Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Randy Sparks died February 11, 2024 at an assisted living facility in San Diego, California at the age of 90. An official cause of death was not revealed.
Sparks is best known as the founder of the folk minstrel group The New Christy Minstrels.
Son, Kevin reports that up until a few days prior to his death, Sparks lived on a 168-acre ranch in Jenny Lind (northeast of San Francisco), California.
Sparks formed the Minstrels in 1961; focusing on vocal harmonies and folk-pop music. He also wrote some of the group’s music.
The band’s debut album won them a Grammy Award in 1963 and remained on the Billboard album chart for two years. One of their first hit songs was the Woody Guthrie song “This Land is Your Land”.
Along with creating the Minstrels, Sparks helped with the careers of John Denver, Steve Martin, and Kenny Rogers; as well as, writing songs for other artists.
Sparks sold his interest in the group for $2.5 million and relocated to northern California where he collaborated with Burl Ives and even opened a nightclub in Los Angeles called Ledbetter’s. The group broke up in 1971.
Lloyd Arlington Sparks was born July 29, 1933 in Leavenworth, Kansas. He began his folk music career in Los Angeles performing in clubs and coffeehouses.
Predeceased by his second wife of over 50 years Diane, he is survived by children Kevin, Cameron, Melinda, and Amanda; sister Naomi Allen; and four grandchildren.
feature photo credit: public domain, Randy Sparks, Oct 17, 1964