Isaiah Sharkey

Isaiah Sharkey (born July 14, 1989) is an American guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer. He played guitar as a member of the Vanguard on D'Angelo's 2014 album Black Messiah, which won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. He is also a prolific sideman and session guitarist, having performed with John Mayer, Patti LaBelle, Chris Martin, Paul Simon, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mike Posner, Keith Urban, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, and Lalah Hathaway, among others.

A former child prodigy, He credits his father, uncles, and older siblings for introducing him to gospel, R&B, blues, jazz, funk, and rock. While still a teenager, he also worked with gospel singer Donald Lawrence and R&B singer Ronald Isley, formerly of The Isley Brothers. Sharkey said working with D'Angelo was one of his "dream gigs."

In 2022, Sharkey released the lead single "Stay" for his third studio album, Black Sunshine. He performed every instrument on the track, recording and producing it himself during lockdown.

Discography

Adapted from AllMusic.

Studio albums

Love.Life.Live (2017) Love Is the Key (The Cancerian Theme) (2019) Black Sunshine (TBA)

As Isaiah Sharkey and the Family Tree

Skyliner (2005)

As sideman

Vanessa Bell Armstrong – The Experience (2009) Ronald Isley – Mr. I (2010) Shekinah Glory Ministry – Refreshed by Fire (2010) VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant (2010) Ricky Dillard – Keep Living (2011) Richard Smallwood – Promises (2011) Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind) (2011) Anthony Brown – Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy (2012) Regina Belle – Higher (2012) Shekinah Glory Ministry – Surrender (2012) Charles Jenkins – The Best of Both Worlds (2012) Anita Wilson – Worship Soul (2012) Donald Lawrence – 20 Year Celebration, Vol. 1: Best for Last (2013) Ronald Isley – This Song Is for You (2013) Ricky Dillard – Amazing (2014) D'Angelo – Black Messiah (2014) 3 Winans Brothers – Foreign Land (2014) Anita Wilson – Vintage Worship (2014) Charles Jenkins – Any Given Sunday (2015) DeWayne Woods – Life Lessons (2015) Marvin Sapp – You Shall Live (2015) Brian McKnight – An Evening with Brian McKnight (2016) Anderson .Paak – Malibu (2016) Myron Butler – On Purpose (2016) Corinne Bailey Rae – The Heart Speaks in Whispers (2016) JC Brooks – Neon Jungle (2017) Boyz II Men – Under the Streetlight (2017) Josh Groban – Bridges (2018) Chris Dave and the Drumhedz – Chris Dave and the Drumhedz (2018) Common – Let Love (2019) Miles Davis – Rubberband (2019) Bobby Sparks II – Schizophrenia: The Yang Project (2019) Common – A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1 (2020) Josh Groban – Harmony (2020) Common – A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2 (2021) Brittany Howard – Jaime (Reimagined) (2021) Bibio – Bib10 (2022) Robert Glasper – Black Radio III (2022) Cory Henry – Operation Funk (2022)