Sam Sparro (born Samuel Falson on 8 November 1982 in Sydney, Australia) is a singer, songwriter and producer. He is best known for his hit single ‘Black & Gold’, and is renowned for his soulful singing voice and distinctive retro sound influenced by disco, funk and R&B.

Sparro grew up in a musical family: his father was a gospel singer, and Sparro was introduced to music early on, singing in church and performing in musical theater. He spent part of his childhood in Los Angeles, and later lived in London, where he worked as a backup singer and session vocalist. After returning to LA in the early 2000s, he began to pursue a career as a solo artist, adopting the stage name ‘Sam Sparro’ after a family nickname.

In 2007 Sparro released his first EP, Black + Gold. The title track, ‘Black & Gold’, became a breakthrough hit, receiving critical acclaim and heavy radio airplay. The song charted in 14 countries, peaking at number 2 in the UK. It was certified Platinum in the UK and Gold in Australia, and also earned Sparro a Grammy nomination.

Following the success of ‘Black & Gold’, Sparro was signed to Island Records, through which he released his self-titled debut album, Sam Sparro, in 2008. The album showcased his versatility as an artist, blending an eclectic range of influences, and spawned two further singles, ‘21st Century Life’ and ‘Pocket’. While it didn’t achieve the same level of commercial success as his breakthrough single, the album received praise for its production and Sparro’s vocal talent.

In 2012, Sparro returned with his second studio album, Return to Paradise, which he has described as a “breakup album” influenced by 1980s electropop and disco. Its upbeat lead single ‘Happiness’ became Sparro’s biggest hit besides ‘Black & Gold’, charting in 3 countries and certified Platinum in Belgium, where it reached number 1.

Between 2013 and 2016, Sparro released three EPs under the title of Quantum Physical. The project allowed Sparro to experiment with avant-garde sounds and lyrical concepts, with the third EP, subtitled Conspiracy, delving into political themes. In 2017 he also released Christmas in Blue, a holiday-themed EP offering a jazzy, soulful twist on Christmas classics plus the original track ‘Christmas in Your Heart’.

Between 2019 and 2020, Sparro released three singles including ‘Eye 2 Eye’. Then followed his long-awaited third studio album, Boombox Eternal, which paid homage to some of Sparro’s major influences with a 1980s and early 90s R&B sound. Sparro has described ‘Eye 2 Eye’ as his favorite of the tracks he’s recorded in his career so far, and Boombox Eternal as his favorite body of work.

As well as releasing his own music, Sparro is known as a prolific songwriter who has written for a diverse range of artists including Tinashe, Kylie Minogue, Adam Lambert, Katharine McPhee and Maluca. Sparro has also lent his vocals and production skills to collaborations, features and remixes with artists such as Basement Jaxx, Honey Dijon, Mason, Initial Talk, Bright Light Bright Light and many more.

Sparro is openly gay and has frequently spoken about the importance of queerness and LGBTQ history to his musical output. His songwriting and production notably includes work for RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Shea Couleé, Courtney Act and The AAA Girls. He married his partner, DJ Zion Lennox, in 2018.