<P> "My Sharona" is the debut single by the Knack . The song was written by Berton Averre and Doug Fieger, and released in 1979 from their album Get the Knack . It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart where it remained for 6 weeks, and was number one on Billboard's 1979 Top Pop Singles year - end chart . </P> <P> It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, representing one million copies sold, and was Capitol Records' fastest gold status debut single since the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964 . </P> <P> The characteristic riff of "My Sharona" was created by the band's lead guitarist, Berton Averre, years before he joined the Knack . Averre subsequently played the riff, as well as a drum groove, for Doug Fieger, the group's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, who greatly admired it and promised to include it in a composition, although he did not have any ideas for the lyrics . </P> <P> When Fieger was 25 years old, he met 17 - year - old Sharona Alperin, who inspired a two - month - long run of songwriting, as well as becoming Fieger's girlfriend for the next four years . Fieger recounted that "It was like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat; I fell in love with her instantly . And when that happened, it sparked something and I started writing a lot of songs feverishly in a short amount of time ." Fieger and Averre worked out the structure and melody of the song . Averre was originally averse to using Alperin's name in the song, but Fieger wanted it to be a direct expression of his feelings; Averre ultimately relented . Fieger claimed that "My Sharona" was written in 15 minutes . </P>

Who played the guitar solo on my sharona