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{{Short description|Australian radio personality and voice talent (1952–2024)}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July |
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} |
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{{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} |
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} |
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{{Infobox person |
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'''Ron E Sparks''' (4 March, 1951) is an Australian radio personality and voice talent. Sparks was raised in [[Brisbane]], Sparks now lives in the north [[Sydney]] suburb of [[Cammeray]] with his wife and two sons. |
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| name = Ron E Sparks |
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| image = Ron E Sparks while Broadcasting.jpg |
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| caption = Ron E Sparks while broadcasting |
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| birth_name = Gregory James Sparks |
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|3|4|df=yes}} |
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| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|7|13|1952|6|10|df=yes}} |
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| other_names = Ronnie Sparks |
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| birth_place = [[Brisbane]], Australia |
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| occupation = Broadcaster, voiceover artist |
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| website = {{URL|https://ronesparks.com}} |
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}} |
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'''Gregory James Sparks''' (4 March 1952 – 13 July 2024), better known by his broadcast name '''Ron E Sparks''', was an Australian broadcaster and radio and television voiceover artist. |
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==Early career== |
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Sparks worked in several regional radio stations |
Sparks worked in several regional radio stations before moving to [[Sydney]] in the 1970s, where he managed to score a role on air at the then-top-rated AM station [[2SM]] as Ron E. Sparx,<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=2003 |title=2SM |url=http://www.milesago.com/radio/2sm.htm |access-date=19 March 2015 |publisher=milesago.com}}</ref> and quickly became one of Sydney's most respected announcers, interviewing many stars of the day. In an interview, Sparks stated that 2SM had broader [[Top 40]] content, playing everything from [[AC/DC]] and [[Led Zeppelin]], to [[Barbra Streisand]] and [[Benny Hill]]'s [[Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)|milkman song]].<ref name=SMH31072017>{{cite news |last=Javes |first=Sue |date=10 June 2002 |title=Jock of ages |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/09/1022982798596.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203062127/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/09/1022982798596.html |archive-date=3 February 2003 |access-date=31 July 2017 |newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |location=Sydney |page=4}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The "E" in his name does not stand for anything. It was originally added by program director Rod Muir, who thought that "Ronnie Sparx" sounded too immature, and wanted Sparks to transition gradually to using just "Ron", which he had resisted doing.<ref name=radioinfo>{{Cite web |last=Seyderhelm |first=Jen |date=13 July 2024 |title=Vale Ron E Sparks |url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/vale-ron-e-sparks/ |access-date=13 July 2024 |website=RadioInfo Australia}}</ref> |
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After leaving [[2SM]] Sparks became program director of another Sydney AM station [[2UW]]. After leaving [[2UW]] he worked on top rating FM station [[Triple M]] for almost 6 years before being lured to rival station [[2Day FM]]. |
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Sparks |
