Story by Ashley Elvington
The Art & Soul of Music feature
sharon & johnny
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“I CAN’T IMAGINE A LIFE WITHOUT MUSIC,” SAYS SHARON TANNER,
who grew up in a musical household. Her parents listened to a wide variety of
music, from Broadway soundtracks to classical. When Sharon entered the third
grade, she began to take piano lessons. She also picked up the clarinet. As time
passed, Sharon’s passion for music deepened as she joined the school band, sang
in the church choir, and majored in music at Furman University. “My best friends
growing up were all involved in church choir and piano. We didn’t have all the
opportunities for other things like lots of different sports, and, of course, we didn’t
have all the devices kids have today, so music and church [were] what we did.” Like
her parents, she developed a love for different genres. “I’ve always loved choral
music and show tunes, but I came to love bluegrass and Americana music when
I went to college.”
Over the years, Sharon has worked with the Florence Little Theatre and Encore
Theatre, both as an actress and chorus member. In college, she was a part of the
Furman Singers. “That was probably the most formative event in my life. I learned
so much being a member of that fine group… and not just musical knowledge,
but cooperation, work ethic, a passion for excellence. I wouldn’t trade those four
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years for anything. I’ve had a few non-music jobs throughout the years, and I really enjoyed them, but music has always been my first love.” Today, she sings at
weddings, church, funerals, and with her bluegrass gospel band, Borrowed Time.
Her husband, Johnny, is also from a musical family. “We always had music in our
home. We had an old piano and would sing church songs around it… My family
is very musical.” When he was a teenager, Johnny’s parents bought him his first
guitar. He played a little while in school for programs, but Johnny’s main focus
was songwriting, inspired by the likes of Guy Clark. While he’s no longer writing
about his first crush in high school, Johnny is known for being quite a talented
songwriter. “My songwriting ‘hurrah’ is being the 2011 Chris Austin Songwriting
Contest winner at MerleFest. Secondly, it is being invited to take some of my songs
to play on the radio in Ireland on a show hosted by a famous Irish songwriter, Charlie
McGettigan.” Today, his inspirations are his mother, trains, tractors - all of which he
refers to as “life stuff” – and, of course, his wife, Sharon. Johnny jokes, “I save a lot
of money because she has inspired me to write Valentine songs and anniversary
songs for her!”
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