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Sam Sparro

 
Artist: Sam Sparro
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Sam Sparro

Similar Artists:

Chromeo, Hot Chip, Mark Ronson, Basement Jaxx, Gnarls Barkley, Pop Levi, DJ Mehdi, Justice

Influenced By:

Prince, The Gap Band, Rick James, Daft Punk, Donna Summer, Kylie Minogue, Yaz, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Madonna, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys
See Sam Sparro Lyrics
  • Born: November 08, 1984, Sydney, New South Wales, Australi
  • Active: 2000s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Producer
  • Representative Albums: "Sam Sparro

Biography

Australian-born vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Sam Sparro shot to fame in the United Kingdom with the release of his 2008 debut single, "Black and Gold." His style of music is derived from contemporary R&B, particularly his gospel-trained vocals, and often harks back to the 1980s, but it's a thoroughly modern style, driven by state-of-the-art electronic dance production techniques and sounds -- hence the comparisons to Prince and the Gap Band as well as Hot Chip and Basement Jaxx. Born Sam Falson on November 8, 1984, in Sydney, Australia, at age ten he moved with this family to Los Angeles. The son of gospel singer Chris Falson, he got his singing start in the church. He also acted and danced from a young age, appearing in commercials and plays. At age 17 he took to traveling, going first to Sydney and then to London, where he dove headfirst into the music scene, temping at record companies, writing music at home in his free time, and clubbing on the weekends. His visa eventually expired and his money ran out, however, and so Sparro returned to Los Angeles, where he worked at a coffee shop and continued writing music. In time he met Jesse Rogg, who signed him to the independent Modus Vivendi Music label and released the six-track Black and Gold EP in late 2007. The title track caught on quickly and led to a recording deal with Island Records in the United Kingdom. Upon its major-label re-release in March 2008, "Black and Gold" had already begun rising up the U.K. singles chart, thanks in part to heavy BBC Radio 1 airplay, and in the weeks following its release, the single continued its ascent toward the uppermost reaches of the chart. Meanwhile, Sparro prepared the release of his self-titled full-length debut album. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Sam Sparro
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
For the debut album of this artist, see Sam Sparro (album).
Sam Sparro
Birth name Sam Falson
Born 8 November 1982 (1982-11-08) (age 27)
Origin Sydney, Australia
Genres Electronica, House, R&B/Soul, Electro-pop
Occupations Singer-songwriter, producer
Instruments Vocals, keyboards
Years active 2007-present
Labels Island Records, UK
Universal Republic, US
Website www.samsparro.com

Sam Sparro (born Sam Falson on 8 November 1982) 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 Australian radio mascot, Sammy Sparrow. He is signed to the British record label, Island Records.[1]

Contents

Biography

Born in Sydney, Australia, Sparro's singing talent was discovered after he moved with his family to Los Angeles at age 10. His father had signed a deal there[2] and was recording a soul album, and took him to a church in Tujunga, Los Angeles to hear some of the genre's best singers. After hearing Sparro's singing through knowing the McCrary family, Chaka Khan became one of his early admirers.[3] His first job as a child actor was in a McDonald's commercial.[4]

He 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.[5] It was during these low points that he wrote his single, Black and Gold.[3]

Sparro's father is Chris Falson, a gospel minister and recording artist[6] of Portuguese descent[7] who has written music for Star Trek and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.[8] When growing up, Sparro regularly performed backing vocals at his father's concerts and on his music releases.[9] He considers himself "a spiritual person, but ... not into any religion" and "a bit of a gypsy".[10][11]

Sparro is openly gay. He recently did an interview for Attitude magazine and was featured on the front cover. He has been in a relationship with Adrian Gilliland, his stylist, for the last two years.[10][12]

Career

"Black and Gold" (written and produced by Sam Sparro and Jesse Rogg), debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 23 on 24 March 2008, and then climbed 19 places to number four on 31 March due to heavy download sales. On 13 April, it rose to number 2. "Black and Gold" was also used in a commercial for the British TV show Skins. It reached number 5 in the Irish Singles Chart. His debut album Sam Sparro was released in the UK on 28 April 2008.[13]

In April 2008, he performed "Black and Gold" on networked chart show, hit40uk and also in Jo Whiley's Live Lounge on BBC Radio 1, where he also covered "American Boy" by Estelle. On 18 April 2008, he appeared as the musical guest on The Friday Night Project, where he performed "Black and Gold".

In September 2008, Sparro was nominated for 5 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 Nomination for "Best Dance Recording", alongside Madonna, Rihanna, Daft Punk, Hot Chip and Lady GaGa, for his smash hit "Black and Gold".

"Black and Gold" is also featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 09.[14] It's also featured on the soundtrack of the 2009 movie Fame. It is also featured in the 2009 movie "Obssessed."

Sparro is featured on the Basement Jaxx single "Feelings Gone" released on September 21, 2009. [15] Sparro has also recently collaborated on a track called "Soles on Fire" with Chauffeur, which consists of Sparro, Theophilus London and producer Mark Ronson.

Sam's second studio is planned to be released early in 2010, he will continue with the same electro sounds still incorporated with the R&B funk soul sound.

Discography

Main article: Sam Sparro discography

References

  1. ^ Nick Levine (2008-03-28). "Interview - Sam Sparro". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a92331/sam-sparro.html. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  2. ^ Brian Lush. "Rockwired Interviews Sam Sparro". Rockwired. http://www.rockwired.com/rockwired_interviews_sam_sparro.html. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  3. ^ a b "About Sam Sparro". Sam Sparro. http://www.samsparro.com/about.php. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  4. ^ "Ten Things You Might Not Know...". Capital 95.8. http://www.capitalradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=669933. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  5. ^ Eleanor Conway (2008-10-09). "Eleanor Conway Presents: Sam Sparro". music.virgin.com. http://music.virgin.com/2008/10/09/eleanor-conway-presents-sam-sparro-interview/. Retrieved 2008-10-10. 
  6. ^ "Sam Sparro, Sam Sparro". The Observer. 2008-04-20. http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/reviews/story/0,,2274481,00.html. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  7. ^ João Moço (2008-06-03). "Entrevista com Sam Sparro: Ourives Pop" (in Portuguese). Disco Digital. http://discodigital.sapo.pt/news.asp?id_news=29931. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  8. ^ "Credits". Chris Falson. http://chrisfalson.com/CF/?page_id=8. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  9. ^ "Gin Fizz - auf dem Plattenteller" (in German). http://www.schuckelt.net/falson_liveworship_treebywater.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  10. ^ a b Paul Lester (2008-05-19). "Paul Lester talks to Sam Sparro, pop's latest out gay star". The Guardian. http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2280900,00.html. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  11. ^ Rand, Hannah (2008-11-23), "21st Century Boy", Sunday Herald Sun: Sunday magazine supplement (pp. 38-39), http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24692602-2902,00.html 
  12. ^ "Sam Sparro's geek guru". Sydney Confidential. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24531047-5012964,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 
  13. ^ "'Sam Sparro' Out Today". Sam Sparro. 2008-04-28. http://www.samsparro.com/news.php?item=23. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
  14. ^ "EA’s FIFA Soccer 09 soundtrack scores". EA Sports. August 14, 2008. http://www.fifa09.ea.com/us/readnews/entryid/25050. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 
  15. ^ "Basement Jaxx - Scars (2009 Album)". 26/7/09. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scars_(Basement_Jaxx_album. 

External links

v • d • e
Sam Sparro
Studio albums
Singles
Related articles

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