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Samuel Alexander Moran (born 4 April 1978) is an Australian entertainer best known for having been a member of the children's band
Moran's involvement with the Wiggles began when he appeared in "Haste to the Wedding" and " Evie and the Birdman", both written by John Field, Anthony Field's brother and songwriter for the Wiggles. Moran began performing with the Wiggles in 1998, hosting and touring with the "Dorothy the Dinosaur Show" throughout Australia and New Zealand, in small venues the Wiggles "had grown too big for". He played Professor Singalottasonga and Dapper Dave in the group's TV series. In 2002, Moran became Greg Page's understudy and filled in for Page over 150 times. Page was advised by his doctors not to travel, so Moran performed in his place during the group's fall 2006 US tour. Moran reported that he was asked to permanently join the Wiggles "a couple of days" before Page announced his retirement in November 2006. Moran's shtick on stage was losing things.
Although the transition from Page to Moran as the group's lead singer, which Moran has called "probably one of the most physically demanding roles in mainstream entertainment", was "smooth" for the young children of the Wiggles' audience, it was more difficult for their parents. Bandmate Murray Cook reported that Moran did "amazingly well" as a Wiggle, and that the addition of Moran changed their sound, forced the group to "rethink things", and made the band stronger. Although Moran struggled with the spontaneity of the Wiggles' stage performances, Cook said, "We've never felt like we had to carry him or anything. He's a smart guy. But it is a bit different, just having a different person on stage". Moran's background in musical theatre was different from those of his bandmates, so the Wiggles had to change the way they recorded their music. At sound checks, their practice was to "kind of jam on things", but Moran often did not know the songs the other three used at those times. Cook reported that it took some time for Moran, but a year after Page's retirement stated, "We're slowly educating each other".
Along with the original members of the Wiggles, Moran was awarded an Honorary PhD in Children's Education and Psychology from Macquarie University in 2009.
In 2011, Sam Moran and the original Wiggles were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame for the band's "20 year commitment to children's music and entertainment".
During Moran's time as the lead singer of the Wiggles, the group never lost an ARIA Award.
In January 2012, and amidst a great deal of controversy, the Wiggles announced that Greg Page had regained his health and was returning to his role as the Yellow Wiggle. As part of his severance package, Moran was given unconditional use of Hot Potato Studios, plus royalties for any of his songs.
the Wiggles
The Wiggles are an Australian children's music group formed in Sydney in 1991. As of 2022, the group members are Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce (entertainer), John Pearce, Caterina Mete ...
from 2006 to 2012.
Early life
Moran was born on April 4, 1978, inSydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, and he was raised in Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga (; informally called Wagga) is a major regional city in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, with an urban population of more than 57,003 as of 2021, it is an important agricultural, m ...
.
Career
Moran studied classical voice and music education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with the purpose of becoming a high school music teacher, and began performing in plays and musicals while still a student.The Wiggles
Moran's involvement with the Wiggles began when he appeared in "Haste to the Wedding" and " Evie and the Birdman", both written by John Field, Anthony Field's brother and songwriter for the Wiggles. Moran began performing with the Wiggles in 1998, hosting and touring with the "Dorothy the Dinosaur Show" throughout Australia and New Zealand, in small venues the Wiggles "had grown too big for". He played Professor Singalottasonga and Dapper Dave in the group's TV series. In 2002, Moran became Greg Page's understudy and filled in for Page over 150 times. Page was advised by his doctors not to travel, so Moran performed in his place during the group's fall 2006 US tour. Moran reported that he was asked to permanently join the Wiggles "a couple of days" before Page announced his retirement in November 2006. Moran's shtick on stage was losing things.
Although the transition from Page to Moran as the group's lead singer, which Moran has called "probably one of the most physically demanding roles in mainstream entertainment", was "smooth" for the young children of the Wiggles' audience, it was more difficult for their parents. Bandmate Murray Cook reported that Moran did "amazingly well" as a Wiggle, and that the addition of Moran changed their sound, forced the group to "rethink things", and made the band stronger. Although Moran struggled with the spontaneity of the Wiggles' stage performances, Cook said, "We've never felt like we had to carry him or anything. He's a smart guy. But it is a bit different, just having a different person on stage". Moran's background in musical theatre was different from those of his bandmates, so the Wiggles had to change the way they recorded their music. At sound checks, their practice was to "kind of jam on things", but Moran often did not know the songs the other three used at those times. Cook reported that it took some time for Moran, but a year after Page's retirement stated, "We're slowly educating each other".
Along with the original members of the Wiggles, Moran was awarded an Honorary PhD in Children's Education and Psychology from Macquarie University in 2009.
In 2011, Sam Moran and the original Wiggles were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame for the band's "20 year commitment to children's music and entertainment".
During Moran's time as the lead singer of the Wiggles, the group never lost an ARIA Award.
In January 2012, and amidst a great deal of controversy, the Wiggles announced that Greg Page had regained his health and was returning to his role as the Yellow Wiggle. As part of his severance package, Moran was given unconditional use of Hot Potato Studios, plus royalties for any of his songs.
