Melvin Sparks
Encyclopedia
Melvin Sparks was an American soul jazz
, hard bop
and jazz blues guitarist
. He recorded a number of albums for Prestige Records
, later recording for Savant Records. He appeared on several recordings with musicians including Lou Donaldson
, Sonny Stitt
, Leon Spencer
and Johnny Hammond Smith.
Sparks was born in Houston, Texas
, United States
, and raised in a musical family. He received his first guitar at age 11. Sparks began working in the rhythm and blues
genre as a high school student, first with Hank Ballard
and the Midnighters, and then with the Upsetters, a touring band formed by Little Richard
, which also backed Jackie Wilson
, Curtis Mayfield
and Marvin Gaye
.
Sparks moved to New York City
and worked as a session musician
for Blue Note
and Prestige Records. As part of the burgeoning soul-jazz scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Sparks often backed organists like Jack McDuff
, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Charles Earland
. Sparks released his debut album, Sparks!, for Prestige in 1970.
He was seen on Northeastern television commercials as the voice of Price Chopper's House of BBQ advertising campaign.
Sparks died on March 15, 2011, at age 64, at his home in Mount Vernon, New York
. He had diabetes and high blood pressure.
With Rusty Bryant
With Hank Crawford
With Dennis Day
With Joey DeFrancesco
With Lou Donaldson
With Charles Earland
Cookin' with the Mighty Burner (Highnote), 1997
With Ceasar Frazier
With Red Holloway
With Plas Johnson
With Etta Jones
With Charles Kynard
With Ron Levy
With Johnny Lytle
With Jack McDuff
With Jimmy McGriff
With Idris Muhammad
With John Patton
With Houston Person
With Sonny Phillips
With Bernard Purdie
With Alvin Queen
With Rhoda Scott
With Lonnie Smith
With Leon Spencer
With Dakota Staton
With Tom "T Bone" Stinson
With Sonny Stitt
With Leon Thomas
With Reuben Wilson
With Jimmy Witherspoon
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
, hard bop
Hard bop
Hard bop is a style of jazz that is an extension of bebop music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz which incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano...
and jazz blues guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He recorded a number of albums for Prestige Records
Prestige Records
Prestige Records was a jazz record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock. The company was located at 203 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musicians of the day, sometimes issuing them under the names of several...
, later recording for Savant Records. He appeared on several recordings with musicians including Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
, Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was also one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums in his lifetime...
, Leon Spencer
Leon Spencer
Leon Spencer is an American acid jazz / soul jazz organist born in Houston, Texas, in 1945. He played piano with David Newman, and later organ with Melvin Sparks....
and Johnny Hammond Smith.
Sparks was born in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and raised in a musical family. He received his first guitar at age 11. Sparks began working in the rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
genre as a high school student, first with Hank Ballard
Hank Ballard
Hank Ballard , born John Henry Kendricks, was a rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, the lead vocalist of Hank Ballard and The Midnighters and one of the first proto-rock 'n' roll artists to emerge in the early 1950s...
and the Midnighters, and then with the Upsetters, a touring band formed by Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
, which also backed Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
, Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
.
Sparks moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and worked as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
for Blue Note
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
and Prestige Records. As part of the burgeoning soul-jazz scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Sparks often backed organists like Jack McDuff
Jack McDuff
"Brother" Jack McDuff was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era of the 1960s, often performing with an organ trio.-Career:...
, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Charles Earland
Charles Earland
Charles Earland was an American jazz composer, organist, and saxophonist in the soul jazz idiom.-Biography:...
. Sparks released his debut album, Sparks!, for Prestige in 1970.
He was seen on Northeastern television commercials as the voice of Price Chopper's House of BBQ advertising campaign.
Sparks died on March 15, 2011, at age 64, at his home in Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
. He had diabetes and high blood pressure.
As leader
- Sparks! (Prestige), 1970
- Akilah! (Prestige), 1971
- Spark Plug (Prestige), 1971
- Texas Twister (Eastbound), 1972
- 75 (Westbound), 1974
- Sparkling (Muse), 1981
- I'm a Gittar Player (Cannonball), 1997
- What You Hear Is What You Get (Nectar), 2001
- It Is What It Is (Savant), 2004
- This Is It! (Savant), 2005
- Groove on Up (Savant), 2005
As sideman
With Henry "Pucho" Brown- Jungle Strut (Lexington), 1993
- Rip a Dip (Milestone), 1995
With Rusty Bryant
Rusty Bryant
Royal G. "Rusty" Bryant was an American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist....
