Larry Sparks is a bluegrass original, a one of a kind musician who really, truly doesn't sound like anyone eles.That's rare in any style of music, but especially so in bluegrass, where imitation is more than the sincerest form of flattery.One gauge of success in bluegrass,especially for younger musicians, has always been how faithfully they can recreate the sound of,say,Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers or Flatt & Scruggs.Larry Sparks never played that game.Sounding like Larry Sparks was what he wanted.Over the course of the last 40 years, Larry Sparks has carved a unique niche for himself in bluegrass.A number of songs associated with him have become bluegrass standards-including "John Deere Tractor," "A Face In A Crowd," "Love Of The Mountains," "Going Up Home,"(To Live in Green Pastures)" and "Tennessee 1949," among others-and Sparks is universally admired by his peers in the bluegrass world.Sparks sums up his success modestly, saying, "There is always room in this business for a stylist." That may be true, but there's far more to Larry Sparks than that.While Sparks is most definitely a stylist, his honest, no-frills approach to the music is more than a "style." It's a true reflection of the man's character.Unlike style, that never goes out of fashion.Larry Sparks was born in 1947 in Lebanon, Ohio, and grew up there and in southern Indiana.Sparks parents were among the legion Kentuckians who migrated north seeking jobs, and Larry was raised deeply immersed in the old time mountain sounds.His maternal grandfather was a champion old-time fiddler from Jackson County, Kentucky, and most of Larry's immediate family played music and sang.He was also an avid listener to Wayne Raney's late-night radio show on WCKY in Cincinnati and developed early interest in the blues and honky-tonk country as well as bluegrass.After almost 45 years in the spotlight, Larry Sparks is the same person on stage as he is off it-polite, plain-spoken, respectful but direct, almost old-fashioned in his lack of flash, entourage or persona.And in some regards, Sparks seems like he could be from a earlier generation, but that's just an illusion.The IBMA's "Male Vocalist Of The Year" in 2004 and 2005, Sparks is on a roll right now, making some of the best music of his career:mature, seasoned and deeply expressive.Larry Sparks likes to say that he is "the youngest old-timer around," and there's more than a bit of truth to that.Through-out his long career, Sparks has stuck to what works, what he does best.He's never flirted with newgrass or jazz-grass or any-other new-fangled style of bluegrass.Sparks has done things his own way, on his own schedule.He followed his vision and he's made a singular contribution to American music.In a world gone fake, Larry Sparks has kept it real.Larry Sparks has now put a new Gospel CD (I Dont Regret A Mile) on his Sparks Music label get more info on it at (www.larrysparks.com) I know this new CD will encouarage you,and uplift you spiritually. ITS A MUST HAVE!!!Header Banner Made with MyBannerMaker.com! Click here to make your own!
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