Where it all began...
My brothers had a band and When I was around 9 years old, and I would listen to them practice. Sometimes they would let me in to the rehearsal space to see & hear, sometimes not. Probably because the conversation went from G rated to R. I don’t know, they were in their late teens or early 20's, I was a kid, I’m just guessing…
Anyway hearing that music and seeing them make those instruments come alive as they did was really quite remarkable. I felt like I had just uncovered the secret to the universe! One day after one of their rehearsals, the bass player left his axe at our house. I found it, picked it up & started plucking on the strings. Hearing the sound they made (even with no amp) was just so intriguing to me. I thought it was super cool to make music. He left it there for a couple of weeks I think, and I played with it the whole time; trying to play songs I knew, or making up new riffs in my head. I convinced my mother to buy me a bass and we found a used one for $50 and bought a little practice amp to go with it. That bass & amp were my new best friends. Nothing mattered more to me. I started playing in the church choir when I was about 12, with my brothers who played guitar & organ there as well.
When I got to Jr. High in Grade 7, I wanted to play in the Jazz band. This was like “the big time”. They traveled the country playing concerts & festivals, but the instructor told me I had to know how to read music to join. I had a basic introduction to music in elementary playing the saxophone, but it was quite different for bass. Before this point, I didn’t even know you could write music for bass guitar. I figured everyone just played by ear…as I did, and written music was only for Clarinets, Saxophones, Violins, & things like that. Anyway, I went to the local music store, bought a book on how to learn to read music for bass guitar. I spent my summer break learning, and in the fall of grade 8, I went back to audition for the Jazz band, & got in! This opened up a whole new world to me…as if I just learned a new language. From there and all through my teens while my friends were going to clubs, parties, & meeting girls – I was never very good with girls - I started playing in other bands, Rock, African, Calypso, R&B and of course jazz. I also began writing songs. The early ones were terrible, but eventually they got better.
I quickly fell in love with music, and I decided early that I only ever wanted to write, compose & produce. I didn’t really want to be a singer, I'm more of a "behind the scenes" kind of guy. However I realized that music with vocals got more attention, so I taught myself to sing, hoping it would lead to other people wanting me to write music for them. Apparently my singing was pretty good, and they just wanted to keep hearing me sing, so I wrote music for myself.
I just kept writing, singing & playing music, didn’t do much else…and that’s how it all started!
So that's my word. read below for the official stuff
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When you turn on a Jamie Sparks track, the music will immediately begin to release tension in the neck & shoulders. As if someone were giving you a luxurious massage, the mellow tones can smooth out any uptight or anxious feelings. The tempo, chords and melodies were specially crafted and purposely designed to make you relax, and feel good.
Singer/Songwriter/Producer Jamie Sparks has been blazing trails within the industry for years. Jamie is from Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia. Part of the historic "Preston Area Township" comprised of the black communities of North Preston, East Preston and Cherry Brook/Lake Loon. The Preston Area is home to the largest Indigenous Black population in all of Canada. The preston Area was settled well over 200 years ago by freed slaves (Black Loyalists) from parts of Africa such as Sierra Leone, Southern United States, and Jamaica.
Jamie has traveled throughout North America touring and recording. Jamie has received the Montreal's Jazz Festival's Award of Excellence, the Professional Publishers and Songwriter Award, Winner of 8 East Coast Music Awards’s, 2 African Nova Scotian Music Awards and a Juno Nomination, as well as WBLK 93.7FM Unsigned Hype International Artist of the Year Nomination.
Jamie has shared the stage with music industry icons such as AKON, RIHANNA, SHAGGY, & 112
The album "Fun Tonight" with tracks recorded at P.Diddy's "Daddy's House" (Bad Boy) Recording Studios in NYC, has sold thousands of copies and yielded four music videos. A number of albums & singles have been released since, all recieving great reviews from critics and fans alike. His music has been heard on the Fox Network shows 24, CUTS on UPN, WILDCARD, DA KINK IN MY HAIR on Global and THE LIFE on ESPN.
Jamie has been doing a lot of writing lately, and wrote music for the soundtrack to the new Spike Lee movie "You're Nobody Til Somebody Kills You". On the business side of things, he is also President of Operations for Kicksta Music Group/Kicksta Muzik Publishing which he operates along side the sharp business skills of CEO Randy Powell. Kicksta is home to a small roster of talented artists, songwriters and producers from around the world. Kicksta also licenses its music to Film/TV productions, record labels, companies that provide music in stores, malls, and various other musical outlets.
If you're having a rough day, or something just ain't right...turn up the track, sit back and enjoy the musical journey!
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Profile:
singer, songwriter, producer, bassist and keyboardist.
