Shay Sparks - ProfilesArchive

About Me

It was as a small child that Shay Sparks ran across an album her aunt had on the stereo--"Blue Kentucky Girl"--EmmyLou Harris. It was this album that mesmerized the young girl and had her dreaming of a life of singing music and appearing on the Grand Old Opry. A fiery redhead from Kentucky, Shay is coming on strong in the traditional genre of bluegrass music!Shay began her musical journey playing in family members' bands and singing in church. Playing music with her family meant learning harmony and making her own way as an artist! She recently told an audience, "If you are singing in a family band, you better be prepared to learn harmony or you are left out in the cold!" :) While her mother was listening to Chicago, Shay's father only allowed the kids to listen to bluegrass in his presence, "Dad would put the radio on a bluegrass station and break off the knob," she laughs. At a young age, she picked up a guitar to compliment her song-writing.After playing in country and western bands for several years in Texas and learning the ropes of the music industry, Shay has developed her style into what she laughingly calls, "BlueSgrass!" With a big nod to the original "Outlaws" (including Waylon, Willie, David Allan Coe and Jessi Colter,) and a love of traditional bluegrass artists like Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley and Larry Sparks', along with newer artists like Rhonda Vincent, Ronnie Bowman and of course, John Cowan, Shay has worked hard to write and sing songs that speak to people and give them a sense of "mountain soul." Shay is a singer who loves traditional bluegrass and can make it her own, by the very fact she does not have a traditional bluegrass voice!Shay is currently developing a CD project which will showcase some Nashville writers along with her original music. She has written with numerous writers around town but is always looking for the perfect writing partner and the perfect "hook!" She would love to sign a record deal as long as the label loves bluegrass as much as she does!With a new CD project and other music related things going on, she does not have as much time for myspace. She does read your comments, but please understand if she is not as quick to answer your emails and comments.

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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/26/2006
Band Website: shaysparks.com
Influences: Emmy Lou, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Jessi Colter, Carole King, Willie, Waylon, David Allan Coe, The Eagles, Chicago, The Doors, Keith Whitley, all the bluegrass guys and gals from Bill Monroe to New Grass Revival and Rhonda Vincent; Matraca Berg, Martina McBride, my aunt Loretta, my uncle Glen and my Papa Ester on banjo!
Sounds Like: Me and a guitar! Seriously, I keep my grass blue!!!!! I've played with bands who are plugged in and fought the whole time to be heard over guitar solos! In bluegrass there's no tweaking, either you can sing or not!
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

New Song--"When He Cheats on You, Cheat with Me"

This is a song I wrote with a friend in Texas, Mitch Cason. Since it's written from a male perspective I asked my friend, Phil Dillon, to sing it. He produced my CD project last fall. I really apprec...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:10:00 PST

Info about me....

Hmmmmmm... well, one of my myspace buddies asked me to tell some things about myself so fans could get to know me better. Not sure if this is stuff you want to know, but am gonna answer some question...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:02:00 PST

Boundaries...

As artists we are constantly trying to break down barriers, step out of our comfort zones and really create outside the little boxes for which we are sometimes labeled. I firmly believe in that! But,...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Sun, 13 May 2007 05:24:00 PST

Merry Christmas!

As many of you know, I lost my father 3 months ago and since that time I have been in a whirlwind trying to do a demo project, settle Dad's estate, work, prepare for the holidays, etc...It's been a to...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Fri, 22 Dec 2006 02:56:00 PST

Demo Project!

Hey everyone! Well, my part of the demo project is complete... I am just awaiting the mixing and mastering and we'll be a little closer to a label deal! If I could say anything about last week, it wou...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 07:20:00 PST

Week of November 13th....

The week of November 13th I will be going in to the studio to cut my "demo starter package" to submit to the bluegrass labels! I have 2 very prominent Nashville producers who are producing ...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:30:00 PST

Back to the studio!

So, I have some great response to my music and it looks like I am going to go back in the studio in Nashville and cut the bluegrass demo! It seems like this has taken forever, but in reality it ...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Fri, 20 Oct 2006 06:48:00 PST

Getting by, one day at a time!

I don't even know what to post for those of you who have asked how I'm doing....My relationship with my dad was not always the best in the past, but we had developed an adult relationship and we had s...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 10:47:00 PST

My new music....

So, I have just returned from the weekend in Indiana where we worked hard and recorded 3 songs! It's a lot harder than most people realize and because we are recording brand new material, there ...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:56:00 PST

So, I've scheduled the date....

I will be recording my 4-song demo the weekend of August 26th! I am very excited to have the SPGBMA bluegrass player of the year, Hal Cottrell, playing on it along with Mark Poe, my uncle Jeff a...
Posted by Shay Sparks on Tue, 15 Aug 2006 07:26:00 PST