Dave Sheriff

b. c.1945, Doverdale, Worcestershire, England. Raised in a rural area, his father was a gamekeeper, Sheriff later lived near Reading, Berkshire. As a youth he played harmonica, drums and guitar and also sang in the school choir. He worked in clubs and made appearances on television in the UK and throughout Europe where he also toured with the European Record Breakers, which was inspired by Roy Castle’s UK television show, The Record Breakers. He worked as a session musician and also appeared in backing bands for many visitors to London’s Wembley Country Music Festival and touring with some American country artists. In the 80s, he achieved fame through his cabaret work as a one-man band, gaining an entry in the Guinness Book Of World Records. During the same decade he was in television’s soap opera Emmerdale Farm, as Whispering Fred Jones.


As his career developed, Sheriff moved squarely into the country music genre, and some of his albums, released on his own label, Stomp Music Records, were recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. He also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and Porter Wagoner made a guest appearance on one of his albums. Steel guitarist Derek Thurlby has recorded Steelin’ The Sheriff: An Instrumental Tribute To The Songs Of Dave Sheriff.