Sam Sparro
Encyclopedia
Sam Sparro is an Australian singer-songwriter
, music producer, and former child actor
. His stage name was derived from a family nickname, which in turn was inspired by the Dagenham radio mascot
Sammy Sparrow. He is signed to the British record label Island Records
.
who has written music for Star Trek
and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. His brother plays guitar professionally while his mother plays organ at a Baptist church. The family relocated to Los Angeles when Sparro was ten years old. His father had signed a deal there and was recording a soul
album, he took Sparro to a church in Tujunga to hear some of the genre's singers. Fellow church goers, were the McCrary
family. Chaka Khan
became one of his early admirers after hearing Sparro's singing through knowing the McCrarys. His first role as a child actor was in a McDonald's
commercial.
Sparro left Los Angeles and returned to Sydney, where he lived with his grandparents and worked for a public relations
company, before travelling to the UK, immersing himself in the music scene in London. He returned to Los Angeles in 2002, where he took a job in a coffee shop. It was during these low points that he wrote his single, "Black and Gold
" with his producer, Jesse Rogg. When growing up, Sparro regularly performed backing vocals at his father's concerts and on his music releases. He states "I'm a spiritual person, but ... not into any religion. I was always kind of a non-denominational Christian" and "a bit of a gypsy". Sparro is openly gay. He did an interview for Attitude magazine and was featured on the front cover.
at number two in April 2008 and at number four in Australia
, and has since been used in soundtracks and promotional campaigns for various television series, video games, and films. Sparro's self-titled debut album, Sam Sparro
, was released in the UK in April 2008 and reached the top five on the UK Albums Chart
, eventually receiving a gold certification
from the BPI
for selling 100,000 copies. Two subsequent singles, "21st Century Life
" and "Pocket
", were considerably less successful on the charts.
During promotion of "Black and Gold", Sparro covered "American Boy
" by Estelle
on Jo Whiley
's Live Lounge
on BBC Radio 1
. In September 2008, Sparro was nominated for five ARIA Music Awards
. His tour that month formed part of the Wonky Pop
tour; Wonky Pop is a new genre of music created by artists such as Sparro and Alphabeat. In December 2008, Sparro and co-writer/ producer Jesse Rogg received a Grammy Award
nomination for Best Dance Recording
for "Black and Gold".
Sparro is featured on the Basement Jaxx
single "Feelings Gone
", released in September 2009. He has also recently collaborated on a track called "Soles on Fire" with Chauffeur, which consists of Sparro, Theophilus London and producer Mark Ronson
.
On 16 March 2010, a new single, "Corrected" was released to U.S. iTunes and is a collaboration with Mason (DJ)
and rapper DMC
.
In July 2010, a new song titled "Pink Cloud" was premiered on East Village Radio's Accidental Rhythm. The premiered song was stated to be un-mastered. The video for the song, directed by artist and designer Franc Fernandez
, was uploaded onto Sam Sparro's YouTube channel on 22 December 2010. Sparro stated via his Twitter that the video is an art project, and the song was not released as a single. Addressing rumours of a mostly instrumental album, he clarified that, unlike "Pink Cloud", his second album would be full of tracks featuring his vocals. A free EP was released following the release of the video.
|-
| rowspan=5 | 2008 || Sam Sparro || Best Male Artist ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | Sam Sparro
|| Best Pop Release ||
|-
| Breakthrough Artist – Album ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | "Black and Gold
" || Breakthrough Artist – Single ||
|-
| Single of the Year ||
GLAAD Media Awards
|-
| 2009 || Sam Sparro || Outstanding Music Artist ||
Grammy Awards
|-
| || "Black and Gold" || Best Dance Recording ||
MTV Australia Awards
|-
| 2009 || "Black and Gold" || Best Dance Video ||
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, music producer, and former child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
. His stage name was derived from a family nickname, which in turn was inspired by the Dagenham radio mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
Sammy Sparrow. He is signed to the British record label Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
.
Biography
Sam Sparro was born as Samuel Frankland Falson on 8 November 1982 and raised in Sydney, Australia. Sparro's father, Chris Falson, is a gospel minister and recording artist of Maltese descentMaltese people
The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
who has written music for Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. His brother plays guitar professionally while his mother plays organ at a Baptist church. The family relocated to Los Angeles when Sparro was ten years old. His father had signed a deal there and was recording a soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
album, he took Sparro to a church in Tujunga to hear some of the genre's singers. Fellow church goers, were the McCrary
Howard McCrary
Howard McCrary is an African-American musician, entertainer, and actor. He was nominated for Grammy award in 1986 for a gospel record.Credited for vocal performances and arrangements on the music albums of Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire and many others...
family. Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
became one of his early admirers after hearing Sparro's singing through knowing the McCrarys. His first role as a child actor was in a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
commercial.
Sparro left Los Angeles and returned to Sydney, where he lived with his grandparents and worked for a public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
company, before travelling to the UK, immersing himself in the music scene in London. He returned to Los Angeles in 2002, where he took a job in a coffee shop. It was during these low points that he wrote his single, "Black and Gold
Black and Gold (song)
"Black and Gold" is the lead single from Sam Sparro's eponymous first album. The song has been remixed by Max Sanna and Steve Pitron, Paul Epworth, Al Usher, Kings of the Universe, Kromatik and Russ Chimes. The original version of the single was made available on iTunes on 23 March 2008, with the...
