| Sam Moran | |
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Sam Moran |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Samuel Alexander Moran |
| Born |
4 April 1978 |
| Genres | Children's music Opera Pop |
| Instruments | Vocals, trumpet, guitar |
| Years active | 1998-Present |
| Associated acts | The Wiggles |
| Website | SamMoran.com |
Sam Moran (born 4 April 1978) is an Australian entertainer best known for being a member of the children's band The Wiggles. He was born in Sydney[1] and raised in Wagga Wagga.[2]
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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. His involvement with The Wiggles began when he appeared in "Haste to the Wedding" and "Evie & The Birdman", both written by John Field, Anthony Field's brother and songwriter for The Wiggles.[1][3] Moran began performing with The Wiggles in 1998, hosting and touring with the "Dorothy the Dinosaur Show"[4] throughout Australia and New Zealand, in small venues The Wiggles "had grown too big for".[1] He played Professor Singalottasonga and Dapper Dave in the group's TV series.[2] 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 2006 US tour. Moran reported that he was asked to permanently join The Wiggles "a couple of days"[1] before Page announced his retirement in November 2006. Moran's shtick on stage is losing things.[2][5]
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,"[1] was "smooth" for the young children of The Wiggles' audience, it was more difficult for their parents.[6] Band mate 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 than his band mates, 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".[7]
Sam released his first solo album, The Colour of Love, through Sony Music Australia in 2010. The album consisted of covers of well known love songs, including a duet of The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" with Australian jazz vocalist, Emma Pask.
Moran performed Advance Australia Fair at the first game of the 2010 NRL State of Origin.
Before he became a professional singer and performer, due to his "love of gadgets", Moran seriously considered going into information technology as a career.[8] Moran's musical influences include Puccini, Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, and John Mayer.[9]
Moran is a fan of the Australian Football League team the Sydney Swans. He is also "a keen cook" when not touring with The Wiggles.[10] He is married to American born Lyn Stuckey, a dancer with The Wiggles.[11] They met when appearing together on the "Dorothy the Dinosaur Show", when Stuckey played Dorothy the Dinosaur.[1]
The couple's first child was born January 2010 in Sydney.[12]
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