Cheryl Wheeler

Cheryl Wheeler, a folk performer and composer celebrated for her witty yet deeply poignant compositions, spent her formative years in Timonium, Maryland, where she took up the guitar and ukulele during childhood. Her initial professional appearances took place at a neighborhood eatery before she advanced to venues throughout the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., regions. Relocating to Rhode Island in 1976, she came under the guidance of country-folk artist Jonathan Edwards, beginning her association with him by playing bass.

Her debut release came in 1983 as the four-song EP Newport Songs. Jonathan Edwards helmed production for her inaugural full album, titled Cheryl Wheeler, which appeared on North Star Records in 1986. Dan Seals recorded a version of the track “Addicted” from this project, propelling it to the top of the country charts by September 1988. North Star then arranged for her follow-up effort, Half a Book from 1988, to be distributed via the brief Cypress subsidiary of A&M Records.

Wheeler next aligned with Capitol Records’ Nashville branch, issuing Circles & Arrows in 1990; Suzy Bogguss turned “Aces,” a song from the record, into a Top Ten country success in 1992. Additional interpreters of her material included Bette Midler, Juice Newton, Maura O’Connell, Linda Thompson, along with further artists. Wheeler transitioned in 1993 to the Philo subsidiary of the independent Rounder label, resulting in her fourth album Driving Home, which Rounder also used to re-release Circles & Arrows during 1994. Subsequent releases comprised Mrs. Pinocci’s Guitar in 1995 and Sylvia Hotel in 1999.