Ken Sparkes
| Ken Sparkes | |
|---|---|
| Born |
20 July 1940 Australia |
| Died | 11 September 2016 (aged 76) France |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Radio and television personality |
| Years active | 1956–2016 |
| Employer | Nine Network |
| Known for | The Voice of Channel 9 |
Ken Sparkes (20 July 1940 – 11 September 2016) was an Australian radio presenter, television personality (actor, singer, host), disc Jockey and voice-over artist, he also worked as an investigative journalist, sportscaster/commentator and launched briefly a pop career and co-founded his own record label. He was a presenter of radio programs, including presenting the breakfast program on Adelaide's 5KA. His early career was at Melbourne's 3UZ, before launching a career in television in the mid-60's.
He had one of the best known media voices in Australia and was known for years as the "voice of Channel 9". His voice was well known as a booth announcer for the Nine Network and Network Ten. He was the host of music variety show's Kommotion on channel 10 in Melbourne and Bandstand on channel 9 in Sydney.
Sparkes died of a heart attack on 11 September 2016, while hosting a river cruise in France.
His funeral was held at the Camelia Chapel in Macquarie Park Crematorium, Sydney on Friday 30 September 2016.
Sparkes commenced playing requests for fellow patients at Princess Juliana Hospital Turramurra NSW, later being accepted aged 16 as a junior radio announcer at 2MG Mudgee NSW. He moved to 2GB Sydney where he became Sydney’s youngest disc jockey at age 19. He featured on many radio shows across the Macquarie Network from popular music program “The All Australian Hit Parade”, to the live “Music Man” that included Australian musicians and singers. He also hosted a radio show that included his chosen sport, motor racing “The World of the Motor Car.”
By the mid 1960s Sparkes had taken over the night time slot on 3UZ Melbourne, which was then the dominant radio force in that city. A visiting US radio consultant Ted Randall heard Ken on 3UZ and opened the door for him in Los Angeles. From 1969 to 1971 Sparkes presented daily shows on KCBS (AM)/KCBS-FM Los Angeles, and at one stage was posted to Vietnam where he reported for a US radio syndicate with the Screaming Eagles 101st Airborne Division. After returning to 3UZ in Melbourne, he worked at a number of radio stations including 2UE Sydney until 2007.
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