(February 12, 2026) It’s not surprising that Sharon Rae North is a natural behind the mic and on stage. In addition to being a singer who can glide easily from R&B, pop, and Great American Songbook jazz, North worked for many years as a TV journalist. Her career in television news led her to stints with CNN and local news outlets throughout the South. North also taught journalism in college.
She did this while pursuing her musical career where she released two EPs and one full-length album, the Chris “Big Dog” Davis and Paul Brown produced Silhouette. North has now returned to the studio with a smooth R&B rendition of 1980s rock/pop classic that was all over the radio and MTV back in the day.
“Drive” was a song that deviated from the guitar and synth rock that made the Boston based band The Cars leaders of the New Wave rock scene in the late 1970s and early 80s. “Drive” was a ballad that featured atmospheric keyboards and Ric Ocasek’s thought provoking lyrics that warn of the risks of taking people for granted and failing to deal with real life. Those elements raise the question of whether “Drive” is a Yacht Rock song even though The Cars aren’t a Yacht Rock band.
Yacht Rock songs lend themselves to R&B and soul reinterpretations. Add a little bounce to the bass line, jazz infused touches to the keys, percussion and a vocalist with equal parts soulful passion and jazzy phrasing and you are there. Sharon Rae North’s “Drive” has those elements, and she transforms “Drive” into a Yacht Soul tune. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes
