Meet Sheila Sondergard of OB (Ocean Beach)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheila Sondergard

Hi Sheila, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I was born in Seoul, South Korea on an army base at 121 Evacuation Way, just like on the TV series, Mash.
My two sisters, mom, dad and I moved to New Jersey and that is where my parents split in 1985. I never saw my wonderful birth mom again, until I was 17, in 1997 when she found me working at a Pizza Hut in Newcastle, Wyoming.

My grandparents and aunt’s helped raise me and my two sisters in MN, CO, and SD. I’m forever thankful.

My dad had a stroke in 1988 from Alka-Seltzer and medication, and he became completely paralyzed on his left side. We moved to South Dakota to get help from my grandparents and my dad lived at the VA. Thanks for serving, Dad.
My grandparents got me my first guitar at 10 years old. A package set from PriceClub.

In 1988, I found myself in the most amazing place in the world, the Black Hills of South Dakota. I had already been obsessed with the musical, Calamity Jane and that’s who I wanted to be when I grew up. Ha ha, not Calamity Jane, but a singer, cowgirl, horsewoman. (Little did I know I would eventually be on the run).
I lived in a town of 900 people, surrounded by ranches and worked on them at 10 years old.
My graduating class was 24 people.

When I was 14 years old, my grandparents retired and my best friend’s loving parents adopted me.
We lived on the largest natural beef cattle ranch southwest of Custer and had 100 horses.

In 1996, the bank and federal government took our ranch and we ended up on the lam from the US Marshall’s for a year until we were captured a year later and my adopted dad recaptured in 2006. We lived in many places in a van with 7 people, three dogs, a cat and a pig. It was crazy.

I knew I wanted to move to California when I was 17 years old. I wanted to be signed like the stars were.
In Dec 2001, I packed up my car with two boxer dogs and set sail to San Diego from Albuquerque via Guatemala.

I had a hard time finding work in the restaurants so I ended up changing oil on cars at Valvoline.
One day I got a job at Canes music venue in Mission Beach and I made friends and learned some audio engineering. I continued to play music and work in restaurants like the High Dive and many locals and patrons helped guide me and encourage me.
I also found a horse in 2003 when I moved out here and we are still ridin’.

It took me 20 years, 2018, to realize and have the courage that I could play music full time.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Believing in yourself and believing that anything is possible, took too long to realize.
I was nervous from 2001-2006, living in San Diego and using my name because my passport and phone line were flagged and tapped because of my fugitive, but amazing family.
I forgot to mention; I have two real sisters and four adopted sisters. We are all family.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?

I am a singer, songwriter and musician. I currently play enhancing music for restaurants, bars, wineries, corporate events, and weddings.
I am very proud of having completed a legit album with a barcode, lol and now uploaded to Spotify and online platforms. I plan to write a country album and have a song(s) picked up on a TV series or movie and play at the Grand Ole Opry.
I would also like to write a tv series or movie on me and my family’s past and own a saloon with my husband.

I recorded with amazing musicians in 2007 and we were able to do grassroots tours to Colorado the northwest and I even got to play South x Southwest in Austin TX.

I’ve also been blessed to have been picked up by talent agents in So Cal and I do modeling and acting and been on commercials like Living Spaces and ads for Taylor guitars and more.
My song “Spoke Too Loud” and I were both featured in the 2020 Paramount movie release “Mighty Oak”. Parts of it were also filmed in my house in OB.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

My interview is all over the place and I left so much out, but I hope to fill the inquisitive and inspired minds with lyrics and stories.

My sister has a horse riding business in New Mexico. Those who desire to experience adventure from the back of a horse can visit www.redhorseridingco.com

I do want to share that I found the love of my life while I was playing music one day and we married and have a family. It’s awesome.
Dream Big.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sheson.com
• Instagram: ShesOn
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sheilasondergard-musicians887?si=klzt4y8sUlZ7p1yQ

Image Credits
Andrew Jorgensen
Patrick Fiore
Robbie Clark
Cynthia Schaffer