Blue Sushi radio presents: Tori Sparks

Just twenty-one years old, Tori has become widespread on the independent music circuit since January of 2002, more so after recording and producing her first EP, Tidewaters, (February 2003). She has become an international presence on the airwaves, and audiences in France, England, and the United States have experienced her dynamic live show. In the past several years, Tori has written close to one hundred and fifty original songs, in styles ranging from folk to rock to blues. Her quirky lyrics betray a perspective beyond her years. Sparks cites her influences as: “...everything from U2 to Tom Waits to Sheryl Crow, to Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Lightening Hopkins...”

Tori started playing shows when she was seventeen, and has since attracted a diverse following. She has expended her fan base by hitting the highway and gigging almost constantly. Where? “As far as my wheels can take me,” she says with a wink. Favorite cities have included Miami, Atlanta, and New Orleans. Tori has played alongside popular regional bands as well as national and international acts. Some of the latter include Charmaine Neville and Maria Muldaur, as well as world-renowned jazz composer and recording artist, Longineu Parsons. Sparks’ classical background enabled her to collaborate with Parsons on several writing ventures. She has also appeared with hit songwriters such as Benita Hill (“Two Pina Coladas”) and David Lee (“Letters From Home”).

During the summer of 2002 the charismatic songstress was invited to Philadelphia to participate in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, where she wrote the original music underscoring Project DNA’s production of The Ghosts are in the Water. In 2003 Tori was featured by the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association, and in 2004 was touted as a Featured Artist by the Songwriters’ Association of America. She was proud to be a part of several benefit concerts, including the 2003 and 2004 October Songfests to benefit the National Federation of the Blind and F.A.C.E., the 2004 Valentine’s Day Festival in support of the March of Dimes, and a ONE Benefit Concert in Summer 2005.

Tori’s success can be attributed as much to her unique voice and playing style as to her high energy and wry stage banter – whether it’s with a band, or just her and her guitar, Tori packs an undeniable punch. She was invited to perform for WVFS’s “Outloud” TV and “Nashville Onstage” TV program. Tori has appeared live as a featured artist on a number of radio stations, and can be heard on frequencies from California to New York to Florida. Tori can also be heard on stations in Belgium, Australia Canada, and England. Catch her online on one of 100+ digital distributors in 25 countries, including the new Napster and Apple’s iTunes, CD retailers include Tower.com, Borders.com, and others.

Sparks’ Summer 2004 touring schedule included a run of enthusiastically-received performances in France and the United Kingdom. In late 2003, Tori announced her recording contract with Platinum Plus Universal, based in Nashville. She worked closely with Hall of Fame Producer Robert Metzgar and RCA veteran Tony Migliore on her first full-length studio album, Rivers + Roads. When asked for comment, Metzgar cited Tori as being: “...definitely one of the most promising artists I’ve seen in twenty years. This girl’s got everything going for her and then some.” Tori is currently represented by Mr. Charles Fach, Jr., former Executive Vice President of Mercury/ Polygram Records in New York. In January 2005, Tori graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University and moved to Nashville in order to continue work with Mr. Fach, Mr. Metzgar, and the rest of her “adopted music family.” Soon after arriving in town, she was nominated for the 2005 Academy of International Recording Artists Awards in the “Album of the Year” and “Female Vocalist of the Year” categories. She was recently nominated for the 2005 SSA Awards in 11 different categories.

Tori and her band were selected “Best Acoustic Performance” following the crowd’s request for a double encore at her Fan Fair 2005 debut at the Gibson Showcase Theater, and the press release covering the Gibson event received over half a million hits in the week following the show. Tori was highlighted on U2’s summer concert tickets website following the release. She is gearing up to be back on the road in the late fall with her new band line-up, and her first music video -- the title track of her album “Rivers + Roads” – will be shipped to media outlets in September 2005.

Music Profile: Tori Sparks - Nashville Songwriter
	Just twenty-one years old, Tori has become widespread on the independent music circuit since January of 2002, more so after recording and producing her first EP, Tidewaters, (February 2003). She has become an international presence on the airwaves, and audiences in France, England, and the United States have experienced her dynamic live show. In the past several years, Tori has written close to one hundred and fifty original songs, in styles ranging from folk to rock to blues. Her quirky lyrics betray a perspective beyond her years. Sparks cites her influences as: “...everything from U2 to Tom Waits to Sheryl Crow, to Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Lightening Hopkins...” Tori started playing shows when she was seventeen, and has since attracted a diverse following. She has expended her fan base by hitting the highway and gigging almost constantly. Where? “As far as my wheels can take me,” she says with a wink. Favorite cities have included Miami, Atlanta, and New Orleans. Tori has played alongside popular regional bands as well as national and international acts. Some of the latter include Charmaine Neville and Maria Muldaur, as well as world-renowned jazz composer and recording artist, Longineu Parsons. Sparks’ classical background enabled her to collaborate with Parsons on several writing ventures. She has also appeared with hit songwriters such as Benita Hill (“Two Pina Coladas”) and David Lee (“Letters From Home”). During the summer of 2002 the charismatic songstress was invited to Philadelphia to participate in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, where she wrote the original music underscoring Project DNA’s production of The Ghosts are in the Water. In 2003 Tori was featured by the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association, and in 2004 was touted as a Featured Artist by the Songwriters’ Association of America. She was proud to be a part of several benefit concerts, including the 2003 and 2004 October Songfests to benefit the National Federation of the Blind and F.A.C.E., the 2004 Valentine’s Day Festival in support of the March of Dimes, and a ONE Benefit Concert in Summer 2005. Tori’s success can be attributed as much to her unique voice and playing style as to her high energy and wry stage banter – whether it’s with a band, or just her and her guitar, Tori packs an undeniable punch. She was invited to perform for WVFS’s “Outloud” TV and “Nashville Onstage” TV program. Tori has appeared live as a featured artist on a number of radio stations, and can be heard on frequencies from California to New York to Florida. Tori can also be heard on stations in Belgium, Australia Canada, and England. Catch her online on one of 100+ digital distributors in 25 countries, including the new Napster and Apple’s iTunes, CD retailers include Tower.com, Borders.com, and others. Sparks’ Summer 2004 touring schedule included a run of enthusiastically-received performances in France and the United Kingdom. In late 2003, Tori announced her recording contract with Platinum Plus Universal, based in Nashville. She worked closely with Hall of Fame Producer Robert Metzgar and RCA veteran Tony Migliore on her first full-length studio album, Rivers + Roads. When asked for comment, Metzgar cited Tori as being: “...definitely one of the most promising artists I’ve seen in twenty years. This girl’s got everything going for her and then some.” Tori is currently represented by Mr. Charles Fach, Jr., former Executive Vice President of Mercury/ Polygram Records in New York. In January 2005, Tori graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University and moved to Nashville in order to continue work with Mr. Fach, Mr. Metzgar, and the rest of her “adopted music family.” Soon after arriving in town, she was nominated for the 2005 Academy of International Recording Artists Awards in the “Album of the Year” and “Female Vocalist of the Year” categories. She was recently nominated for the 2005 SSA Awards in 11 different categories. Tori and her band were selected “Best Acoustic Performance” following the crowd’s request for a double encore at her Fan Fair 2005 debut at the Gibson Showcase Theater, and the press release covering the Gibson event received over half a million hits in the week following the show. Tori was highlighted on U2’s summer concert tickets website following the release. She is gearing up to be back on the road in the late fall with her new band line-up, and her first music video -- the title track of her album “Rivers + Roads” – will be shipped to media outlets in September 2005.