After a life-changing car accident in 1990, Sharon Riley woke up in the hospital and questioned her life. Experiencing such a miracle, Riley turned to Christianity for guidance. She couldn’t walk after the crash due to injuries on both legs, but eventually she learned how to sit up and how to walk again. During her recovery, she became part of a gospel ensemble in Toronto, which evolved into Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale.

Sharon Riley had always been musically inclined, winning the Kiwanis Music Competition in 1977 and 1978. She was formally educated in early childhood education (ECE). She has more than ten years of jazz and opera vocal training as well.

Together with Robert Picart and Sharon Mcleod in 1992, Riley sought to create a group of passionate youth committed to serving God with their talents. Members of the Faith Chorale come from Canada, the Caribbean, England, and South America. They draw from their diverse cultural heritage to synthesize a unique musical style, inspired by urban contemporary gospel, traditional hymns, ballads, and traditional African music.

They have been on stage at the National Jazz Festival, the World Tournament of Basketball, CBC Live Metro Morning Show, CNE Gospelfest, and won the JUNO Award for Best Gospel Album in 1999. Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale have also been featured in Global Television’s “Sing Out Freedom Train”, CBC’s musical “Christmas Soul”, and HBO’s Einstein special “Light to the Power of Two”. Their internationally recognized 1998 album Life Is helped them to accomplish being Canada’s first gospel group to sign an international contract. Riley contributed to the Blues Brothers 2000 Soundtrack with arrangements of “John The Revelator,” which was Grammy-nominated. Their song “Integrity”, was their most recent release in 2011.

Awards

• 1999 JUNO Award for Best Gospel Album
• 1998 Kiwanis Music Competition
• 1997 Kiwanis Music Competition