Stuart Martin Scharf (September 4, 1941 – November 8, 2007) was an American composer, guitarist, and record producer.

Biography

Scharf grew up in Crown Heights and attended Winthrop Junior High School. A mathematics major in college, he graduated with honors from the City College of New York in 1962. Scharf was a friend of guitarist Jay Berliner, who influenced his career. During the early 1960s, he was the lead guitarist for folk-singer Leon Bibb. He also worked with arranger Walter Raim and folk-singer Judy Collins as well as bassist Bill Lee (father of Spike Lee). For several years, he partnered with Martin Gersten, chief engineer of WNCN, in a recording studio at 18 Jones Street in Greenwich Village. They shared this space with folk music broadcaster Skip Weshner. Scharf was a prolific studio musician in New York City during the 1960s, playing guitar with Chad Mitchell, Janis Ian, Al Kooper, and Carly Simon. He also had a producing partnership with Bob Dorough for many years; together, they produced albums by Spanky and Our Gang. Scharf was the composer of Spanky and Our Gang's hit "Like to Get to Know You." In 1980, he moved to Hamilton Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, where he continued his recording business.

Discography

As sideman

With Charles Earland With J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding With Al Kooper With Hubert Laws With Pearls Before Swine With Phil Woods

As producer

With Spanky and Our Gang