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Singer/songwriter Harriet Schock was born in Dallas, Texas and was taught to play the piano at age four by her father, Dr. Arthur Schock, who had been a musician before becoming a dermatologist. Harriet was graduated from Hockaday and the University of Texas. In a career that spans close to 30 years, she has recorded six albums, all of which were critical successes if not bestsellers.
In 1973, having moved to Los Angeles, Schock was signed as a staff writer for Colgems-EMI. Shortly afterwards, she was signed to 20th Century Records, a subsidiary of 20th Century Fox. Her first of three 20th Century albums, "Hollywood Town," was released in 1974. It contained her song, "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady," which became a #1 hit for Helen Reddy.
Schock made two more albums for 20th Century ("She's Low Clouds," 1974, and "You Don't Know What You're in For," 1976) and enjoyed further success as artists including Vicki Carr, Johnny Mathis, Manfred Mann and Lee Greenwood began recording her songs. She was twice named Best New Female Artist by Cashbox. Throughout the '80s, she didn't record, but she was signed as a writer to Jobete by Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records. This led to a song for Roberta Flack and also spawned a movie theme song, "First Time on a Ferris Wheel" recorded by Smokey Robinson, Carl Anderson, Gloria Loring, Nancy Wilson and many others, granting it the status of a near-standard.
Schock returned to recording in the '90s with "American Romance," produced by Nik Venet, who had been instrumental in producing and launching the careers of the Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Lou Rawls, Jim Croce, and Dory Previn. The following year, Schock released her fifth album, "Rosebud," again produced by Venet.
Harriet's most recent album is "Harriet Schock Live - From Fairfax To Pasadena." Her live show has garnered a Dramalog Award, and she has written numerous songs for films including "The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking." She co-wrote the theme song for the current PBS children's series, "Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks."
She has also worked as a songwriting instructor, both privately and at the University of Southern California. Her book, "Becoming Remarkable: For Songwriters and Those Who Love Songs" (Blue Dolphin Press, 1999), is something of a bible for aspiring songwriters. She offers private consultation and correspondence courses in songwriting, as well as teaching for the Songwriter's Guild of America. She gives seminars and concerts around the world.
Harriet has had enthusiastic reviews from all the major music business publications including Discoveries Magazine, Billboard, Cashbox, Record World and Music Connection. Charles Donovan of Women & Home Magazine in London says of Harriet's "Rosebud", “What makes Schock such a compelling songwriter is her ability to look beyond herself (a rare gift in the singer/songwriter genre), resulting in touching, observational pieces. Add to this, Schock’s earthy, expressive singing, and you have what surely ranks as one of the most important, impressive albums of the decade.”
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