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Sam Sparro

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"Sparro" redirects here. For the family of birds, see Sparrow.
For the debut album of this artist, see Sam Sparro (album).

Sam Sparro
Sparro in November 2012
Sparro in November 2012
Background information
Birth nameSamuel Frankland Falson
Born (1982-11-08) 8 November 1982 (age 42)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active2006–present
Chauffeur group members:
Member of The Bottletop Band
Labels
Spouse
Zion Lennox
​
(m. 2018)​

Samuel Falson (born 8 November 1982), better known by his stage name Sam Sparro, is an Australian singer, songwriter and record producer. He was signed to the British record label Island Records.[1] Sparro is best known for his 2008 single "Black and Gold".

Biography

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Sam Sparro was born 8 November 1982 and raised in Sydney, Australia.[2][3] Sparro's father, Chris Falson is a gospel minister and recording artist[4] of Maltese descent and of Portuguese descent[5][6] who has written music for Star Trek and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.[7] Sparro's mother, Karyn Falson (née Frankland) is from Australia. His brother plays guitar professionally while his mother plays organ at a Baptist church.[8] The family relocated to Los Angeles when Sparro was ten years old.[2] 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.[8] Fellow church goers, were the McCrary family. Chaka Khan became one of his early admirers after hearing Sparro's singing through knowing the McCrarys.[9] His first role as a child actor was in a McDonald's commercial.[10] His stage name was derived from a family nickname, which in turn was inspired by the Sydney radio announcer Gary O'Callaghan's on-air character "Sammy Sparrow".[11]

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.[12] It was during this time that he wrote his single, "Black and Gold" with his producer, Jesse Rogg.[3][9] When growing up, Sparro regularly performed backing vocals at his father's concerts and on his music releases.[13] 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".[14][15] Sparro is openly gay. He did an interview for Attitude magazine and was featured on the front cover.[14][16] Sparro married DJ Zion Lennox in a private ceremony in California on 21 September 2018.[17]

Career

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Sam Sparro and breakthrough (2007–2012)

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Sparro's debut single, "Cottonmouth", was released in late 2007. His second single, "Black and Gold", peaked at number two in the United Kingdom 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[18] 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 also collaborated on a track called "Soles on Fire" with Chauffeur, which consists of Sparro, Theophilus London and producer Mark Ronson. In March 2010, a new single, "Corrected" was released to U.S. iTunes and is a collaboration with Mason (DJ) and rapper DMC.[19] Sparro co-wrote Voodoo with Adam Lambert, a song that appears on the international and tour editions of Lambert's album For Your Entertainment and digital ep Remixes.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.[20][21] The video for the song, directed by artist and designer Franc Fernandez, was uploaded onto Sparro's YouTube channel in December 2010.[22] 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.[23] A free EP was released following the release of the video.[24][25]

Return to Paradise (2012–2014)

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Sparro announced his second album, Return to Paradise, on his newly redesigned website. It was described as being inspired by soul and funk from the late seventies and early eighties.[26] A new video premiered, featuring a new track from the album. In January 2012, "The Shallow End" was uploaded onto VEVO and YouTube. It is "compiled of home video footage of the making of the record and was filmed in LA, New York, London and Spain."[27] The album was released in spring 2012, accompanied by tours in the United States and Australia.[28] A video was filmed for the upcoming track, "Happiness".[29] Sam collaborated with Adam Lambert again for Lambert's second album Trespassing, co-writing Shady and Broken English with Lambert and Lester Mendez. Sam and Adam performed Shady together with Nile Rodgers at the We are Family gala on 31 January 2013.

In late 2013, Sparro released his first mixtape Mechanical to SoundCloud, featuring sixteen songs. On 17 September 2013, Sparro collaborated with The Bloody Beetroots on a track titled "Glow in the Dark" stating that "It's one of my favorite songs I've written recently." On 1 October 2013, Sparro's new EP, Quantum Physical, was released, in which the lead single being "Hang on To Your Love" featuring Durand Bernarr Hang on To Your Love, Fascism, and Infinite were included from Mechanical. He is currently working on and directing the music video for "Hang on To Your Love".

