Legendary Guitarist Larry Sparks: “We Need to Teach Them Where the Music Originated.”

Larry Sparks

It’s a rarity to be able to speak to a musician with ties to old-time bluegrass, such as Larry Sparks. The one-time Stanley Brothers and Clinch Mountain Boys guitarist, now 77, still hustles for gigs like a young man in his twenties. Sparks and his band, The Lonesome Ramblers, care about preserving the old-time bluegrass legacy for future generations.

“There were three names that really put this music on the path,” says Sparks, a Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee, “and of course, that was Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers and Flat and Scruggs—and we all come after that.”

The bluegrass legend hopes younger musicians start their journey by learning from the past.

"You have a lot of young people getting into bluegrass, which is good. We need it!” explains the elder musician, who says learning the music’s roots is important. “I hope they will learn the old ways and old paths and stick to them.”

Sparks is happy that a younger generation of musicians is discovering his music.

“I think they’re taking to it, but it has to be presented in the right way. We need to teach them where the music originated.” Sparks went on to name blues, country, and gospel music as essential ingredients to bluegrass.

Sparks admits the younger generation of fans is growing. “If you have one hundred people at a show, you’re probably going to have fifty percent of those who are middle-aged and up with some a little younger. Then you’re going to have a percentage of an even younger generation. A lot of kids are catching onto this music and learning it.”

Sparks values being one of a kind.

“Originality is important. After you learn the basic stuff, you have to have your own voice.” Along with Jim and Jesse, The Osborne brothers, and Jimmy Martin, he explains, “We all have different sounds. We don’t sound like nobody!”

He describes himself as a guitarist who chooses melodic notes over flashy licks: “I play words on the guitar more than notes,” he adds, “Ralph Stanley said that I have a talking guitar.”

Spark’s fans may also recognize him by his trademark Martin guitar.

“I was with Ralph Stanley at the time, and we were playing at the Ken Mill Tavern in Cincinnati, recalls Sparks. “The guy that owned the tavern had the guitar and wanted to sell it. I bought it in 1967, and it’s a 1954 model guitar. I have been playing the same guitar for fifty-seven years.”

Still drawing crowds, Sparks doesn’t care about the size or kind of venue. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a chicken house, I’ll make it work. You have to be a scout and route things out.”

Going on, “Fill-in dates are important. You can’t drive a thousand miles for one show. A lot of shows I do myself. In this business, if a show isn’t booked and I need it booked, then I book it myself. I have a bus to take care of, fuel to take care of, and motels to take care of. I have a company to pay-- a lot of expense out here!”

Sparks has a new album coming out soon.

“I should have it done sometime in February. It will be released in April on Rebel Records.” The bluegrass legend says he plans to name the release Way Back When. It kind of relates to years ago and how people lived back in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s,” adding, “When a buck was still silver, not paper. I think it’s gonna turn out pretty good!”

The musician shares the secret to his longevity.

“I’m a believer in my God and Jesus Christ, and I follow that. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I don’t want to indulge in anything when I go onstage—no alcohol—no nothing else. I want to be clear-minded with everything.”

Sparks jokes about his age, “I tried turning it around backward, but I’m still seventy-seven!” He laughs.

He feels the power to promote bluegrass is in the hands of radio stations. “You gotta have program directors for it. I want to see it played on all the big stations that play modern country and rock. Give bluegrass some respect. Let it have some time on there, too. It would help our music so much —I want to see that happen!”