Grammy-Winning Singer Randy Sparks Passes Away at 90

Randy Sparks, the creator of the folk music group the New Christy Minstrels and a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, passed away at the age of 90. Variety revealed on Saturday night that Sparks passed away on February 11 at a San Diego assisted living facility. Kevin, Sparks’ son, confirmed the news of his death to the New York Times. He said that Sparks had been residing on his 168-acre ranch in Jenny Lind, California, which is northeast of San Francisco, up until a few days prior to his passing. During the 1960s folk music revival, American musician and songwriter Sparks—who also founded the New Christy Minstrels—became well-known. When he formed the group in 1961, it was well-known for its vocal harmonies.

In 1963, the group earned a Grammy Award for outstanding chorus performance for their debut album, ‘Presenting the New Christy Minstrels,’ which remained on the Billboard Albums top for two years. Sparks was also instrumental in advancing the careers of Steve Martin, John Denver, and Kenny Rogers, with Rogers playing double bass for the band in 1966.
Aside from his work with the New Christy Minstrels, Sparks wrote for other artists and participated in several musical ventures during his career. He was a prominent person in the music industry, particularly in the folk music genre.
He relocated to rural Northern California in the mid-1960s after selling his interest in the New Christy Minstrels for $2.5 million. There, he began a 30-year association with Burl Ives and established Ledbetter’s Nightclub in Los Angeles.

Letenworth, Kansas, was the place of Sparks’ birth on July 29, 1933. As a lone folk performer in California, he began his career in the 1950s. In vibrant folk music cities like Los Angeles, he performed at coffee shops and nightclubs. Variety states that he made contacts in the music industry prior to forming the New Christy Minstrels, after his skill as a songwriter and performer quickly gained recognition. Melinda and Amanda, her sister Naomi Allen, their sons Kevin and Cameron, and their four grandchildren all survived Sparks.