Biography
Sparks may be the automobile for the skewed pop smarts and wise-guy wordplay of brothers Ron and Russell Mael, LA natives who have spent their years as a child modeling adolescent men’s attire for mail-order catalogs. While going to UCLA in 1970, the Maels shaped their 1st group, Halfnelson, which presented songwriter Ron on keyboards and Russell as business lead vocalist; the music group was curved out by another couple of brothers, guitarist Earle and bassist Jim Mankey, and drummer Harley Feinstein. Halfnelson quickly came to the eye of Todd Rundgren, who helped property the group a agreement with Bearsville and created their self-titled 1971 debut. Their quirky, tongue-in-cheek artwork pop didn’t find an viewers, nevertheless, and their supervisor successfully persuaded the Maels to improve the group’s name. After getting Sparks, they nearly reached the Sizzling 100 using the solitary “Wonder Woman,” and 1972’s sublimely bizarre A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothes cemented the band’s cult position, rating another near-hit with “Woman from Germany.” While touring the U.K., Sparks had been warmly received from the Uk music press, and eventually, the Mael brothers relocated to London, departing all of those other band in back of; Earle Mankey consequently became a observed manufacturer, while Jim afterwards joined Cement Blonde. Looking for a fresh support device, the Maels positioned an advert in Melody Machine, with guitarist Adrian Fisher, bassist Martin Gordon, and drummer Norman “Dinky” Gemstone firmly set up, they documented 1974’s glam-bubblegum opus Kimono MY HOME, which reached the very best Five from the U.K. record graphs and spawned two main British strikes, “This City Ain’t Big Enough for the Both folks” and “Novice Hour.” With fresh guitarist Trevor White and bassist Ian Hampton, Sparks came back later that yr with Propaganda, another U.K. smash that obtained using the strikes “Never Switch Your Back again on NATURE” and “Something for the lady with Everything.” Overblown creation from Tony Visconti derailed 1975’s Indiscreet, nevertheless, so when the record fared much less effectively than its predecessors, the Maels came back towards the U.S., where they recruited Tuff Darts guitarist Jeff Salen, previous Dairy & Cookies bassist Sal Maida, and drummer Hilly Michaels for 1976’s Big Defeat. By 1977’s ironic Presenting Sparks, documented with some Los Angeles program players, the Mael brothers had been treading water, therefore they enlisted disco maker Giorgio Moroder to helm 1979’s synth-powered dance-pop confection No. 1 in Heaven, which spurred the group to restored success in Britain on the effectiveness of the strike singles “THE MAIN Music in Heaven,” “Defeat the Time clock,” and “Tryouts for the PEOPLE.” Moroder’s sidekick Harold Faltermeyer got the creation reins for the instant follow-up, Terminal Jive, which obtained an enormous French strike with “When I’m along with you.” Sparks remaining disco in the dirt with 1981’s Whomp That Sucker, documented in Munich with a fresh supporting band made up of guitarist Bob Haag, bassist Leslie Bohem, and drummer David Kendrick (who also performed together because the Gleaming Spires). After 1982’s Angst in my own Pants, they documented 1983’s Sparks in SPACE; the beautiful “Cool Locations,” a duet using the Go-Go’s Jane Wiedlin, almost reached the U.S. Best 40, and was the band’s biggest strike. The devastating 1984 LP Tugging Rabbits From a Hat derailed any graph momentum the music group had gathered in the home, nevertheless, and after 1986’s self-explanatory Music YOU COULD Dance To, Sparks — once again reduced towards the primary duo of Ron and Russell — documented 1988’s HOME DESIGN, which was accompanied by an extended hiatus. Beyond composing the music for the film by Hong Kong actions maestro Tsui Hark, Sparks continued to be silent until Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins, released in 1994. Plagiarism implemented four years afterwards. With 2000’s Balls, the music group ushered in a far more productive era, launching Lil’ Beethoven in 2002, Hello Teen Fans in 2006, and Exotic Creatures from the Deep in 2008. The next year, the music group was commissioned by Swedish Country wide Radio to create a bit of radio movie theater, leading to their eclectic twenty-second record, The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman. It received its live premiere in 2011, on the LA Film Festival, as well as the Maels also created new recordings, making use of their remix of Yoko Ono’s “Provide Me Something” and a fresh theme melody for the American public-radio plan Bookworm.
