Marti Sharron, 56, songwriter

Grammy winner wrote hit pop songs in '80s

By VARIETY STAFF

Songwriter and producer Marti Sharron, who wrote several hit pop songs during the 1980s, died March 15 in L.A. of undetermined causes. She was 56.

Services will be held at noon Wednesday, at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, 505 North Rodeo Dr.

Born in Martha Vanessa Sharron in Ohio and raised in Florida, Sharron began her musical career in her early teens as a member of "The Sharrons," a singing duo with her brother Steve.

She won her first Grammy for the 1983 "Jump for My Love," performed by the Pointer sisters, as well as ASCAP's Most Performed Song Award.

Sharron also collaborated with Phil Collins and Phillip Bailey, on "Easy Lover," writing three songs off the album, which went to No. 1 on the Billboard/pop charts. She also penned the song "Own the Night," recorded by Chaka Khan, for the album from the TV series "Miami Vice."

She started producing records in 1986, starting with Anita Baker's "Rapture," for which she also wrote the hit "No One in the World."

In the same year, she also wrote and produced Cole's long awaited comeback album "Dangerous."

Her other writing and producing credits include "If I Could," which has been recorded by Ray Charles, Streisand and Dion; Dion's "Titanic" and "Let's Talk About Love" and Streisand's "Higher Ground" and Groban's "Alejate" (Just Walk Away).