Rising Stars: Meet Sheri Thrower

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheri Thrower.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started out as an elementary music teacher in North Georgia, directing an after school chorus with over 120 voices enrolled. The kids and I were invited to sing at America’s Got Talent Auditions, The Nation’s Capitol, Radio City Music Hall and more. As this set of children grew older, I began recording their voices in the studios of Chattanooga, TN. This grew into starting a non-profit organization known as SingAkadamie, where we provide once in a lifetime performing opportunities for youth. A few of the kids started getting recognized by talent agents and television shows. This evolved into an individualized talent development program, where I started helping them write original songs and recording in Nashville.

Enter…The Grove Jesus Music and Sheri Productions. Seeing that these “kids” were now, in their teens and even early twenties, I look at them as my “grove”. They were like seeds planted at an early age, and thriving in the music industry with their original music and recordings. I’ve watched them grow, as musicians. I’ve been their vocal coach and songwriting coach for many years. It is wonderful to see them have radio play in over 115 countries now, with their music streaming on all platforms. Some of their music has even been signed with Music Libraries and Sync Reps for Film and Television.

The Grove Jesus Music is for those who wish to write and record Christian and faith-based music. Sheri Productions is for young people who wish to write and record secular music such as pop, country and even rap.

I grew up in the church, with my dad being a pastor. So, my faith is important to me. I believe we can be a light and share our faith with any genre of music or setting. Currently, I am working in Nashville and Los Angeles, teaching songwriting and assisting with artist development. I believe in our young people. It is my honor to serve them in producing and bringing their music to life. And I believe we are going to see the music industry infiltrated with their new music, having a wonderful life message. It will be an honest, hope-filled, life-giving message. And filled with personal conviction. From the east coast to the west coast, I am discovering that their hearts are the same. They do have something to say in a song.

I have heard it said that young people do not have enough experience to write about what really matters. I am here to testify that they do have something important to say, to write about and to let the world see. They have been through unimaginable circumstances through this pandemic. They are survivors. Their stories and songs will be about survival and being over-comers.

I am honored and thankful to Jesus, for letting me be a small part of this.
Truthfully, I think I was born for this moment with them.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My journey through this has not been smooth. I think the most difficult part for me was trying to teach, be a producer, and having enough energy left at the end of the day to be a single mom. I was also on the road singing quite a bit. So, I would get in at 3 a.m., sleep until 6 a.m., roll out of bed to be at school by 7:15 a.m. Those were some long days! Add to this, directing an elementary choir after school, then grabbing a bite to eat and scurrying to our non-profit music program after that. It was exhausting.

But it was so well worth it. Looking at where I am today, I learned valuable lessons through the exhaustion. The main lesson I learned was perseverance! We do what we love. We make time for what we love. And while it was exhausting, at the time, it was also something I loved with all my heart. Thankfully, my daughter was in all of my groups, so she was with me quite a bit. My son used the time to hone his personal skills in music, as well. So, music has played an important role in each of my family member’s lives; through good days and bad.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
If you ask people what I do, I think you would hear them say that I am music producer. And I work mainly with young people. I wear many hats, but I specialize in helping young people write and record songs. I have won several awards as a music director, mainly in gospel music. But my work in all genres is important to me. I think what sets me apart is that I feel comfortable to work in any setting; pop, rock, country, even rap. I love people. And I hope they feel this when we work together. It is important to me that young people have a lot of power in their creative work. It is a team effort. I cannot take credit alone for what I do. It takes a great artist, with a great song. And any producer is great because they have a great engineer for mixing. And I will always be grateful for our engineer, Daniel Dennis, and the excellent work he does with our recordings. Prime Cut Studio, in Nashville, is like my second home. This is where we record, mostly. It is an excellent studio. Daniel is award-winning, as well. Most of all, he is a great friend. We are like family; Daniel, the artists and I. There has to be great chemistry, business-wise. And I feel we have this. We work hard, but we all really have fun. Having fun sets a comfortable atmosphere for recording. And this is important for the artist, especially. My motto: “It has to be excellent. And it has to be fun getting there.”

What am I most proud of? My adult children, their families, and my sweet granddaughter, Dahlia! She’s adorable! I’m a GiGi!

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I am thankful for all the wonderful people who support our young people. Not all young people need financial assistance with project funding, but for those who do, our supporters always come through. It means much to have our fan support. Thank you to all our listeners. Thank you to the radio stations across the world that play our music. Thank you to our artist’s families who share their teens with me. For anyone reading this who would like to support our young people and their music careers, please visit my website: www.sherithrower.net or contact me at: producersheri@gmail.com. We appreciate you.

Pricing:

• $10 group Zoom songwriting sessions for teens.
• $65 Adult private songwriting session/30 min.
• $65 Adult private voice lessons
• Contact me for recording rates.

Contact Info:

• Email: producersheri@gmail.com
• Website: www.sherithrower.net
• Instagram: Instagram.com/sheriproductions
• Facebook: Facebook.com/sherithrower
• Twitter: twitter.com/sherithrower
• Youtube: YouTube.com/thegrovejesusmusic
• Other: Spotify.com/thegrovejesusmusic

Image Credits
Caroline Grace Emily Ashby Nicholas Hickman Daniel Dennis Sheri Thrower