- Soul Liberation (Prestige), 1970
With Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford
Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. was an American R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, soul jazz alto saxophonist, arranger and songwriter...
- Indigo Blue (Milestone), 1983
- Down on the Deuce (Milestone), 1984
- Roadside Symphony (Milestone), 1985
- Night Beat (Milestone), 1988
- South Central (Milestone), 1992
- Tight (Milestone), 1996
- After Dark (Milestone), 1998
- Crunch Time (Milestone), 1998
- The World of H.C. (Milestone), 2000
With Dennis Day
- All Things in Time (D-Day Media), 2008
With Joey DeFrancesco
Joey DeFrancesco
Joey DeFrancesco is an American jazz organist, trumpeter, and vocalist. Down Beat's Critics and Readers Poll selected him as the top jazz organist every year since 2003.DeFrancesco was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania...
- All in the Family (Highnote), 1998
- Plays Sinatra His Way (Highnote), 1998
- Hip Cake Walk (Highnote), 2000
With Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
- Hot DogHot Dog (album)Hot Dog is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1969 and featuring Donaldson with Ed Williams , Charles Earland, Melvin Sparks, and Leo Morris....
(Blue Note), 1969 - Everything I Play Is FunkyEverything I Play Is FunkyEverything I Play is Funky is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label featuring Donaldson with Blue Mitchell, Lonnie Smith, Melvin Sparks, Jimmy Lewis and Leo Morris and two tracks with Ed Williams and Charles Earland replacing Mitchell & Smith.The album was...
(Blue Note), 1969 - The ScorpionThe Scorpion (album)The Scorpion: Live at the Cadillac Club is an live album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded in Newark, New Jersey in 1970 for the Blue Note label featuring a performance by Donaldson with Fred Ballard, Leon Spencer, Melvin Sparks, and Idris Muhammad.The album was awarded 2 stars in an...
(Cadet, 1970) - CosmosCosmos (Lou Donaldson album)Cosmos is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label featuring Donaldson with Ed Williams, Leon Spencer, Melvin Sparks, Jerry Jemmott, Idris Muhammad, and Ray Armando, with vocals by Mildred Brown, Rosalyn Brown, and Naomi Thomas, arranged by Jimmy Briggs.The album...
(Blue Note, 1971)
With Charles Earland
Charles Earland
Charles Earland was an American jazz composer, organist, and saxophonist in the soul jazz idiom.-Biography:...
- Black Talk! (Prestige), 1969
- Slammin' and Jammin
With Ceasar Frazier
- Hail Ceasar! (Eastbound), 1972
With Red Holloway
Red Holloway
James W. "Red" Holloway is an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Holloway started playing banjo and harmonica, switching to tenor sax when he was twelve years old...
- Coast to Coast (Milestone), 2003
With Plas Johnson
Plas Johnson
Plas John Johnson Jr. is an American soul-jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist, probably most familiar as the lead on Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther Theme"....
- Keep That Groove Going! (Milestone), 2000
With Etta Jones
Etta Jones
Etta Jones was an American jazz singer. She is not to be confused with the more popular singer Etta James nor her namesake, a member of the Dandridge Sisters, who recorded with Jimmy Lunceford and was Gerald Wilson's first wife. Her best known recordings were "Don't Go To Strangers" and "Save...
- If You Could See Me Now (Muse), 1978
With Charles Kynard
Charles Kynard
Charles Kynard was an American soul jazz/acid jazz organist born in St. Louis, Missouri, probably better known for his album as leader on Reelin' With the Feelin for Prestige Records...
- Wa-tu-wa-zui (Prestige), 1970
With Ron Levy
- Zim Zam Zoom: Acid Blues on B-3 (Bullseye Blues), 1996
- Voodoo Boogaloo (Levtronic), 2005
With Johnny Lytle
Johnny Lytle
Johnny Lytle was a jazz drummer and vibraphonist.-Biography:...
- Good Vibes (Muse), 1981
- Happy Ground (Muse), 1989
With Jack McDuff
Jack McDuff
"Brother" Jack McDuff was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era of the 1960s, often performing with an organ trio.-Career:...
