Sam Moran | |
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 Moran in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Samuel Alexander Moran |
| Born | 4 April 1978 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | Sony Music Australia Republic Records |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Jessica Vergara (2018–present) |
| Website | SamMoran.com |
Samuel Alexander Moran (born 4 April 1978) [1] is an Australian entertainer best known for having been a member of the children's band the Wiggles from 2006 to 2012.
Moran was born on April 4, 1978 in Sydney, New South Wales [2] and raised in Wagga Wagga. [3]
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.
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. [2] [4] Moran began performing with the Wiggles in 1998, hosting and touring with the "Dorothy the Dinosaur Show" [5] throughout Australia and New Zealand, in small venues the Wiggles "had grown too big for". [2] He played Professor Singalottasonga and Dapper Dave in the group's TV series. [3] 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" [2] before Page announced his retirement in November 2006. Moran's shtick on stage was losing things. [3] [6]
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," [2] was "smooth" for the young children of the Wiggles' audience, it was more difficult for their parents. [7] 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". [8]
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. [9] [10] 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." [11] During Moran's time as the lead singer of the Wiggles, the group never lost an ARIA Award. [12]
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, he was given unconditional use of Hot Potato Studios, plus royalties for any of his songs. [13] [14]
Moran released his first solo album, Colour of Love, through Sony Music Australia in 2010. The album consists of covers of well known love songs, including a duet of the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" with Australian jazz vocalist Emma Pask.
| Colour of Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Sam Moran | ||||
| Released | 9 April 2010 | |||
| Studio | Sony Music Studios | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 44:21 | |||
| Label | Sony Music | |||
| Producer | Rod McCormack | |||
| Sam Moran chronology | ||||
| ||||
| No. | Title | Original artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Make Lovin' Fun" | Fleetwood Mac | 3:48 |
| 2. | "Unchained Melody" | Todd Duncan | 3:26 |
| 3. | "Wonderful Tonight" | Eric Clapton | 3:41 |
| 4. | "Fire and Rain" | James Taylor | 3:57 |
| 5. | "God Only Knows" (ft. Emma Pask) | The Beach Boys | 3:05 |
| 6. | "More Than Words" | Extreme | 5:02 |
| 7. | "(What a) Wonderful World" | Sam Cooke | 3:14 |
| 8. | "Sara Smile" | Hall & Oates | 3:25 |
| 9. | "Hello" | Lionel Richie | 3:55 |
| 10. | "The Scientist" | Coldplay | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Baby, Now That I've Found You" | The Foundations | 3:33 |
| 12. | "She's Got a Way" | Billy Joel | 3:15 |
| Total length: | 44:21 | ||
Moran performed "Advance Australia Fair" at the first game of the 2010 NRL State of Origin.
In May 2013, Moran returned to children's television hosting a new preschool series, Play Along with Sam, on Nickelodeon's sister channel Nick Jr. 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. [15]
Its companion album was nominated for an ARIA Music Award for Best Children's Album in 2013. [16] The show also received an ASTRA Awards nomination for Most Outstanding Children's Program or Event, while Moran was nominated for Best New Talent. [17] The show was also nominated for the TV Week Logie Award for Outstanding Children's Program. [18] [19]
In 2015, Moran won the ARIA Music Award for Best Children's Album, beating his former bandmates, the Wiggles. 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..." [20] 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. [21] Moran was nominated for Best Children's Album that year.
Before he became a professional singer and performer, due to his "love of gadgets", Moran seriously considered going into information technology as a career. [22] He is a fan of the Australian Football League team the Sydney Swans. He is also "a keen cook". [23] He married American born Lyn Stuckey, a dancer with the Wiggles in 2006. [24] They met when appearing together on the "Dorothy the Dinosaur Show", when Stuckey played Dorothy the Dinosaur. [2] Their daughter was born at the beginning of 2010 in Sydney. [25]
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. [26] The child was born on October 30, 2020. [27]
Studio albums
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Pop Go the Wiggles! | ARIA Awards: Best Children's Album | Won |
| 2008 | You Make Me Feel Like Dancing | ||
| 2009 | Go Bananas! | ||
| 2010 | Let's Eat | ||
| 2011 | Ukulele Baby! | ||
| "The Wiggles" | ARIA Awards: ARIA Hall of Fame | ||
| 2013 | Play Along with Sam | ARIA Awards: Best Children's Album | Nominated [17] |
| 2014 | Sam Moran | ASTRA Award: Best New Talent | Nominated [17] |
| Play Along with Sam | TV Week Logie Award: Outstanding Children's Program | Nominated [18] [19] | |
| We're Gonna Dance | ARIA Awards: Best Children's Album | Nominated [16] | |
| 2015 | BOO! | Won [16] | |
| 2016 | Play Along with Sam | TV Week Logie Award: Most Outstanding Children's Program | Nominated |
| BEST. DAY. EVER! | ARIA Awards: Best Children's Album | Nominated [16] | |
| 2018 | Santa's Coming! |
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, Caterina Mete and Lucia Field. The Wiggles were founded in 1991 by Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page and Phillip Wilcher. Wilcher left the group after their first album. Page retired in 2006 due to ill health and was replaced by understudy Sam Moran, but returned in 2012, replacing Moran. At the end of 2012, Cook, Fatt and Page retired and were replaced by Gillespie, Pryce and Emma Watkins. Cook and Fatt retained their shareholding in the group and all three continued to have input into its creative and production aspects, while engaging in occasional reunion performances. Watkins departed the group in 2021, with Hawkins taking her place.
John Russell Waters is an English-born Australian film, theatre and television actor, singer, guitarist, songwriter, and musician. He is the son of Scottish actor Russell Waters. John Waters has been in the industry for over 50 years, and was part of the Australian children's television series Play School for 18 years.
