Local music legend uses website to fund new album - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Musical legends are now using an online revolution to get the music from their hearts to your ears. You won't believe who's involved in a project that "you" can actually be a part of. And fans, especially Allman Brothers fans, will probably be stunned to find out this story that takes us around the world starts with one keyboard player in Gulfport.

For 40 years, Wayne Sharp has toured the world, playing his Hammond B-3 organ with such greats as Ray Charles, Bozz Scaggs and more. For the last 12 years he took the stage each night with Grammy nominated soul master Michael Burks who was setting the Blues world on fire.

But tragedy struck weeks ago on tour while leaving Brussels. At just 54, Burks collapsed in Wayne's arms, later dying from a pulmonary embolism. A tearful Sharp found it hard to talk about it saying only, "It's his birthday yesterday."

Losing his brother in music made Sharp rethink his future and pass up the next high paying "big name" gigs to come home to Gulfport, Mississippi and replant his roots.

"I very much enjoy playing music and that's where it starts," Sharp said. "It's not about the money or the girls. It's about feeling good, it's a musical brethren."

That brotherhood led him to resurrect a project he started in 1980 with life long friend, Jaimo, the drummer of another band you've probably heard of, The Allman Brothers.

"Jaimo has offered his services and is gonna be involved in the project," Sharp said. 

Along with Jaimo and Grammy lifetime achievement award winner Jackie Avery, three of Wayne Sharp's own talented sons - Myles, Sean and Grayson Sharp - will join in. They will have the original name "Sharpshooter Band" on a project that will be one like no other.

"I tend to gravitate to my roots, which is the South and the R&B and the New Orleans gumbo of styles, the Caribbean rhythm."

But instead of using a typical record label to fund their project, they found something that's revolutionizing the creative process, kickstarter.com, which puts the power of financing thousands of projects in the hands of the people.

"And what you're doing is inviting friends family fans whatever social base you may have a tap on to join you in the creation of a new project, whether it be an album, a screenplay, a book."

Or of course soul moving music, that 'you' can be a part of, like never before.

"I'm hoping that I can get enough of them on board, you know, to pledge and do this project."

And the fans who do get on board and make a pledge will get rare keepsake: Thank you gifts in return.

"They pledge $25, for instance in my case, in return they receive a T-shirt, a cd and a download, which you couldn't buy for $25."

With those pledges, they will help create the crescendo of Wayne Sharp's amazing musical career.

A modest Sharp said, "I just thought it was just time to maybe go back and resurrect the dream and you know, that's what it's about."

In all, Wayne Sharp is trying to raise $75,000 to get the album produced. The way "kickstarter" works is donors are only charged for their pledges if the project is fully funded by the deadline, which in this case is August 26th.

If donations don't reach the goal by the deadline, no one is charged and the project doesn't get a dime.

For a taste of the album that will be called "Passionate Music That Matters" and to help finance this dream go to, http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/waynesharp/wayne-sharp-and-the-sharpshooter-bands-new-album?ref=live

Copyright 2012 WLOX. All rights reserved.