- Do It Now (Atlantic), 1966
- Double-Barelled Soul (Atlantic), 1967
With Jimmy McGriff
Jimmy McGriff
James Harrell McGriff was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who developed a distinctive style of playing the Hammond B-3 organ.-Early years and influences:...
- Countdown (Milestone), 1983
- State of the Art (Milestone), 1985
- Blue to the Bone (Milestone), 1988
- McGriff Avenue (Milestone), 2001
With Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
- Black Rhythm Revolution (Prestige), 1970
- Peace and Rhythm Suite (Prestige), 1971
With John Patton
John Patton (musician)
John Patton , sometimes nicknamed Big John Patton, was a hard bop and soul jazz organist....
- Soul ConnectionSoul ConnectionSoul Connection is an album by American organist John Patton recorded in 1983 and released on the Nilva label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 3½ stars and stated "It is the lost gem in his catalog and showcases him in one of the most provocative quintets in his...
(Nilva), 1983
With Houston Person
Houston Person
Houston Person is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. Person is also known for his distinctive sassy sound and his expressive style of playing...
- The Nearness of You (Muse), 1977
- Heavy Juice (Muse), 1982
- We Owe It All for Love (Baseline), 1988
With Sonny Phillips
Sonny Phillips
Sonny Phillips is an American jazz keyboardist. His primary instrument is electric organ but he often played piano....
- Black Magic (Prestige), 1970
- Black on Black (Prestige), 1970
With Bernard Purdie
Bernard Purdie
Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie is an American session drummer, and is considered an influential and innovative exponent of funk...
- In Tokyo (Lexington), 1993
With Alvin Queen
- Lenox and Seventh (Black and Blue), 1985
With Rhoda Scott
Rhoda Scott
Rhoda Scott is an African-American hard bop and soul jazz organist.The daughter of an AME minister, Scott spent much of her childhood in New Jersey, where she learned to play organ in the churches where her father served. Soon she herself was serving frequently as organist for youth and gospel...
- Very Saxy (Night and Day), 2004
With Lonnie Smith
Lonnie Smith
Lonnie Smith is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He made his debut for the Philadelphia Phillies on September 2, 1978 and later played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles...
- Think!Think! (album)Think! is the second album by American organist Lonnie Smith recorded in 1968 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Matt Collar awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "Think!, organist Lonnie Smith's 1968 sophomore effort for Blue Note, is easily one of the strongest...
(Blue Note), 1968 - Turning PointTurning Point (Lonnie Smith album)Turning Point is the second album by American organist Lonnie Smith recorded in 1969 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 3 stars and stated "While the more adventurous elements of Turning Point make for an intriguing...
(Blue Note), 1969
With Leon Spencer
- Sneak Preview (Prestige), 1970
- Louisiana Slim (Prestige), 1971
- Bad Walkin' Woman (Prestige), 1972
With Dakota Staton
Dakota Staton
Dakota Staton , also known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a period, was an American jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the 1957 No...
- A Packet of Love Letters (Highnote), 1996
With Tom "T Bone" Stinson
- On Fire (Golden Zebra), 2004
With Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt
Edward "Sonny" Stitt was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was also one of the best-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums in his lifetime...
- Turn It On (Prestige), 1971
With Leon Thomas
Leon Thomas
Amos Leon Thomas Jr was an American avant garde jazz singer from East St. Louis, Illinois.Thomas studied music at Tennessee State University. In the 1960s he was a vocalist for Count Basie and others....
- Bluesband (Portrait), 1988
With Reuben Wilson
Reuben Wilson
Reuben Wilson is a jazz organist. He performs soul jazz and acid jazz, and is best known for his title track "Got To Get Your Own"He was born in Mounds, Oklahoma and his family moved to Pasadena when he was 5....
- Blue ModeBlue ModeBlue Mode is the third album by American organist Reuben Wilson recorded in 1969 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "If Love Bug skirted the edges of free jazz and black power, Blue Mode embraces...
(Blue Note), 1969 - The Cisco Kid (Groove Merchant), 1974
- Down with It (Cannonball), 1998
- Fun House (Savant), 2004
With Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon was an American jump blues singer.-Early life and career:James Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. He first attracted attention singing with Teddy Weatherford's band in Calcutta, India, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service during...
- The Blues Is Now (Verve), 1967