Anthony Donald Joseph Field is an Australian musician, actor, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a leader of the children's group the Wiggles and a member of the 1980s and 1990s pop band the Cockroaches. While still a teenager, he helped found the Cockroaches with his brothers, Paul and John. The Cockroaches recorded two albums and enjoyed moderate success, interrupted by Field's service in the Army, until they disbanded in the late 1980s.
Murray James Cook, AM is an Australian musician, actor, and DJ. Cook was one of the founding members of the children's band the Wiggles from 1991 to 2012. Cook provided guitar, vocals, and songwriting in the group, and remained involved with its creative and production aspects after his retirement. In 2013, Cook served as the Wiggles' tour manager. He also remains active in many music projects, including, writing and performing with the Sydney soul-rock band The Soul Movers. He is the father of wheelchair basketball player Georgia Munro-Cook. In 2015, he was one of the members of the Australian jury for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Gregory John Page, is an Australian singer, musician and actor. He is best known as the original lead singer and a founding member of the children's band the Wiggles from 1991 to 2006 and then again in 2012.
Jeffrey Wayne Fatt is a Chinese Australian musician and actor. He was a member of the children's group The Wiggles from its founding in 1991 to 2012, and was also in the 1980s and 1990s pop band The Cockroaches.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte is an Australian singer, actress and television personality. Born and raised in Wollongong, New South Wales, she began her career in musical theatre. She later pursued an acting career in 1998 with guest appearances in television shows. Bassingthwaighte rose to prominence in 2003 on the Australian soap opera Neighbours for her role as Izzy Hoyland, which earned her three Logie Award nominations.
Paul James Field is an Australian musician, filmmaker and author. He is best known as one of the founding members of the Sydney pub rock band the Cockroaches and the Field Brothers and as Managing Director for the children's music group the Wiggles.
John William Michael Field is an Australian composer and songwriter. He was a founding mainstay member of the Sydney pub rock band the Cockroaches on rhythm guitar and sharing lead vocals. He has written tracks for the children's music group, the Wiggles, including "Hot Potato". His brothers, Paul Field and Anthony Field, were also bandmates in the Cockroaches.
Paul Andrew Paddick is an Australian singer and actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Captain Feathersword, "the friendly pirate", a character associated with the children's band the Wiggles, where he eventually came to be known as "the fifth Wiggle".
The Wiggles is the debut album by the Australian children's band the Wiggles, released in 1991 by ABC Music distributed by Phonogram. As a student music project at Macquarie University, the band assembled a group of songs reworked from the Cockroaches as well as arrangements of children's music. It was the only album that involved Phillip Wilcher as one of the group's members. The album sold 100,000 copies, and received Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) and Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) awards.
Lyn Moran is an American entertainer best known for being a cast member of the children's performing group The Wiggles.
Big Red Car is the fifth album by Australian band the Wiggles, released in 1995 by ABC Music distributed by EMI. This album won the ARIA Award for Best Children's Album in 1995.
Wake Up Jeff! is the sixth album by Australian band the Wiggles, released in 1996 by ABC Music distributed by EMI. It won the ARIA Award for Best Children's Album in 1996.
Racing to the Rainbow is the 25th album release by Australian children's music group, the Wiggles. This album won the ARIA Award for Best Children's Album in 2006.
Emma Olivia Watkins is an Australian children's entertainer, singer, actress, and dancer, best known as a former member of the children's group the Wiggles from 2013 to 2021. She replaced Greg Page after the group's lineup changes and was the first female member of the group. Due to her popularity as a Wiggle, she received her own spinoff children's show called Emma!, which featured her in her yellow Wiggles outfit as a solo performer. She debuted her own children's entertainment character, Emma Memma, in 2022, releasing her first solo children's music album in September 2022. In early 2023, she released a book titled Hello, Emma Memma. An accompanying television series titled Emma Memma: Sing. Dance. Sign. is in development.
The Wiggles Pty Ltd is the business created by the founders of the Australian children's music group The Wiggles. The group was protective of their brand, and adopted many of the same business practices as The Cockroaches, the former band of Anthony Field and Jeff Fatt, two of their founding members. They remained as independent as possible, and retained full creative control and ownership of every aspect of their business. As Field stated, The Wiggles Pty Ltd was "not your regular 'corporate culture'." The group made decisions by consensus and made business decisions based upon their experience as performers and their knowledge of early childhood education. They did not tour with a large troupe of dancers, cast, and crew until the late 1990s, and had high expectations regarding the behaviour and attitude of everyone associated with the group. They made careful decisions regarding their endorsements of toys and other products, and avoided over-extending their brand by only licensing products that correlated with their image.
The Wiggles characters are a group of characters who perform with the Wiggles, the Australian children's music group. Aside from the eight Wiggles, four secondary characters, along with a troupe of singers, actors, and dancers, appear in their television series, videos, and live concerts. These characters were developed in the 1990s and were originally played by group members and by Anthony Field's brother Paul Field, the band's manager. Later in the group's history, the characters were played by hired actors dressed in the characters' costumes.
Live Hot Potatoes! is the first live concert album released by Australian children's music group, the Wiggles. It was released in 2005 in Australia by ABC Music, distributed by Roadshow Entertainment. It won the ARIA Music Award for Best Children's Album.
Wiggle and Learn is an Australian TV show that aired on ABC. It ran from May 12, 2007, to February 10 2010. It is The Wiggles 6th TV series. It was the first TV series to not feature Greg Page, who had to depart the group in 2006 due to poor health, and the only one to feature Sam Moran as the Yellow Wiggle, as well as the last Wiggles show until Ready, Steady, Wiggle! in 2013. It was also the final series with Murray Cook and Jeff Fatt as the Red Wiggle and Purple Wiggle, respectively.
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