Kevin Sharp - It Started With a Wish

If you're a country western fan, the name Kevin Sharp might bring to mind the rising country singer's list of achievements. His hit single, "Nobody Knows," hit the number one spot on country music charts for four weeks and went gold in 1997. He has a hit CD titled, "Measure of a Man," now platinum, which is one of the fastest selling country albums in the nation, and his video was nominated "Video of the Year" by Billboard Magazine. His talent is recognized not only by his fans but the Country Music Association Awards, which nominated Kevin, "Best New Artist."

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Suffolk County is also very much aware of Kevin's success and recognizes him as a talented country western singer and, perhaps more familiarly, a survivor and champion for the Foundation's cause.

Kevin's first involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation was as a wish child was 1989; he was eighteen years old and living in Sacramento, California. He lived the life of most teenage boys until being diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer known as "Ewing's Sarcoma." That's when the Make-A-Wish Foundation came into his life and has since remained.

Kevin had always dreamed of meeting David Foster, a well-known record producer who had produced and written songs for famous artists such as Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton and Barbra Streisand. In keeping with their wish-granting tradition, the local Make-A-Wish chapter went to work to grant his wish and set up a meeting with Kevin and David. From that meeting, a friendship began to grow and Kevin and Foster kept in touch throughout Kevin's cancer treatment. It was in 1993, after Kevin had been in remission for two years, that Kevin decided to send Foster a demo tape of songs he'd been working on. That tape captured Foster's interest and, by 1996, Kevin earned a contract with Asylum Records. The rest is history!

Kevin's story is one of success and miracles. He is proud of his achievements in the music industry and has remained grateful to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for the hope and encouragement they brought to his life. He and his mother have become spokespersons for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Kevin is now featured on the Foundation's national brochure. While on the road, Kevin uses his music to spread the message of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. At each of his concerts he takes the time to privately talk and entertain local wish children and their families and donates a portion of his proceeds to the local Make-A-Wish Chapter.

Credit for article:
Make-A-Wish Foundation, Suffolk County Chapter