Following The Alarm's 1989 U.S. Winter Tour, Manchester born, Dave Sharp, co-founder, co-writer and lead guitarist with the band, headed for New York City's Lower East Side to record his first solo album, Hard Travellin', with legendary, maverick record producer, Bob Johnston, at the Hit Factory. He little realised that what was intended to be an experimental side-project during an Alarm sabbatical would turn into a full-blown solo career taking him on a monumental 15-year journey across the U.S., back to the U.K., and to the present day. Hard Travellin' was released on IRS Records in the Summer of 1990 to much critical acclaim at both press and radio and accompanied by a sell-out U.K. tour.

Following lead singer Mike Peters' departure from The Alarm in 1991, Dave Sharp made the seminal decision to leave behind the U.K. pop scene and a successful 10-year career with the band. He instinctively knew he was headed for the United States full-time to pick up the trail of folk legend Woodie Guthrie who had provided the influence for both Dave and Bob Johnston to record Hard Travellin'. After arriving in the U.S. armed with just a guitar and a bag and an ''idealistic sense of troubadour bravado'', Sharp soon realised his solo career would be taking him along the path less travelled. He began an intense period of growth as a solo singer / songwriter performing live shows across the length and breadth of the country and touring with musicians he had long admired such as Willie Nelson and Kris Kristopherson.
After more than a year on the road, including appearances at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Farm Aid and New York City's Earth Day, Sharp found himself in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he decided to put his feet up and take stock. Having amassed a collection of new songs and realising it was time to make his next move, Sharp contacted Bob Johnston once more, who suggested he should go back into the recording studio. Johnston invited Sharp to San Francisco where he had assembled some of California's finest musicians to provide the basis for a new band for Sharp. Sharp entered Credence Clearwater Revival's Fantasy Studios in July 1994 to begin work on the album Downtown America.

Downtown America was released in January 1996 receiving radio play across the board (classic rock, alternative radio, AAA) and even earned Sharp an appearance on Nashville's Prime Time Country television show after scoring well in the ratings at country radio. The record features Chris Solberg (Santana) on bass, Larry Crane and Dave Grissolm (The John Cougar Mellencamp Band) on guitars, Prairie Prince (The Tubes) on drums, Al Cooper (The Bob Dylan Band) on keyboards, along with performances from members of Jefferson Starship. Once again, Sharp enjoyed extremely positive critical support from the American press.

Now with two excellently received solo albums and an extensive touring itinerary under his belt, Sharp began to look once again to the British music scene for inspiration. ''I saw fewer and fewer U.K. rock bands able to make a lasting impact on U.S. audiences,'' says Sharp. ''In recent years British rock seems to have lost much credibility Stateside.'' He decided to re-locate to the U.K. to revisit his original influences developed as a young player starting out in ''post Woodstock'' Manchester, England in the early '70s.

Following his return to Manchester in early 2002, Sharp immediately began touring solo and acoustic in order to reintroduce himself to British audiences, headlining venues up and down the country, such as The Cavern Club (Liverpool), The Underworld (London), King Tut's (Glasgow). In order to broaden his audience base, Dave took on opening slots with artists such as Nick Harper, Sir Bob Geldoff, Jake Burns (3 Men & Black) and the late, great Lonnie Donnegan. During this time he began searching out musicians for a new band with just one criterion: ''These cats have got to be seriously tested rock players who can deliver.'' Things came rapidly into focus after a chance meeting with one of the U.K.'s finest bass players, Keith Ashcroft (Jim Diamond, Sophie-Ellis-Bexter, Snake Davis). After Sharp laid out his plans, Ashcroft knew exactly what was required and immediately contacted long-time associate and 10cc drummer, Paul Burgess to solidify the rhythm section. Sharp, Ashcroft and Burgess knew they would need an outstanding guitarist to complete the picture, and following a lengthy search, Feelgood axeman Moe Whitham was drafted in. With the addition of guitar player Jim Holmes from the Northwest soul scene, the line-up for Sharp's new band was now complete and The Soul Company was born.

The Soul Company made their debut appearance at the North Wales Conference Centre in January 2004 before an eagerly awaiting crowd of 1800 fans. The band gave an outstanding performance, which was recorded on the night and went on to form the basis of their debut album, The Power of Soul. A month later and February saw the band in Incentive Studios on Wigan Pier, ''The home of Northern Soul'' recording their first studio single, The Power of Soul. By now the chemistry and sound of the band was taking shape and a new British rock band was busy being born. Bruce MacKenzie from Townsend Records stepped in at this point and the missing piece of the Soul Company jigsaw was finally locked into place. The Power of Soul is scheduled for release in early 2005 with live appearances currently being booked for the band. At last the U.K. will have a chance to experience a brand new British rock band in full flight. Switch your satellite dial to the ''go-man-go''...ladies & gentlemen would you please welcome...THE SOUL COMPANY...