Quantum Physical, Vol. 2 (2014–present)

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On 14 February 2014 "Stay in Love", Sparro's fourth single as a featured artist was released with producer, instrumentalist, and lifelong friend Plastic Plates to the producer's SoundCloud account.[30] The release was appropriately timed as Sparro posted a link to the track on his Facebook and Twitter accounts with the words "Happy Valentines Day Lovers".[31] The song was made available for digital purchase on 19 February, contrary to the official release date of 13 February listed everywhere.[32][33]

Sparro's mixtape Love Made Me Do It was released to his SoundCloud account on 13 February 2015.[34] 31 July of that year he released the single "Hands Up" from the second volume of Quantum Physical,[35] with a remix single following on 25 September.[36] Quantum Physical, Vol. 2 was released on 16 October 2015 with Intuit Records.[37]

Discography

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Main article: Sam Sparro discography

Awards and nominations

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ARIA Music Awards[38]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Sam Sparro Best Male Artist Nominated
Sam Sparro Breakthrough Artist – Album Nominated
"Black and Gold" Breakthrough Artist – Single Nominated
Best Pop Release Nominated
Single of the Year Nominated
GLAAD Media Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Sam Sparro Outstanding Music Artist Won
Grammy Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 "Black and Gold" Best Dance Recording Nominated
GQ Australia Man of the Year Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Sam Sparro Man of Style Won
MTV Australia Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 "Black and Gold" Best Dance Video Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Sam Sparro – Music Interview". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b Birchmeier, Jason. "Sam Sparro > Biography". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b "ACE Title Search – 'Black & Gold'". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Retrieved 5 November 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Robinson, Peter (20 April 2008). "CD: Sam Sparro, Sam Sparro". The Observer. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Sam Sparro profile". Pressparty. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Sam Sparro – Complex or Confused? (Part I of II)". idk. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Credits". Chris Falson. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  8. ^ a b Lush, Brian. "Rockwired Interviews Sam Sparro". ROCKWiRED. Brian Lush. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  9. ^ a b "About Sam Sparro". Sam Sparro. Archived from the original on 25 June 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  10. ^ Levine, Nick (28 March 2008). "Popstar Sparro recalls McDonald's past". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  11. ^ Cashmere, Paul (19 August 2017). "R.I.P. Sydney Radio Legend Gary O'Callaghan at 83. He Inspired Sam Sparro's Name". Noise11.com. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  12. ^ Eleanor Conway (9 October 2008). "Eleanor Conway Presents: Sam Sparro". music.virgin.com. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  13. ^ "Gin Fizz - auf dem Plattenteller" (in German). Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  14. ^ a b Paul Lester (19 May 2008). "Paul Lester talks to Sam Sparro, pop's latest out gay star". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  15. ^ Rand, Hannah (23 November 2008). "21st Century Boy". Sunday Herald Sun. pp. Sunday magazine supplement (pp. 38–39).
  16. ^ "Sam Sparro's geek guru | The Daily Telegraph". Sydney Confidential. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  17. ^ "Black and Gold singer Sam Sparro marries boyfriend Zion Lennox". Gay Star News. 22 September 2018. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  18. ^ "'Sam Sparro' Out Today". Sam Sparro. 28 April 2008. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  19. ^ "Corrected". iTunes (U.S.). Apple Inc. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  20. ^ "EYE ON THE SPARRO: WORLD PREMIERE MUSIC". East Village Radio. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  21. ^ "The PINK CLOUD is coming". Twitter (Sam Sparro). Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  22. ^ "PinkCloudVideo". YouTube. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  23. ^ "It is not a single". Twitter. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  24. ^ "Free EP Any Day Now". Twitter. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  25. ^ "Pink Cloud| publishedSamSparro.com". Retrieved 24 December 2010.
  26. ^ "SAM ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM". SamSparro.com. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  27. ^ "THE SHALLOW END - New Song and Behind the Scenes Video". SamSparro.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  28. ^ "WIN TICKETS TO SAM'S U.S. MINI-TOUR". SamSparro.com. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  29. ^ "Sam Sparro". Twitter. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  30. ^ "Stay in Love". SoundCloud. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  31. ^ "Valentine's Day Facebook post - Sam Sparro". Facebook / Sam Sparro. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  32. ^ "Plastic Plates's post on February 19 confirming download availability date". Facebook / Felix Bloxsom. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  33. ^ "Stay in Love". iTunes / Apple Inc. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  34. ^ "LOVE MADE ME DO IT MIX". Soundcloud and Sam Sparro. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  35. ^ "Hands Up - Single". iTunes, Apple Inc. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  36. ^ "Hands Up (Remixes) - Single". iTunes, Apple Inc. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  37. ^ "Quantum Physical, Vol. 2 - EP". iTunes, Apple Inc. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  38. ^ ARIA Awards History 2008.Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 10 June 2012
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