Melvin Sparks
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Melvin Sparks (March 22, 1946 — March 15, 2011) was an American soul jazz, hard bop and jazz blues guitarist. He released a number of albums for the influential Prestige Records, later recording for Savant Records. He appeared on several recordings with musicians including Lou Donaldson, Charles Earland, Sonny Stitt, Leon Spencer and Johnny Hammond Smith.
He was seen on Northeastern television commercials as the voice of Price Chopper's "House of BBQ" advertising campaign.
He died on March 15, 2011 from complications from diabetes.
Discography
As leader
- Sparks (Prestige), 1970
- Akilah ! (Prestige), 1971
- Sparkplug (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
- Soul Liberation (Prestige), 1970
With Hank Crawford
- 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
- All in the Family (Highnote), 1998
- Plays Sinatra His Way (Highnote), 1998
- Hip Cake Walk (Highnote), 2000
With Lou Donaldson
- Hot Dog (Blue Note), 1969
- Everything I Play Is Funky (Blue Note), 1969
- The Scorpion (Cadet, 1970)
- Cosmos (Blue Note, 1971)
With Charles Earland
- Black Talk! (Prestige), 1969
- Slammin' and Jammin' (Savant), 1997
- Cookin' with the Mighty Burner (Highnote), 1997
With Ceasar Frazier
- Hail Ceasar! (Eastbound), 1972
With Red Holloway
- Coast to Coast (Milestone), 2003
With Plas Johnson
- Keep That Groove Going! (Milestone), 2000
With Etta Jones
- If You Could See Me Now (Muse), 1978
With Charles Kynard
- Wa-tu-wa-zui (Prestige), 1970
With Ron Levy
- Zim Zam Zoom (Bullseye Blues), 1996
- Voodoo Boogaloo (Levtronic), 2005
With Johnny Lytle
- Good Vibes (Muse), 1981
- Happy Ground (Muse), 1989
With Jack McDuff
- Do It Now (Atlantic), 1966
- Double-Barelled Soul (Atlantic), 1967
With Jimmy McGriff
- Countdown (Milestone), 1983
- State of the Art (Milestone), 1985
- Blue to the Bone (Milestone), 1988
- McGriff Avenue (Milestone), 2001
With Idris Muhammad
- Black Rhythm Revolution (Prestige), 1970
- Peace and Rhythm Suite (Prestige), 1971
With John Patton
- Soul Connection (Nilva), 1983
With Houston Person
- The Nearness of You (Muse), 1977
- Heavy Juice (Muse), 1982
- We Owe It All for Love (Baseline), 1988
With Sonny Phillips
- Black Magic (Prestige), 1970
- Black on Black (Prestige), 1970
With Bernard Purdie
- In Tokyo (Lexington), 1993
With Alvin Queen
- Lenox and Seventh (Black and Blue), 1985
With Rhoda Scott
- Very Saxy (Night and Day), 2004
With Lonnie Smith
- Think! (Blue Note), 1968
- Turning Point (Blue Note), 1969
With Leon Spencer
- Sneak Preview (Prestige), 1970
- Louisiana Slim (Prestige), 1971
- Bad Walkin' Woman (Prestige), 1972
With Dakota Staton
- A Packet of Love Letters (Highnote), 1996
With Tom "T Bone" Stinson
- On Fire (Golden Zebra), 2004
With Sonny Stitt
- Turn It On (Prestige), 1971
With Leon Thomas
- Bluesband (Portrait), 1988
With Reuben Wilson
- Blue Mode (Blue Note), 1969
- The Cisco Kid (Groove Merchant)
- Down with It (Cannonball), 1998
- Fun House (Savant), 2004
With Jimmy Witherspoon
- The Blues Is Now (Verve), 1967