" with his producer, Jesse Rogg. When growing up, Sparro regularly performed backing vocals at his father's concerts and on his music releases. He states "I'm a spiritual person, but ... not into any religion. I was always kind of a non-denominational Christian" and "a bit of a gypsy". Sparro is openly gay. He did an interview for Attitude magazine and was featured on the front cover.
Career
Sparro's debut single, "Cottonmouth", was released in late 2007. His second single, "Black and Gold", peaked on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number two in April 2008 and at number four in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and has since been used in soundtracks and promotional campaigns for various television series, video games, and films. Sparro's self-titled debut album, Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro (album)
Sam Sparro is the self-titled, debut album by Sam Sparro. It was released in the UK on 28 April 2008, after the success of Sparro's debut single, "Black and Gold", which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The album debuted at number five during its first week of release in the UK, and...
, was released in the UK in April 2008 and reached the top five on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, eventually receiving a gold certification
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
from the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
for selling 100,000 copies. Two subsequent singles, "21st Century Life
21st Century Life
"21st Century Life" is the 2nd single from Sam Sparro's eponymous album, released on 21 July 2008.The Song was featured on one episode of Britannia High and it is also the theme music to the BBC Three drama, Personal Affairs....
" and "Pocket
Pocket (Sam Sparro song)
"Pocket" is the 3rd single from Sam Sparro's eponymous album, released in 2008.- Release Information :"Pocket" was first played on Australian radio in November...
", were considerably less successful on the charts.
During promotion of "Black and Gold", Sparro covered "American Boy
American Boy
"American Boy" is the second single from the album Shine by British R&B singer Estelle and features American rapper Kanye West. The song is her first international single...
" by Estelle
Estelle (musician)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
on Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley
Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
's Live Lounge
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. In September 2008, Sparro was nominated for five ARIA Music Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
. His tour that month formed part of the Wonky Pop
Wonky Pop
Wonky Pop was a term used to describe a loose grouping of musical acts that played what the BBC called "quirky, catchy and credible pop", rooted in the eccentric side of 1980s pop music, which was briefly popular in the late 2000s...
tour; Wonky Pop is a new genre of music created by artists such as Sparro and Alphabeat. In December 2008, Sparro and co-writer/ producer Jesse Rogg received a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for Best Dance Recording
Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the dance music genre...
for "Black and Gold".
Sparro is featured on the Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
single "Feelings Gone
Feelings Gone
"Feelings Gone" is a song by British electronic dance music duo Basement Jaxx. It was released on 8 September 2009 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Scars. It was digitally released on 8 September in the United States and was released in the United Kingdom on 21 September 2009...
", released in September 2009. He has also recently collaborated on a track called "Soles on Fire" with Chauffeur, which consists of Sparro, Theophilus London and producer Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
.
On 16 March 2010, a new single, "Corrected" was released to U.S. iTunes and is a collaboration with Mason (DJ)
Mason (DJ)
Mason is the stage name of the Dutch music producer duo Iason Chronis and Coen Berrier . They had a number one on the UK Dance Chart in 2007 with their track Exceeder. Exceeder had originally been an instrumental and had received a vinyl only release in the UK in 2006...
and rapper DMC
DMC
-Computer Science or IT:*Diffusion Monte Carlo, a method that utilizes a Green function to solve the Schrödinger equation*Dynamic Markov Compression, a general purpose statistical data compression algorithm...
.
In July 2010, a new song titled "Pink Cloud" was premiered on East Village Radio's Accidental Rhythm. The premiered song was stated to be un-mastered. The video for the song, directed by artist and designer Franc Fernandez
Franc Fernandez
Franc Fernandez is a Los Angeles, California-based Argentine artist and fashion designer. His most well-known work is the meat dress of Lady Gaga.-Early life and education:...
, was uploaded onto Sam Sparro's YouTube channel on 22 December 2010. Sparro stated via his Twitter that the video is an art project, and the song was not released as a single. Addressing rumours of a mostly instrumental album, he clarified that, unlike "Pink Cloud", his second album would be full of tracks featuring his vocals. A free EP was released following the release of the video.
Awards and nominations
ARIA Music Awards|-
| rowspan=5 | 2008 || Sam Sparro || Best Male Artist ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro (album)
Sam Sparro is the self-titled, debut album by Sam Sparro. It was released in the UK on 28 April 2008, after the success of Sparro's debut single, "Black and Gold", which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The album debuted at number five during its first week of release in the UK, and...
|| Best Pop Release ||
|-
| Breakthrough Artist – Album ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | "Black and Gold
Black and Gold (song)
"Black and Gold" is the lead single from Sam Sparro's eponymous first album. The song has been remixed by Max Sanna and Steve Pitron, Paul Epworth, Al Usher, Kings of the Universe, Kromatik and Russ Chimes. The original version of the single was made available on iTunes on 23 March 2008, with the...
" || Breakthrough Artist – Single ||
|-
| Single of the Year ||
GLAAD Media Awards
|-
| 2009 || Sam Sparro || Outstanding Music Artist ||
Grammy Awards
|-
| || "Black and Gold" || Best Dance Recording ||
MTV Australia Awards
|-
| 2009 || "Black and Gold" || Best Dance Video ||