Sparks also made a name as a television voice artist, and provided [[Voice-over|voice overs]] for several Australian television shows, such as ''[[Wheel of Fortune (Australia)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' and ''[[Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak|Hot Streak]]''. On 1 October 1978, he hosted a special edition of ABC-TV's ''[[Countdown (Australian TV series)|Countdown]]'' called ''Rocktober''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} After leaving 2SM, Sparks became the program director of another Sydney AM station, [[KIIS 106.5|2UW]]. After leaving 2UW he worked on top-rating FM station [[Triple M Sydney|Triple M]] for almost six years before being lured to rival station [[2Day FM]] in 1994.<ref name=SMH23072014>[https://www.smh.com.au/national/genius-of-broadcasting-listened-to-by-half-the-available-audience-20240723-p5jvrk.html Genius of broadcasting listened to by half the available audience] [[Glenn A Baker]] ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 23 July 2024</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sadlier |first=Kevin |date=13 February 1994 |title=Gra Gra's Rays of Colour |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AUNB&req_dat=2FC64405CDC9450D8CE0F660AE4E730F&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11BC54CEB8AD3F30 |access-date=14 July 2024 |work=[[The Sun-Herald]] |publisher=John Fairfax Holdings |location=Sydney |at=Walsh's day job |via=NewsBank |quote=The subsequent poaching of Ron E Sparks, from 2MMM to 2DAY, announced last Wednesday, was not unconnected with the Walsh move.}}</ref> |
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==Departure from 2Day FM== |
==Departure from 2Day FM== |
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As |
As 2Day FM grew more corporate and merged with Triple M, Sparks grew increasingly frustrated with group politics and had a hard time dealing with the egos of young network 'upstarts' who were given endless rope to play with. For some young 'stars' it seemed that they could do no wrong, and management always made excuses for them.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} |
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One particular |
One particular complaint he had was with the night team ([[Kyle & Jackie O]]) smoking in the studio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/disrespectful-30-year-old-brat-win-copy-scandalands|title=A disrespectful 30 year old brat: win a copy of Scandalands – radioinfo.com.au|website=radioinfo.com.au|access-date=31 July 2017}}</ref> This had been going on for some time, and despite it being illegal (2Day was in a [[high rise building]] in [[Bondi Junction]], it was frowned upon at the time. It since has become illegal to smoke in Australian workplaces), the [[general manager]] failed to take any action. One morning in 2001, Sparks arrived for his shift to find the studio smelling of stale smoke, and littered with cigarette butts, some of which were floating in glasses of water. He became upset, and wrote "No Smoking" with a marker pen on every physical object he could find in the studio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiotoday.com.au/hey-no-frigging-smoking/|title=Hey ! No Frigging Smoking ! – Radio Today|date=4 June 2013|website=radiotoday.com.au|access-date=31 July 2017}}</ref> |
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Sparks had used [[permanent marker]], which destroyed several hundred dollars' worth of equipment, and he was sacked immediately following his shift that day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mealey |first=Rachel |date=6 December 2001 |title=Sparks fly at Sydney radio station |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s434522.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511092341/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s434522.htm |archive-date=11 May 2017 |access-date=13 July 2024 |website=[[PM (radio program)|PM]]|language=en-AU}}</ref> Sparks refused media interviews, even though the large majority agreed with him and applauded his actions. He contemplated legal action against 2Day but decided against it, in the interest of saving his career.<ref name=SMH31072017/> |
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Sparks was only out of work for a week before being offered work at [[Nova 96.9]] for the 2001 summer period.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holder |first=Peter |last2=Casamento |first2=Jo |name-list-style=and |date=13 December 2001 |title=Sydney Confidential |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AUNB&req_dat=2FC64405CDC9450D8CE0F660AE4E730F&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0FD2E75DAC0DB4A9 |access-date=14 July 2024 |newspaper=[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |publisher=News Limited |location=Sydney |at=Sparks flies to summer gig at Nova |via=NewsBank}}</ref> In 2002, he moved to WSFM,<ref>{{cite web |date=13 January 2013 |title=One on One with Ron E Sparks – pt 2 |url=http://radiotoday.com.au/one-on-one-with-ron-e-sparks-pt-2/ |access-date=31 July 2017 |website=Radio Today}}</ref> from which he retired in December 2017 after almost 16 years with WSFM.