Colin Sharp was born in 1953.

By 1978, Sharp was living in Manchester and friends with record producer Martin Hannett. He joined the band Durutti Column as lead singer towards the end of 1978, recording two songs for the Factory Records EP A Factory Sample. Sharp left the band shortly afterwards. He wrote a memoir about his friendship with Hannett, “Who Killed Martin Hannett?”, in 2007.

In 1979, he had acting roles in the Granada Television productions Crown Court, Coronation Street and Fallen Hero. He continued acting until 2007.

He taught at the Tyne Theatre Stage School in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was later a College Lecturer in Performing Arts. He became the first Creative Director of the Tom Hadaway Theatre, Tyneside, in May 2006.

He died in September 2007.