Matthew Sweet | ||
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Sweet in 2011
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Background information | ||
Birth name | Sidney Matthew Sweet | |
Born |
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States |
October 6, 1964 |
Genres | Power pop, alternative rock | |
Occupation(s) | singer, songwriter, record producer, instrumentalist | |
Instruments | vocals, guitar, bass guitar | |
Years active | 1978–present | |
Labels |
Columbia A&M Zoo Entertainment Shout! Factory |
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Associated acts | Community Trolls, Oh-OK, The Thorns, Susanna Hoffs | |
Website | ||
Music sample | ||
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Sidney Matthew Sweet (born October 6, 1964) is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. He was part of the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990s. His most recent album, Tomorrow Forever, is set for release in 2017.
Sweet was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He attended Southeast High School in Lincoln, graduating in 1983. He moved to Athens, Georgia thereafter to attend college.
In 1980, Sweet, a high school student, wrote and recorded songs on four-track cassettes. He joined the band The Specs and released his first recording on a battle of bands LP produced by a local radio station, and fronted his own local band called The Dialtones. After graduating, Sweet travelled to Athens, Georgia to attend college during the vibrant Athens music scene. That same year, Sweet, who had met the band R.E.M. when they played a show in his hometown the previous year, collaborated with frontman Michael Stipe in a duo group under the name Community Trolls, as well as played guitar in Stipe's sister Lynda Stipe's band, Oh-OK. In addition, he formed another duo, The Buzz of Delight, with Oh-OK drummer David Pierce, releasing an EP, Sound Castles, in 1984 on DB Records. On the strength of this 12" vinyl, Sweet was signed to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records.