Kim & Sharon

The Appalachian Americana sound of the sensational Kim & Sharon is the result of an unusual, accidental and unexpected collision of friendship, talent, health care and Townes Van Zandt.....

Kim DeCell and Sharon Levenson met in 2007 when Sharon started working as an RN at a psychiatric hospital in Vermont. Kim had been working there for years as a mental health worker, and had a habit of bringing his guitar to work to strum and sing for the patients. His amazing talent and unique vocals caught Sharon's attention, as did the healing effect his music had on the patients. One patient shared, "The best I ever feel is when Kim is playing his guitar and singing." As Kim and Sharon got to know each other and Kim discovered that Sharon loved music, he began to bring her CDs of original songs recorded in his home studio almost daily. She would find the CDs at the nurses station, lodged in the mirror of her car in the parking lot, or even on her windshield downtown! She was impressed with Kim's ability to craft beautiful melodies with heartfelt lyrics by sitting down in front of his recorder and pressing "Record" as he reflected on subject matter such as lost loves, chance meetings with exes in bars, time spent in prison. It was one of these recordings, "Stop On By," that changed everything for them.....Sharon played this original song for her brother Mark, who said "Wow, that guy is great. He reminds me of Townes Van Zandt." Subsequently Sharon shared this sentiment with Kim and they began to listen to the Van Zandt catalogue. Shortly thereafter they started experimenting with "No Lonesome Tune" with Kim on guitar and vocals and Sharon on mandolin and backing vocals. They employed Kim's signature "Press Record" and were stunned by the resulting unique, haunting arrangement. They sent a copy to Live 365 Radio and were immediately added to the play list of Dave's Indie Music Hall, and received the highest rating of any song in the history of the show! WEFT in Champaign, IL also added it to the play list. Energized by this sudden turn of attention and recognition, the duo composed "Letting Go By Hanging On", an emotional tribute to a friend who had died, which also received immediate radio play on both of these stations.

Kim's one-of-a-kind voice has become one of the main attractions of this collaboration. Andrew Jones said "Where did he come from? His voice is so resolute. I can feel the agony." The emotion emitted from the vocals, guitar and mandolin, in combination with their brilliant original lyrics, is palpable. Their powerful performances always leave the audiences demanding more.

This duo won Creative Spirit Awards for two original songs, "For Every Lover" and "Letting Go By Hanging On." The  feedback they received from the judges was "You two should be in Nashville."

Kim & Sharon are rapidly becoming festival favorites! They performed at a benefit gig in New Orleans during Jazz Fest 2011, which they organized in support of New Orleans Musicians Clinic, and were joined by Nashville songwriter Bud Tower on bass. The duo also opened the downtown portion of Roots On The River Festival 2011 in Bellows Falls, VT. They produced and performed at Flood Fest benefit concert in Wilmington, VT, which raised $4000 for the victims of Hurricane Irene, and featured special guest Chip Wilson from New Orleans. Additional festival appearances include Furays Folk Festival, Cape May Songwriter Festival, Readsboro Arts Festival, Make Music Harvard Square, Cambridge Music Festival, Music in the Hills, Blue Hawaiian Fest, and Vermont Music Festival.

Stay tuned for information about their upcoming CD release gigs........