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Challenor |first=Jake |date=13 December 2017 |title=Scoop: WSFM's Charlie Fox and Ron E Sparks depart ARN |url=https://radiotoday.com.au/scoop-wsfms-charlie-fox-and-ron-e-sparks-depart-arn/ |access-date=14 July 2024 |website=Radio Today |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>[https://mumbrella.com.au/content-director-charlie-fox-and-veteran-broadcaster-ron-e-sparks-depart-arn-490028 Content director Charlie Fox and veteran broadcaster Ron E Sparks depart ARN] ''[[Mumbrella]]'' 14 December 2017</ref> |
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Sparks was only out of work for a day or two before being offered work at Nova 969 before being wooed by WSFM. He is currently retired after leaving WS in December 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiotoday.com.au/one-on-one-with-ron-e-sparks-pt-1/|title=One on One with Ron E Sparks - pt 1 - Radio Today|date=13 January 2013|website=radiotoday.com.au|accessdate=31 July 2017}}</ref> |
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He was the voice of the [[Capital Radio Network]] station [[2CA]] for three decades.<ref name=radioinfo/> |
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==Personal life and death== |
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Sparks was born Gregory James Sparks<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.2gb.com/radio-royalty-hits-the-2gb-airwaves/ |title=Radio royalty hits the 2GB airwaves |date=4 May 2018 |last=Fordham |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Fordham |type=Radio broadcast |publisher=[[2GB]] |minutes=22:04 |access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref> on 4 March 1952 and was raised in [[Brisbane]].<ref name=SMH31072017/><ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817037/bio/ Rone E Sparx] [[IMDb]]</ref> He later lived in the north Sydney suburb of [[Cammeray]] with his wife and two sons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Butt |first=Maira |date=13 July 2024 |title=Ron E Sparks death: Legendary Australian radio presenter dies, aged 72 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ron-e-sparks-dead-australian-radio-presenter-b2579180.html |access-date=14 July 2024 |newspaper=[[The Independent]]|publisher=[[Reach plc]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> He died from cancer on 13 July 2024, at the age of 72.<ref name=radioinfo/><ref name=SMH23072014/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{imdb name|0817037}} |
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*[http://www.wsfm.com.au WSFM Official Site] |
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* {{discogs artist|Ronnie Sparks}} |
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*[http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s434522.htm News story on Sparks' departure from 2Day FM] |
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*[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/09/1022982798596.html Ron E Sparks interview] |
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{{Authority control}} |
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*[http://www.radiotoday.com.au/articles/greg-smith/1892-one-on-one-with-ron-e-sparks-pt-1.html 2013 Interview with Australian Programmer Greg Smith on Radio Today website] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sparks, Ron E}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sparks, Ron E}} |
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[[Category:Australian media personalities]] |
[[Category:Australian media personalities]] |
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[[Category:People from Brisbane]] |
[[Category:People from Brisbane]] |
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[[Category:Triple M presenters]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:36, 21 September 2024
Ron E Sparks | |
|---|---|
 Ron E Sparks while broadcasting | |
| Born | Gregory James Sparks 4 March 1952 Brisbane, Australia |
| Died | 13 July 2024 (aged 72) |
| Other names | Ronnie Sparks |
| Occupation(s) | Broadcaster, voiceover artist |
| Website | ronesparks |
Gregory James Sparks (4 March 1952 – 13 July 2024), better known by his broadcast name Ron E Sparks, was an Australian broadcaster and radio and television voiceover artist.
