Todd Sharpville (born The Hon. Roland Augusto Jestyn Estanislao Philipps the younger son of the 3rd Viscount St Davids and younger brother of 4th Viscount St Davids, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and lead guitarist, mainly in the blues field. It is claimed that he is "the world’s first blue-blooded bluesman, being a titled member of one of the UK’s oldest aristocratic families, descending from royal lineage". In 2010, the Conservative Party asked him to stand for election as a Prospective parliamentary candidate, but he declined the offer
Sharpville first came to public prominence with his 1994 debut blues album release Touch Of Your Love (Red Lightnin' Records - RLCD0095). The album achieved critical acclaim winning "Best Album" in 1994 in the British Blues Connection awards (Britain's equivalent to the W.C. Handy Awards). At this time, Sharpville was putting together European backing bands for visiting American blues artists (such as Hubert Sumlin, Ike Turner, Chuck Berry and Byther Smith). He won the British Blues Connection "Best UK Guitarist" award in 1995 (beating fellow nominees Eric Clapton and Gary Moore according to the April 1995 edition of British Blues Connection's Blueprint magazine) and became a mainstay on the European blues circuit as a solo artist.
His second blues album The Meaning Of Life (CRCD0057) was released in 2001 on Cathouse Records and featured guests Leo Sayer, Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges, Snowy White, Paul Lamb, Keith Dunn, and ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. In support of this release, Sayer and Taylor toured extensively,[6][7][8] as part of the Todd Sharpville Band. Sharpville can also be found on more than thirty five compilation albums, and at least five Dana Gillespie releases. He additionally appeared on The Mick Ronson Memorial Concert (Citadel Records - recorded at the Hammersmith Apollo in 1994), Albert Hammond's 2006 release Revolution Of The Heart (Sharpville was Hammond's guitarist and musical director) and Leo Sayer's Voice In My Head (2005). Live performances include appearances with Robbie Williams, Van Morrison, Peter Green, George Michael, Taj Mahal, Albert Collins, Georgie Fame, Kim Wilson, Joe Louis Walker, Tommy Castro, Brian May, and the reformed version of The Yardbirds.
Between 2005 and 2007, Sharpville was the European opening act for Pink, Joe Cocker, and B.B. King. He is still due to release his singer/songwriter album Diary Of A Drowning Man . This is a "confessional" album, inspired by his divorce. It features a duet with British vocalist Sam Brown ("Sweet Redemption"), and was co-produced by ex-Stone Roses record producer Dave Hyatt and Robbie Williams producer Steve Power. His new blues double album "Porchlight" was released on 29 October 2010 by the MiG Music record label. This was produced in Rhode Island by Duke Robillard and features guests: Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker, & Kim Wilson (of The Fabulous Thunderbirds).
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