More Info on Melvin SparksSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Melvin Sparks| image =| alt =| caption =| image_size =| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist| birth_name =| alias =| birth_date = March 22, 1946| birth_place = Houston , Texas , United States .| origin =| death_date = death date and age|2011|03|15|1946|03|22| death_place = Mount Vernon, New York|Mount Vernon , New York , United States| genre = Soul jazz , hard bop , jazz blues | occupation = Guitarist | instrument = Guitar| years_active = 1960s–2011| label = Prestige Records|Prestige , Savant Records|Savant | associated_acts =| url =| notable_instruments = Melvin Sparks (March 22, 1946 – March 15, 2011)cite web | last = Henderson | first = Alex | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Melvin Sparks Biography | work = | publisher = Allmusic | date = | url = Allmusic|class=artist|id=p25942/biography|pure_url=yes | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-06-23 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 Records|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 (New York)|Price Chopper 's House of BBQ advertising campaign. http://www2.pricechopper.com/bbq/ House of BBQ
Sparks died on March 15, 2011, at age 64, at his home in Mount Vernon, New York . He had diabetes and high blood pressure.Cite news |first=Nate |last=Chinen |title=Melvin Sparks, Guitarist, Is Dead at 64 |date=March 20, 2011 |newspaper= The New York Times |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/arts/music/melvin-sparks-soul-guitarist-dies-at-64.html |accessdate= March 21, 2011
Reflist Persondata | NAME = Sparks, Melvin | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American soul jazz, hard bop and jazz blues guitarist | DATE OF BIRTH = March 22, 1946 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Houston , Texas , United States | DATE OF DEATH = March 15, 2011 | PLACE OF DEATH = Mount Vernon, New York, United States DEFAULTSORT:Sparks, Melvin Category:1946 births Category:2011 deaths Category:American jazz guitarists Category:American session musicians Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction Category:Hard bop guitarists Category:Jazz-blues guitarists Category:Muse Records artists Category:Musicians from Houston, Texas Category:Musicians from New York City Category:Prestige Records artists Category:Soul-jazz guitarists