Early career
[edit]Sparks worked in several regional radio stations before moving to Sydney in the 1970s, where he managed to score a role on air at the then-top-rated AM station 2SM as Ron E. Sparx,[1] and quickly became one of Sydney's most respected announcers, interviewing many stars of the day. In an interview, Sparks stated that 2SM had broader Top 40 content, playing everything from AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, to Barbra Streisand and Benny Hill's milkman song.[2]
The "E" in his name does not stand for anything. It was originally added by program director Rod Muir, who thought that "Ronnie Sparx" sounded too immature, and wanted Sparks to transition gradually to using just "Ron", which he had resisted doing.[3]
Sparks also made a name as a television voice artist, and provided voice overs for several Australian television shows, such as Wheel of Fortune and Hot Streak. On 1 October 1978, he hosted a special edition of ABC-TV's Countdown called Rocktober.[citation needed] After leaving 2SM, Sparks became the program director of another Sydney AM station, 2UW. After leaving 2UW he worked on top-rating FM station Triple M for almost six years before being lured to rival station 2Day FM in 1994.[4][5]
Departure from 2Day FM
[edit]As 2Day FM grew more corporate and merged with Triple M, Sparks grew increasingly frustrated with group politics and had a hard time dealing with the egos of young network 'upstarts' who were given endless rope to play with. For some young 'stars' it seemed that they could do no wrong, and management always made excuses for them.[citation needed]
One particular complaint he had was with the night team (Kyle & Jackie O) smoking in the studio.[6] This had been going on for some time, and despite it being illegal (2Day was in a high rise building in Bondi Junction, it was frowned upon at the time. It since has become illegal to smoke in Australian workplaces), the general manager failed to take any action. One morning in 2001, Sparks arrived for his shift to find the studio smelling of stale smoke, and littered with cigarette butts, some of which were floating in glasses of water. He became upset, and wrote "No Smoking" with a marker pen on every physical object he could find in the studio.[7]
Sparks had used permanent marker, which destroyed several hundred dollars' worth of equipment, and he was sacked immediately following his shift that day.[8] Sparks refused media interviews, even though the large majority agreed with him and applauded his actions. He contemplated legal action against 2Day but decided against it, in the interest of saving his career.[2]
Sparks was only out of work for a week before being offered work at Nova 96.9 for the 2001 summer period.[9] In 2002, he moved to WSFM,[10] from which he retired in December 2017 after almost 16 years with WSFM.[11][12]
He was the voice of the Capital Radio Network station 2CA for three decades.[3]
Personal life and death
[edit]Sparks was born Gregory James Sparks[13] on 4 March 1952 and was raised in Brisbane.[2][14] He later lived in the north Sydney suburb of Cammeray with his wife and two sons.[15] He died from cancer on 13 July 2024, at the age of 72.[3][4]
References
[edit]- ^ "2SM". milesago.com. 2003. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ a b c Javes, Sue (10 June 2002). "Jock of ages". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 4. Archived from the original on 3 February 2003. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ a b c Seyderhelm, Jen (13 July 2024). "Vale Ron E Sparks". RadioInfo Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ a b Genius of broadcasting listened to by half the available audience Glenn A Baker Sydney Morning Herald 23 July 2024
- ^ Sadlier, Kevin (13 February 1994). "Gra Gra's Rays of Colour". The Sun-Herald. Sydney: John Fairfax Holdings. Walsh's day job. Retrieved 14 July 2024 – via NewsBank.
The subsequent poaching of Ron E Sparks, from 2MMM to 2DAY, announced last Wednesday, was not unconnected with the Walsh move.
- ^ "A disrespectful 30 year old brat: win a copy of Scandalands – radioinfo.com.au". radioinfo.com.au. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ "Hey ! No Frigging Smoking ! – Radio Today". radiotoday.com.au. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ Mealey, Rachel (6 December 2001). "Sparks fly at Sydney radio station". PM. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Holder, Peter and Casamento, Jo (13 December 2001). "Sydney Confidential". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. Sparks flies to summer gig at Nova. Retrieved 14 July 2024 – via NewsBank.
- ^ "One on One with Ron E Sparks – pt 2". Radio Today. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ Challenor, Jake (13 December 2017). "Scoop: WSFM's Charlie Fox and Ron E Sparks depart ARN". Radio Today. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Content director Charlie Fox and veteran broadcaster Ron E Sparks depart ARN Mumbrella 14 December 2017
- ^ Fordham, Ben (4 May 2018). Radio royalty hits the 2GB airwaves (Radio broadcast). 2GB. 22:04 minutes in. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Rone E Sparx IMDb
- ^ Butt, Maira (13 July 2024). "Ron E Sparks death: Legendary Australian radio presenter dies, aged 72". The Independent. Reach plc. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
External links
[edit]- Ron E Sparks at IMDb
- Ron E Sparks discography at Discogs