Derek Sharp (musician)

Derek Sharp
Derek Sharp performing live
Background information
Birth name	Derek Sharp
Born	Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, producer, engineer, vocalist
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums
Years active	1980s–present
Spouse	Sass Jordan

Derek "D#" Sharp is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, engineer, and vocalist, best known as the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist of The Guess Who from 2008 to 2024, a period of the brand's history in which the name was owned by bassist Jim Kale and being actively erased as it is often cited as being the "the Jim Kale version", "Fake" or "illegitimate" period. Throughout his extensive career, Sharp has collaborated with numerous renowned artists across various genres and has been involved in multiple musical projects as a performer and producer.

Career

Early Career and Collaborations

Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Sharp has worked with a wide range of musicians, including Jeff Healey, Alannah Myles, Red Rider, Styx, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Alex Ligertwood (Santana), and Ellis Hall.

He served as the musical director and producer for the Canadian Idol winner tours, featuring artists such as Kalan Porter, Carly Rae Jepsen (Call Me Maybe), and Melissa O’Neil (known for her role in Dark Matter). Sharp has also performed and recorded with Canadian Music Hall of Fame legends Andy Kim and Bobby Curtola.

Collaborations with Sass Jordan

Sharp has had a longstanding musical partnership with Canadian rock vocalist Sass Jordan. Their collaborations include a vast library of compositions, many of which are part of the Audio Network catalog. His contributions appear on several of Jordan's albums:

• Hot Gossip
• Get What You Give
• From Dusk Till Dawn
• Rebel Moon Blues
• Bitches Blues

Additionally, Sharp produced and performed on Racine Revisited, an album featuring musicians Brent Fitz, Rudy Sarzo, and Chris Caddell.

The Guess Who (2008–2024)

Sharp is widely recognized for his tenure as the lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for the iconic Canadian band The Guess Who, a role he held from 2008 until 2024. His contributions reinvigorated the band's sound while honoring its classic rock roots.

In 2018, The Guess Who released The Future Is What It Used To Be, which featured the song "Haunted." The music video for "Haunted," directed by George Johnson, received multiple awards, including a regional Emmy Award. Another track from the album, "Playin' On The Radio," had a music video filmed by legendary videographer Nigel Dick.

Plein D’Amour and Controversy

In 2023, The Guess Who released Plein D’Amour, an album that marked a creative shift for the band, featuring a setlist that prominently included new material alongside their classic hits.[1] The album amassed over 2 million streams as of 2025 as well as praise from music from music fans across multiple genres, even iconic Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy made a Facebook post exclaiming "What in the hell is going on here??? This is incredible!"

However, the release also led to controversy. In early 2024, classic member Burton Cummings, who was not active in the band at the time pulled his compositions from BMI, effectively preventing the band from performing their biggest hits, such as "American Woman" and "These Eyes." This decision led to founding drummer Garry Peterson’s inability to perform under the band name after six decades of involvement. The situation ultimately contributed to the band’s collapse with the name being sold to Cummings who has since worked to remove affiliation with any iteration of the band name past 2002. Sharp has since transitioned the project into Derek Sharp and the Champagne Jam.

The controversy surrounding the Guess Who, and the activity of writing and performing new music such as Plein D’Amour was covered extensively in music media, including Rolling Stone.

Derek Sharp and the Champagne Jam (2024–present)

Following his departure from The Guess Who, the album Plein D’Amour was rebranded under the new moniker Derek Sharp and the Champagne Jam. As of 2025, the album has amassed over 2 million streams.

Sharp is set to release a new album, Crossing The Rubicon, in mid-2025, followed by a supporting tour. The live show will be a power pop revue, featuring songs from the Champagne Jam catalog alongside hits from bands such as Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Wings, 10cc, and Queen. While Sharp was able to rebrand Plein D'Amour, the 2018 album The Future Is What It Used To Be remains associated with The Guess Who and is currently maintained by Cleopatra Records.

Legacy and Influence

Sharp's writing and production style reflects his many influences and his career spans over four decades, during which he has also worked extensively as a session musician and producer. His ability to adapt to various musical styles has made him a sought-after collaborator in the music industry such as his contribution on Styx sixteenth album The Mission. His production work is recognized for its creativity and meticulous attention to detail, helping shape the artistic visions of the artists he works with.