Rivers + Roads by Tori Sparks

The enthusiasm and dedication of the young folk/ rock/ blues maven’s fans is easily explained when encountering Tori’s uncommon blend of startling humor and audience participation with her emotionally-charged delivery. She draws her audiences in, twinkling with wry laughter, then takes them to a higher plane with her dervish-like outpourings of pain, love, and redemption. Her genuine dedication in response is evidenced by her consistent efforts to reach out to them at her live shows and online, as well as her commitment to reply to every email, letter, and card that she receives.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp A Windy City native by birth, Tori grew up in Sarasota, Florida. She found her voice while attending Florida State University in Tallahassee, from which she graduated in three years with a degree in International Affairs (French and Economics), plus a minor in Theater (Magna Cum Laude). While still in school, she made her foray into the independent music scene by recording and producing her EP Tidewaters. Tori started gigging regularly when she was eighteen, beginning to build what has become a diverse following. Often compared to heavy-hitters such as Diana Krall, Melissa Etheridge, Tori Amos, and Ani Difranco, she manages to stand alone with a sound that is indisputably her own. She has played alongside popular regional bands as well as national and international acts. Some of the latter include Charmaine Neville, Maria Muldaur, and Australia’s Dave Hole. Tori has also appeared live with hit songwriters such as Benita Hill (“Two Pina Coladas”), Gordon Kennedy (“If I Could Change the World”) and David Lee (“Letters From Home”).

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp During the summer of 2002 the charismatic songstress was invited to Philadelphia to participate in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, where she wrote the original music underscoring Project DNA’s production of The Ghosts are in the Water. In 2003 Tori was featured by the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association, and in 2004 was touted as a Featured Artist by the Songwriters’ Association of America. She was proud to be a part of benefit concerts on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind, F.A.C.E., the March of Dimes, and the ONE Campaign. Sparks has appeared live as a featured artist on a number of radio stations, and can be heard on frequencies from California to New York to Florida as well as several stations in Belgium, Australia, Canada, and England. Her ability to write across several genres has allowed her music to find a home on AAA, Rock, Pop, Blues, and even the occasional Country station

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