He played with Vic Lewis and Teddy Foster in the early 1950s and freelanced in the London area.
He worked as a taxi driver in 1953, played with Dizzy Reece in 1954, then in Tubby Hayes's band in 1955–56.
He played with Mike Senn in the Downbeaters after 1957, worked further with Hayes, and led his own sextet in 1958.
In the early 1970s Sharpe managed a night club where he led the house band on week ends.
He returned to jazz in 1985, playing with Alan Branscombe and leading a Tubby Hayes tribute band.