# Derek Sharp
**Derek Sharp** (born 1965) is a Canadian rock and blues singer, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter who served as lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band [The Guess Who](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-guess-who) from 2008 through 2024, performing nearly 1,000 shows with the band across North America[1](https://thedereksharp.com/) • [2](https://mosaic.pressplay.me/profiles/derek-sharp/v7). He now leads his own project, Derek Sharp & The Champagne Jam, and has worked as a producer, composer, and session musician for artists including Sass Jordan, Styx, and Triumph[1](https://thedereksharp.com/) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/derek-sharp-mn0001346346).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/derek-sharp/189891859) |
| Main role | Lead vocalist and guitarist of The Guess Who, 2008–2024, nearly 1,000 shows across North America[1](https://thedereksharp.com/) |
| Instruments | Guitars, piano, and bass; listed as "Guitars, Piano, Lead Vocals" in his own band[2](https://mosaic.pressplay.me/profiles/derek-sharp/v7) • [5](https://thedereksharp.com/band/) |
| Solo debut | *Plein D'Amour* (2023), reportedly originally released as The Guess Who's final album; reportedly over 2 million streams[5](https://thedereksharp.com/band/) |
| Current project | Derek Sharp & The Champagne Jam, described as a power pop revival drawing on ELO, Queen, The Raspberries, Oasis, and Coldplay[1](https://thedereksharp.com/) |
| Next album | *Crossing The Rubicon*, set for release in 2026[5](https://thedereksharp.com/band/) |
## The Guess Who years
The Guess Who, formed in Manitoba, is one of the best-known Canadian rock bands, with 14 [Top 40](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-40) singles including "American Woman"[6](https://www.goldminemag.com/columns/10-albums-that-changed-my-life/10-albums-that-changed-my-life-derek-sharp-of-the-guess-who). Sharp joined the band's lineup in 2008 as lead vocalist and guitarist and held the position through 2024[1](https://thedereksharp.com/). A 2017 band biography lists him in that role alongside drummer [Garry Peterson](https://www.edgepedia.org/garry-peterson), keyboardist and flutist Leonard Shaw, lead guitarist Will Evankovich, and bassist [Rudy Sarzo](https://www.edgepedia.org/rudy-sarzo)[7](https://rrhwp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/THE-GUESS-WHO-2017-US-BIOGRAPHY.pdf).
His own account of the position emphasizes the stamina the role required: the band's repertoire draws on 1960s and 1970s rock, and his official biography credits him with "powerhouse vocals, multi-instrumental talent, and commanding stage presence" across that touring schedule[1](https://thedereksharp.com/).
## Solo work and The Champagne Jam
Sharp's debut album under his own name, *Plein D'Amour*, was released in 2023 on digital download, CD, and LP[1](https://thedereksharp.com/). According to his band biography, the record was originally released as The Guess Who's final album and has since crossed 2 million streams, with what his site describes as strong physical sales and international resonance[5](https://thedereksharp.com/band/).
With Derek Sharp & The Champagne Jam he positions the project as a power pop revival, citing influences that include ELO, Queen, and [The Raspberries](https://www.edgepedia.org/raspberries-band), and the sonic energy of Oasis and Coldplay[1](https://thedereksharp.com/). A follow-up album, *Crossing The Rubicon*, is set for release in 2026; songs from it, including "Lonely Eyes," were recorded with drummer Brent Fitz at Villa Sound[5](https://thedereksharp.com/band/) • [2](https://mosaic.pressplay.me/profiles/derek-sharp/v7).
## Session and production credits
AllMusic lists Sharp as a member of The Guess Who and catalogs a long run of credits in the Pop/Rock field, spanning composer, producer, engineer, guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist roles[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/derek-sharp-mn0001346346). His most extensive collaboration is with Canadian singer Sass Jordan: he produced, composed, and played on her albums *Hot Gossip* (2000), *From Dusk 'Til Dawn* (2010), *Racine Revisited* (2017), and *Bitches' Blues* (2022), among others[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/derek-sharp-mn0001346346). Other listed credits include engineering work on Styx's *The Mission* (2017) and *The Same Stardust EP* (2021), percussion on Proto-Kaw's *Before Became After* (2004), and engineering on Nikolo Kotzev's *Nostradamus* (2001)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/derek-sharp-mn0001346346). His own biography adds work with Triumph and Gowan[5](https://thedereksharp.com/band/).
## Musical background
In a Goldmine interview, Sharp traced his musical beginnings to [The Beatles](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-beatles)' *A Hard Day's Night*, the first record he fell in love with; he taught himself guitar from it and says that by age 10 he could play its songs note for note[6](https://www.goldminemag.com/columns/10-albums-that-changed-my-life/10-albums-that-changed-my-life-derek-sharp-of-the-guess-who). His list of formative albums also includes [The Beach Boys](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-beach-boys)' *Pet Sounds*, Elvis Presley's *King Creole* soundtrack, The Raspberries' early records, [Steely Dan](https://www.edgepedia.org/steely-dan)'s *Katy Lied*, Miles Davis's *Kind of Blue*, Supertramp's *Crime of the Century*, Queen's *A Night at the Opera*, Van Halen's debut, and Tears for Fears' *Everybody Loves a Happy Ending*, which he calls a model of what a power pop record should sound like[6](https://www.goldminemag.com/columns/10-albums-that-changed-my-life/10-albums-that-changed-my-life-derek-sharp-of-the-guess-who). That range, from vocal harmony groups to jazz and hard rock, matches the multi-instrumentalist profile his current project advertises[2](https://mosaic.pressplay.me/profiles/derek-sharp/v7).
## References
1. [Official Website, Derek Sharp](https://thedereksharp.com/)
2. [Explore Derek Sharp's Mosaic, Press Play](https://mosaic.pressplay.me/profiles/derek-sharp/v7)
3. [Derek Sharp — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/derek-sharp-mn0001346346)
4. [Derek Sharp, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/derek-sharp/189891859)
5. [Biography — Derek Sharp and the Champagne Jam](https://thedereksharp.com/band/)
6. [10 Albums That Changed My Life: Derek Sharp of The Guess Who, Goldmine](https://www.goldminemag.com/columns/10-albums-that-changed-my-life/10-albums-that-changed-my-life-derek-sharp-of-the-guess-who)
7. [The Guess Who 2017 US Biography, RRHWP](https://rrhwp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/THE-GUESS-WHO-2017-US-BIOGRAPHY.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › British Invasion and 1960s beat*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license