Sam Sparro
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| Sam Sparro | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sam Falson |
| Born | 8 November 1982 |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genre(s) | House R&B Electropop Electrofunk Soul Music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, producer |
| Years active | 2007-present |
| Label(s) | Island Records, UK |
| Website | www.samsparro.com |
Sam Sparro (born Sam Falson on 8 November 1982) is a Grammy nominated Australian singer-songwriter of Portuguese descent, 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 UK-based record label, Island Records.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Born in Sydney, Australia, Sparro's singing talent was discovered at a young age 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 went to San Marino High School in Southern California briefly and he also got excluded from school many times.
He left Los Angeles and briefly returned to Sydney, where he lived with his grandparents and worked for a public relations company, before travelling to the United Kingdom, immersing himself in the British music scene in London. He then had to leave the UK and returned to Los Angeles in 2002, where he took a job in a coffee shop frequented by Hollywood movie creatives.[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.[12][10]
[edit] Career
In 2007, Sam Sparro charged Los Angeles-based PR firm, Gorgeous PR with handling his online and traditional publicity. Less than a year later, "Black and Gold", 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". He is also writing songs for Lindsay Lohan's upcoming album Spirit in the Dark.[14]
In September 2008, Sparro was nominated for 5 ARIA Music Awards.
His September 2008 tour formed part of the Wonky Pop tour; Wonky Pop being a newly termed genre of music created by artists such as Sam Sparro and Alphabeat.
In December 2008, Sam 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.[15]
Sam will be releasing his second album on 31 August 2009.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Sales | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | IRE | UK | U.S. Elec |
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| 2008 | Sam Sparro
|
23 | 38 | 4 | 9 |
|
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[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | IRE | DK | NOR | NZ | UK | |||
| 2007 | "Cottonmouth" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sam Sparro |
| 2008 | "Black and Gold" | 4 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 2 | |
| "21st Century Life" | 42 | — | — | — | — | 44 | ||
| "Pocket"[17] | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
[edit] References
- ^ Nick Levine (2008-03-28). "Interview - Sam Sparro". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a92331/sam-sparro.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ Brian Lush. "Rockwired Interviews Sam Sparro". Rockwired. http://www.rockwired.com/rockwired_interviews_sam_sparro.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ a b "About Sam Sparro". Sam Sparro. http://www.samsparro.com/about.php. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ "Ten Things You Might Not Know...". Capital 95.8. http://www.capitalradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=669933. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ 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 on 2008-10-10.
- ^ "Sam Sparro, Sam Sparro". The Observer. 2008-04-20. http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/reviews/story/0,,2274481,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ 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 on 2008-06-26.
- ^ "Credits". Chris Falson. http://chrisfalson.com/CF/?page_id=8. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ "Gin Fizz - auf dem Plattenteller" (in German). http://www.schuckelt.net/falson_liveworship_treebywater.htm. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ 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 on 2008-06-26.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Sam Sparro's geek guru". Sydney Confidential. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24531047-5012964,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-22.
- ^ "'Sam Sparro' Out Today". Sam Sparro. 2008-04-28. http://www.samsparro.com/news.php?item=23. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a116675/sparro-pens-tunes-for-lindsay-lohan.html
- ^ "EA’s FIFA Soccer 09 soundtrack scores". EA Sports. August 14, 2008. http://www.fifa09.ea.com/us/readnews/entryid/25050. Retrieved on 2009-04-23.
- ^ UK Chart certifications
- ^ Pocket Third Single Popjustice
[edit] External links
- Australian website
- Interview with The Advocate magazine on Grammy nomination
- Eleanor Conway Presents: Sam Sparro video interview
- Wonky Pop Website
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