Michael Drakes (Sparkey)

  • Michael  Drakes (Sparkey)
© Michael Drakes
Singer, Producer
Principal country concerned : Column : Music
Antigua and Barbuda

Fans will tell you that he has a voice that is distinctive and resonates with energy which is evident in his dancehall and ragga soca tracks. Born in Guyana, South America he started singing in his church, he could be heard on any given Sunday thrilling the congregation with his heavy baritone voice.

Michael joined the Guyana Defence Force(GDF) it was here that he received the name of Sparkey. Sparkey performed with GDF and several other bands before leaving Guyana at the behest of the Tonik Band to relocate to Antigua in 1997. After the break-up of Tonik Band, Sparkey did stints with Vision 2000 where he wrote and recorded eleven of the twelve songs that appeared on the Vision 2000 album. One of the eleven songs. "Want Me Body" was written for Pat Raguette of the Virgin Islands and it became a mega hit for her when it was released. To quote her "I have never had a song like that since".


In 2004 as a member of the group Da Bhann, Sparkey toured with Atlantic Recording artist Kevin Lyttle, because of his unique voice he was able to replace reggae artist Spragga Benz and Jamesy P on Kevin's songs.

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

With the support of