I first began to write songs as a small child. I was very drawn to music of all kinds, but especially to music that had "soul". Now this could mean Aretha Franklin or Judy Garland, both possess incredible soul!
Later in my life I was influenced by so many great songwriters/performers...Carole King, James Taylor, Tracey Chapman, Phoebe Snow. I think I am a distillation of so many things and genres of music. I did not try to copy anyone...for instance I believe still, that "soul" music is not so much a genre, as it is what you put into the song of your own soul. I put a lot of soul into everything I sing!
More on my history at...
http://www.myspace.com/sherrilynrobbins and
http://www.cdbaby.com/sherrilr
Man, I have played everywhere you can imagine! And I mean everywhere...but one of the most touching and awe inspiring was when a good friend's aunt was dying in the hospital. They asked me to sing Amazing Grace to her as they held the phone to her ear. So I sang gently and with my whole heart, to help this woman I had never even met, cross over from this life to the next! I had chills all over me. And I truly felt honored to have been asked and given such a true gift. I will remember and treasure it always!
I was very influenced early on by people like Phoebe Snow, Joni Mitchell, Janis Ian and also on the other end of the spectrum Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin and anything that had soul.
Right now my beautiful new Taylor guitar is my best friend...she rings out like a bell!
I am currently working on a new recording and I am very excited about its direction...more soulful, more instrumentation than my first album. Though my guitar is still the main impetus for my creative spark, I consider my voice an instrument too and have been able to experiment more on this new recording. "Soul Satisfied" will always have a special place in my heart, no matter what projects the future holds.