessa in Boston
Sharon - you are much admired...especially by ME! I am wondering what you do during the "off" time. Where you live - all the personal stuff. Sorry to be so invasive but I am dying to know! Thank you.

Sharon's answer:

Hi Tessa,
I live in the Los Angeles area. I like to go to the movies or rent DVD’s to watch at home. For my health, I exercise and do yoga. I spend time with my family and friends and loved ones. I also like to travel to beautiful and exotic places.

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from Jennifer P. in Chatsworth
Dear Sharon,
One of my favorite concerts to watch is the HBO special of the Bella Donna tour. Which tour was your favorite to perform and why? Thank you and I love this forum.

Sharon's answer:

Hi Jennifer,
Every tour has its own special memories, but the last Stevie tour, “Trouble in Shangri-La”, was great to perform because we did songs like “Sleeping Angel”, “Planets of the Universe”, and “Sorcerer”, which I love to sing. On the most recent Fleetwood Mac tour, “Say You Will”, I had the best time performing because Fleetwood Mac is an incredible Band and every song is fun to sing!!!

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from Michael McDonald in Lakewood, New Jersey
Hi Sharon,
I would like to thank you for sticking with Stevie and Fleetwood Mac for all these years. I have seen you with them about 10 times in New Jersey For The Dance, Enchanted, Trouble In Shanrgri La And Say You Will Tour. You have mentioned what songs of Stevie's you have like to sing. My question to you is what is your favorate Fleetwood Mac (non Stevie) song to sing and why?

Sharon's answer:

Hi Michael,
I have so many favorites I cannot pick just one. Since we’re talking about “non-Stevie” material, I’ll of course be talking about Christine and Lindsey’s songs. As concerns Christine McVie when she was still performing with Fleetwood Mac, I loved singing backgrounds on all her songs. My favorites were “Brown Eyes”, in which we did beautiful “Sha-la-la's”, and also “You Make Lovin’ Fun”, in which we did really pretty “Ahh's”. I also love singing on all of Lindsey Buckingham’s songs, and my favorites are “Go Your Own Way”, because it has such a strong, powerful and emotional chorus, and also “Second Hand News”, in which the harmonies at the end have the most incredible blend, that magical sound of Stevie and Lindsey singing together - singing with them is total heaven!!! I also love singing on Lindsey’s song “Tusk”, in which we get to “sing” the “TUSK” chants, which are lots of fun to do and are very primal.

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from Brian Wendt in Bethlehem, PA
Which song do you feel to be the most challenging, vocally?

Sharon's answer:

Hi Brian,
The song I feel most challenging live vocally is “Edge of Seventeen”. My part encompasses a wide range, going from low to high notes, and the “Duet Solo” that I sing near the end of the song with Stevie, is always demanding and requires a lot of focus to get both the feel and the technical performance just right.

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from Lisa Hicks in Denton, TX
Hi Sharon! First I think you and Lori are the best backup singers. I think it is awesome that you have stuck together all these years. My questions are, are you married and do you have any kids? If so, how do you balance this career and family life? Keep up the great work!

Sharon's answer:

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for saying such nice things about Lori and myself. To answer your question, no, I'm not married, and don't have any children, but I do have someone that I love very much and share my life with. As far as keeping some sort of balance, when I am touring, he and I make great efforts to be together - it's not easy all the time with our different schedules, but we manage to make it work and have been together for almost ten years now. He will come out on the road with me for portions of my tours whenever he can, and on the days off, we often go see the sights. We really enjoyed our time together in England and Australia on the Fleetwood Mac "Say You Will" tour last year. When we are at home, we make sure to spend lots of quality time together as well, and we like traveling to special places together aside from the musical touring.

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