Denver-Pueblo County CO Archives Biographies.....Sharp, Robert D. 1882 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 21, 2008, 12:02 am

Author: Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918)

ROBERT D. SHARP.

    Rohert D. Sharp is president of the Robert D. Sharp Music Company of Denver.
His is a name well known in musical circles, not only by reason of the fact that
he is an extensive and successful dealer in music and musical instruments but
also owing to the fact that he is a well known composer, having written many
popular selections which have caused his fame to spread from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. His establishment is generally headquarters for musicians visiting
Denver, while in musical trade circles he is widely known, for in his place of
business can be found almost every known musical instrument, including pianos,
organs, the stringed instruments, Victrolas and a complete set of the latest
records. As a business man Robert D. Sharp has shown initiative and enterprise
and as the years have passed has worked his way steadily upward to success.

    A native of Tuscola, Illinois, he was born on the 28th of July, 1882, a son
of Pliny F. and Louise (Foster) Sharp, who were also natives of Illinois, whence
they removed to Colorado in 1883, settling in Pueblo, where the father engaged
in the shoe business. In 1908 he removed to Denver, where he is still living,
but the mother passed away in Pueblo in 1884. They had a family of two children,
the daughter being Miss Marie Sharp, also a resident of Denver.

    In early life Robert D. Sharp attended the public schools of Pueblo and
afterward became a college student in Fort Collins, Colorado, remaining there
until 1905. He early displayed marked musical taste and talent and soon began
developing the powers with which nature had endowed him. While still pursuing
his education he had organized the Fort Collins Band and Orchestra, which has
become one of the leading musical organizations of the state and is widely known
throughout the country. He was the conductor of this orchestra for four years
and while its head he received engagements to play in various large assemblages,
gatherings and conventions, taking him to many parts of the country. He won fame
as an orchestra leader and he advanced the organization from one of twenty-two
pieces to more than twice its original size. It still remains one of Colorado's
most famous bands. It was in 1905 that Mr. Sharp established his first music
store, which was a very modest affair containing a few musical instruments and
sheet music mostly of his own composition. From time to time, as the trade
warranted, he increased his stock and expanded his store and eventually the
business was incorporated as a close corporation, of which Mr. Sharp became the
president. His interests have since developed to extensive proportions and his
place is today considered one of the leading musical supply houses of Colorado.
His slogan in advertising is "All Things Musical," which shows something of the
extent and scope of his business. In addition to handling pianos, organs and all
kinds of brass and string instruments he has an extensive phonograph department,
with separate rooms in which records may be heard. He is considered an authority
upon music in Denver and his music supply house is one of the finest in the west.

    In 1905, in St. Louis. Missouri, Mr. Sharp was married to Miss Grace Alice
Gant and they have become parents of two children: Paul, born in Fort Collins in
1906, who is attending school in Denver; and Robert, whose birth occurred in
Denver in 1912. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Denver Civic and Commercial
Association and is interested in all matters pertaining to the general welfare.
He has worked his way upward unaided to his present prominent position in
business and musical circles of the state and is highly esteemed wherever known.
He is also a musical composer of note who has written many popular and classical
compositions which have had a wide sale throughout the country. He studied music
under Professor Murray of Pueblo and became widely recognized as a fine
violinist and pianist. Nature endowed him with talent and he has used this
talent wisely and well and is today accounted one of the leading musicians of
the west.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF COLORADO

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME III

CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1918


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