Quick Facts
Full Name Sparks
Height 1.78 m
Profession Author, Novelist, Film producer, Waiter, Businessperson, Salesman, Philanthropist, Screenwriter, Real Estate Appraiser
Spouse Cathy Sparks
Parents Patrick Michael Sparks, Jill Emma Marie Thoene
Siblings Michael Earl Sparks, Danielle Sparks Lewis
Music Songs This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us, The Number One Song In Heaven, Beat the Clock, When Do I Get to Sing "My Way", Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth, Tryouts for the Human Race, Amateur Hour, When I'm With You, I Predict, Cool Places, Wunderbar, Eaten by the Monster of Love, Something for the Girl With Everything, I Hear Charlie Parker Playing, Get in the Swing, My Baby's Taking Me Home, Dick Around, All You Ever Think About Is Sex, Looks, Looks, Looks, The Rhythm Thief, Angst in My Pants, Girl From Germany, Lighten Up, Morrissey, Funny Face, This Town, Now That I Own the BBC, At Home, At Work, At Play, Talent Is an Asset, Wonder Girl, Suburban Homeboy, Your Call's Very Important to Us. Please Hold., Throw Her Away
Albums Kimono My House, Propaganda, Indiscreet, Lil' Beethoven, Angst in My Pants, No. 1 in Heaven, Hello Young Lovers, A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing, Terminal Jive, Big Beat, The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman, Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, In Outer Space, Introducing Sparks, Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat, Music That You Can Dance To, Two Hands, One Mouth: Live in Europe, Halfnelson, Plagiarism, Balls, Interior Design, Hippopotamus, Exotic Creatures of the Deep, The Hell Collection, Profile: The Ultimate Sparks Collection, Whomp That Sucker, Left Coast Angst (Live), Love Life, Balls! [Bonus Tracks Version], Live 1976 - 1982 (Remastered), Terminal Jive (Remastered Bonus Track Version), Mael Intuition: The Best of Sparks 1974-76, Shortcuts - The 7" Mixes 1979 - 1984 (Remastered), Dick Around, Live at the Record Plant 1974 - Remastered
Movies The Notebook, Safe Haven, The Last Song, The Best of Me, Dear John, The Lucky One, The Choice, The Longest Ride, A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe, Message in a Bottle
- Facts
- Filmography
- Awards
- Salaries
- Quotes
- Trademarks
- Pictures
# | Fact |
---|
1 |
Separated from Cathy Sparks, his wife of 25 years [January 2015]. |
2 |
Working on a new novel called Dear John, which is slated for release in either September or October 2006. [May 2006] |
3 |
Volunteer coaching at New Bern High School and recently coached Karjuan Williams who was national champion in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:49, and coached another runner who ran 1:52. [May 2006] |
4 |
His mother died in a horse riding accident when Nicholas was in his mid-twenties. His father died in a car accident when Nicholas was in his early thirties. His sister, Dana, died after many years of battling a brain tumor when she was age 33, Nicholas was age 34. |
5 |
Is the middle child of three children. Has an older brother named Micah (Michael) and a younger sister named Dana (Danielle). |
6 |
Father of Miles, Landon, Ryan, Lexie, and Savannah. |
7 |
Each of his children's names were characters in one of his books. Miles and Ryan (A Bend in the Road), Landon (A Walk to Remember), Lexie (True Believer & At First Sight), Savannah (Dear John). Additionally characters Adrienne and Paul (Nights in Rodanthe) are the names of his in-laws. |
8 |
Most of his novels are set in North or South Carolina. |
9 |
He recently donated a track to New Bern High School |
10 |
He is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Department at the University of Notre Dame |
11 |
Was a pharmaceutical sales rep until his writing career took off. |
12 |
Was selected by "People Magazine" as the 'Sexiest Author' |
13 |
After receiving his first check for "The Notebook", he went out and bought his wife a new wedding ring |
14 |
Still holds a track & field record at Notre Dame |
15 |
Is one of only two contemporary authors to have a novel spend more than a year on both the New York Times hardcover and paperback best-seller lists (the other author being J.K. Rowling) |
16 |
Has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do |
17 |
Graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1988. |
Writer
Writer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
The Choice |
2016/I |
novel |
|
The Longest Ride |
2015 |
novella |
|
The Best of Me |
2014 |
novel |
|
Safe Haven |
2013/I |
based upon the novel by |
|
The Lucky One |
2012 |
novel |
|
The Last Song |
2010 |
book / screenplay |
|
Dear John |
2010/I |
novel |
|
Nights in Rodanthe |
2008 |
novel |
|
The Notebook |
2004 |
novel |
|
A Walk to Remember |
2002 |
novel |
|
Message in a Bottle |
1999 |
novel |
|
Producer
Producer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
The Choice |
2016/I |
producer |
|
The Longest Ride |
2015 |
producer |
|
The Best of Me |
2014 |
producer |
|
Deliverance Creek |
2014 |
TV Movie executive producer |
|
Safe Haven |
2013/I |
producer |
|
Self
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|
Good Morning America |
2010-2016 |
TV Series |
Himself - Guest / Himself |
Made in Hollywood |
2010-2016 |
TV Series |
Himself |
The Meredith Vieira Show |
2014-2015 |
TV Series |
Himself - Author, See Me / Himself - Author |
Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition |
2013-2015 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Weekend Today |
2015 |
TV Series |
Himself - Author |
Talk Stoop with Cat Greenleaf |
2014 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Today |
2014 |
TV Series |
Himself - The Best of Me |
Random Pop |
2013 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Steve Harvey |
2013 |
TV Series |
Himself - Author |
Rachael Ray |
2013 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Entertainment Tonight |
2010 |
TV Series |
Himself |
III nach neun |
2005 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Ireland AM |
2005 |
TV Series |
Himself |
A Simple Story Well Told: Nicholas Sparks Profile |
2005 |
Video documentary short |
Himself |
Millennium |
2004 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Taff |
2003 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Total Access 24/7 |
2002 |
TV Series |
Himself |
Nominated awards
Nominated awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
---|
2012 |
Teen Choice Award |
Teen Choice Awards |
Choice Other: Book |
|
|
Looks like we don't have salary information. Sorry!
# | Quote |
---|
1 |
Romance is thinking about your significant other, when you are supposed to be thinking about something else. |
2 |
Loving once and only once is possible - anything is possible |
3 |
I do not use profanity in my novels. My characters all go to church. |
4 |
Writing the last page of the first draft is the most enjoyable moment in writing. It's one of the most enjoyable moments in life, period. |
5 |
I don't know that love changes. People change. Circumstances change. |
6 |
[on the type of heroes in his novels] I simply create the character your mother told you to be. Be honest, work hard, don't look down on others, women and children in the lifeboats first. |
# | Trademark |
---|
1 |
Stories tend to center around a tragedy |
2 |
Characters questioning their Christian belief or faith |
3 |
Author of romantic stories where the main characters usually don't experience the typical happy ending |