Solo projects
Moran released his first solo album, ''Colour of Love'', throughSony Music
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), commonly known as Sony Music, is an American multinational music company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corporation. It is the recording division of Sony Music Group, with the other half being the ...
Australia in 2010. The album consists of covers of well known love songs, including a duet of the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their f ...
' " God Only Knows" with Australian jazz vocalist Emma Pask.
''Colour of Love''
=Track listing
= Moran performed "Advance Australia Fair
"Advance Australia Fair" is the national anthem of Australia. Written by Scottish-born Australian composer Peter Dodds McCormick, the song was first performed as a patriotic song in Australia in 1878. It replaced "God Save the King, God Save th ...
" at the first game of the 2010 NRL State of Origin.
''Play Along with Sam''
In May 2013, Moran returned to children's television hosting a new preschool series, ''Play Along with Sam'', on Nickelodeon's sister channelNick Jr
Nick Jr. (sometimes disambiguated as Nick Jr. on Nickelodeon or Nick Jr. on Nick, and sometimes referred to as Nick, Jr.) is an American morning programming block that airs on Nickelodeon every weekday. It was launched on January 4, 1988. Nic ...
. ''Play Along with Sam'' is an educational music block programme that airs every weekday morning 10:00AM until midday before ''Ready, Steady, Dance'' replaced it and also in the evening from 6:30PM to 8:00PM, wrapped around top rating programmes. It screened until 2021.
Its companion album was nominated for an ARIA Music Award for Best Children's Album in 2013. The show also received an ASTRA Awards nomination for Most Outstanding Children's Program or Event, while Moran was nominated for Best New Talent. The show was also nominated for the TV Week Logie Award for Outstanding Children's Program.
In 2015, Moran won the ARIA Music Award for Best Children's Album, beating his former bandmates, the Wiggles
The Wiggles are an Australian children's music group formed in Sydney in 1991. As of 2022, the group members are Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce (entertainer), John Pearce, Caterina Mete ...
. In his acceptance speech he said "...I've often wondered what I might say, were I ever fortunate enough to be in this position. Standing here now... with this... I realise I no longer need to say those things..." alluding to his unceremonious re-replacement in his former group.
In 2018, ''GQ Australia'' included Sam Moran on their list of the Best-dressed Gents at the 32nd ARIA Awards. Moran was nominated for Best Children's Album that year.
Personal life
Before he became a professional singer and performer, due to his "love of gadgets", Moran seriously considered going into information technology as a career. He is a fan of theAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League (AFL) is the pre-eminent professional sports, professional competition of Australian rules football. It was originally named the Victorian Football League (VFL) and was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition ...
team the Sydney Swans. He is also "a keen cook". He married American born Lyn Stuckey, a dancer with the Wiggles in 2006. They met when appearing together on the "Dorothy the Dinosaur Show", when Stuckey played Dorothy the Dinosaur. Their daughter was born at the beginning of 2010 in Sydney.
In 2020, he announced on his official social media pages that he was expecting his second child with new partner, Jessica Vergara, later in the year. The child was born on October 30, 2020.
Discography
Studio albums * ''Colour of Love'' (2010) * ''Play Along with Sam'' (2013) * ''We're Gonna Dance!'' (2014) * ''BOO!'' (2015) * ''Best. Day. Ever!'' (2016) * ''Santa's Coming!'' (2017) * ''All The Feels'' (2023)Filmography
* ''Play Along with Sam'' (2013–2021) – HostAwards and nominations
, - , 2007 , '' Pop Go the Wiggles!'' , rowspan="5", ARIA Awards: Best Children's Album , rowspan="6", , - , 2008 , ''You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
"You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" is a song credited to British-Australian singer Leo Sayer, taken from his 1976 album '' Endless Flight''.
Ray Parker Jr. claims that the song was stolen from him, after he played it in a studio for an executive ...
''
, -
, 2009
, '' Go Bananas!''
, -
, 2010
, '' Let's Eat''
, -
, rowspan="2", 2011
, '' Ukulele Baby!''
, -
, "The Wiggles"
, ARIA Awards: ARIA Hall of Fame
, -
, 2013
, ''Play Along with Sam''
, ARIA Awards: Best Children's Album
,
, -
, rowspan="3", 2014
, Sam Moran
, ASTRA Award: Best New Talent
,
, -
, ''Play Along with Sam''
, TV Week Logie Award: Outstanding Children's Program
,
, -
, ''We're Gonna Dance''
, rowspan="2", ARIA Awards: Best Children's Album
,
, -
, 2015
, ''BOO!''
,
, -
, rowspan="2", 2016
, ''Play Along with Sam''
, TV Week Logie Award: Most Outstanding Children's Program
,
, -
, ''BEST. DAY. EVER!''
, rowspan="2", ARIA Awards: Best Children's Album
, rowspan="2",
, -
, 2018
, ''Santa's Coming!''
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Moran, Sam 1978 births Living people ARIA Award winners Australian male television actors Australian male singers Australian male dancers Australian children's musicians Musicians from Sydney People from Wagga Wagga Sydney Conservatorium of Music alumni The Wiggles members Australian children's television series 2013 Australian television series debuts