Artist Biography

Award winning artist Michael "Sparkey" Drakes

At the age of 11 he started thrilling the congregation at his local church in his native Guyana, with his heavy baritone voice, he knew then that music was to become a major part of his life.

Michael is a former trumpeter with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), has sung with the Sheriff Deputies, Yoruba Singers, and GT Music Machine all in Guyana. He recorded a very popular single in Guyana called Wake Up Guyana that was the theme song for the Wake Up Guyana show hosted by Basil Bradshaw.

In November of 1997 Michael was brought to Antigua to perform with Tonik Band(He has since adopted Antigua as his home), after the disintegration of Tonik, Michael joined Vision 2000 and wrote and recorded 10 of the 11 songs on the Absolute Vision album, he sang with BZ Signal before joining Da Bhann in 2004.

While with Da Bhann the group toured with Atlantic recording artist Kevin Lyttle, while touring his unique voice was able to substitute for Jamesy P and Spragga Benz on Kevin Lyttle songs that featured them. While on tour he performed in Japan, Columbia, Ghana, Nigeria, USA & several Caribbean islands.

With his strong versatile voice and great range when performing Ragga Soca, Dub, Dancehall Reggae or just belting out a catchy tune like Caught Up(that appeared on the 2005 TOSS album for Da Bhann) his stage presence and talent for writing is evident . In May of 2006 he left Da Bhann for a solo career, on June 10, 2006 he performed in New York as a solo artist on the Eastern Caribbean Legends of Music Concert, performing the opening tribute song that he penned to celebrate the OECSs 25th anniversary.

October 2007 Sparkey's CD "Sparkey & Friends Back 2 Basics" became an award winning CD when it won the Best International World CD Album category and Sparkey won the Best International World Male Artist from Toronto Exclusive Magazine.

Artist Mission

Music Influences