Awards:
2010 Independent Music Awards - R&B Artist of the Year
2010 ECMA R&B/Soul Single Track Recording of the Year
2009 WBLK Unsigned Hype International Artist of the Year nomination
2008 East Coast Music Award (ECMA) for Urban Single Track and African Canadian ROTY
2007 ECMA for 'ALL I NEED" Urban single Recording of the year
2007 ECMA SCOTIA MIX VOL.1 African Canadian Recording of the Year
2006 ECMA “Gonna Get Down” Urban Single Recording of the Year
2002 Juno Nomination Best R&B/Soul Recording
2000 East Coast Music Award for Urban Recording of the Year
1999 ANSMA nomin. for R&B Artist of the Year
1999 East Coast Music Award nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year.
1998 African Nova Scotian Music Assoc. (ANSMA) award for Best New Artist
1998 East Coast Music Award for Best Dance/HipHop Artist of the Year.
1997 Regional winner in the 1997 SunFM Songwriter Contest.
1997 Professional Demo Award from Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records
1996 Professional Publishers and Songwriters Award (FACTOR)
CD’s/Releases
* Rhythm & Soul / Reggae Vibes - 2013
* We're Gonna Make It (2012)
* G1RLS (2011)
* It's The Music - Reloaded (2008) Kicksta Music Group
* It's The Music (2007) Kicksta Music Group
* Scotia Mix Vol.1 (2006) Kicksta Music Group
* Gonna Get Down (2005) single Kicksta
* Jamie Sparks-Unforgettable (2000) re-released re-mixes as “Fun Tonight”
recorded at Daddy’s House Recording Studios
(A Division of Bad Boy Entertainment Inc. New York, NY) (2004)
* single “Unforgettable” featured on EMI Music Urban compilation 44N/63W (2000)
* Jamie Sparks: The Time (1998)
* Beat Factory "Groove Essentials" compilation CD,EMI (1997)
* seven song extended (EP) single titled: "Jamie Sparks: Git Wit U" (1996)
* Wrote the theme song for the 1994 Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
annual Conference.
* Appeared on the 1994 FACTOR New Artist Compilation CD.
* Won the Award of Excellence at the 1991 Jazz Music Festival held at McGill
University in Montreal for the song “Making Me Feel”
Songs placed in TV
- You're Nobody Til Somebody Kills You - Exec. Producer: Spike Lee(Black Noise Media/Lionsgate-2012)
- Green Heroes (2011)
- “Da Kink In My Hair” Barna-Alper / Global TV Network (2007, '08,'09)
- “Cuts” on UPN/CBS (2006)
- “G-Spot: The Series” The Movie Network 2005
- Fox Networks programs such as “American Embassy, 24” (2002)
- “wildcard” on Lifetime Network (2003-2004)
- The Life on ESPN
- Halleujah on CBC
- Breakfast Television on CTV
- Pause TV on The WB; Midnight Love on BET
Performance Highlights:
* JUL 2007 - Opened for Rihanna/Justin Bieber - Summer Rush 103.5FM The Beat
* SEP 2008 - "Mahalia" Vision TV
* JUL 2008 - Jubilee Music Festival
* JUN 2007 - Good Morning Canada
* APR 2007 - Dominican Republic - Evening Dance
* APR 2002 - Opened for Shaggy (MCA/Universal)
* JAN 2007 - St. Francis Xavier University
* APR 2006 - Halifax Civic Centre (Juno’s Weekend)
* DEC 2005 - Pipers Pub New Years Eve (Antigonish, NS)
* FEB 2003 - 42 St. Theatre Row Studios (New York City)
* MAY 1998 - Opened for “112” (Bad Boy/Arista Records),
* OCT 2002 - Soul Cafe (42nd St. New York City)
* NOV 2002 - Ave C Cafe, Cats Cafe (New York City)
* DEC 2002 - The Village Underground (New York City)
* JAN 2003 - The Baggot In (New York City)
* JAN 2000 - Philadelphia Music Conference (Adams Mark Hotel)
* DEC 2000 - Pause TV on The WB (New York City)
* JUL 2000 - Dartmouth’s 250 Birthday (crowd of 25,000)
* JUN 2000 - ITT Sheraton Casino
* MAR 2002 - Private party at Tatamagouche Golf Course with guests Lennie Gallant, Mike Cowie,
Matt Minglewood
* AUG 2000 - Sable Gas Project wrap party @ World Trade
Centre with Bruce Guthro,
* APR 2000 - Matt Minglewood, John Gracie, Liz Rigney,
* FEB 1999 - East Coast Music Awards National Telecast
* JAN 1999 - DaMix(Much Music, Canada/U.S. music TV Network)
* JAN 1999 - Open Mike w/Mike Bullard (Talk Show aired Can/U.S.
on CTV & Comedy Network
* JUL 1999 - Canada Day Celebrations in Dartmouth
* DEC 1998 - World Trade & Convention Centre (New Year’s Eve)
* JUL 1998 - Grand Opening of the New MusicWorld Store,
* MAR 1998 - Nat’l anthem & half-time show CIAU basketball finals (TSN),
* FEB 1998 - Nationally televised 1998 East Coast Music Awards Show
* MAR 1998 - Canadian Music Week showcases at the Bamboo and
Government Club Toronto, ON,
* JAN 1998 - UMOJA Talk Show
* MAY 1997 - Guest soloist on CBC/Salter Street Television
gospel production“Halleluah!”
* FEB 1995 - Annual tribute concert in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Videos:
* Shot 4 videos for the album “Fun Tonight” (Unforgettable, Be Right There
Tender Love, Fun Tonight shot in Toronto & Vancouver 2000, 2001, 2002) in
rotation on Much Vibe, Much More Music, BET, MTV Canada.
Memberships/Business:
- National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS)
- President of Operations – Kicksta Music Group & Kicksta Muzik Publishing
- Owner of Smash Track Recording Studios
- Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
- Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI - U.S. Affiliate)
- Music Nova Scotia (MIANS)
- East Coast Music Association (ECMA)
- Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA)
