Search - Randy Sharp, Jack Wesley Routh, Sharon Bays :: Dreams of the San Joaquin

Dreams of the San Joaquin is a collection of songs that pay homage to various musical styles and tales from California's San Joaquin Valley, the migrant worker destination of people displaced by the 1930's Dust Bowl.

The creators of this collection are three members of a musical family plus a long-time friend and collaborator, all with deep roots in the San Joaquin:

RANDY SHARP, patriarch, musician, producer, recording artist and Grammy-winning songwriter (7 No. 1 country singles) whose songs have been recorded by Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire and Marty Robbins, to name a few.

MAIA SHARP, daughter, musician, rising recording artist, producer and songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Trisha Yearwood, Art Garfunkel and Edwin McCain, among others.

SHARON BAYS, wife, mother, and California scholar, began singing and playing in bands with Randy in high school. Sharon currently lectures at UCLA, where she obtained a Masters and Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology based on her San Joaquin Valley research.

JACK WESLEY ROUTH, friend, musician, recording artist, producer and Grammy-winning songwriter. Early in his career, Jack spent several years working with Johnny Cash as a writer, guitarist, co-producer and opening act. Jack's songs have also been recorded by artists such as Waylon Jennings and Emmylou Harris.

The title song addresses the continuing plight of San Joaquin migrant workers. Co-written by Randy and Jack, it has been recorded by both, as well as Linda Ronstadt. The included version by Randy also features another family friend, Louie Ortega, who repeats each line of the final chorus in Spanish.

Also included is Maia's original recording of Randy and Maia's A Home, the title song of the Dixie Chicks' 2005 Home album.

Sharon's performance of Randy's For Old Time's Sake completes an album that presents the work of a musical family and friend steeped in the musical tradition of the San Joaquin Valley.

Five of the tracks feature Jack, four feature Randy, one track each features Maia and Sharon, with everyone contributing as noted in the credits.