Melvin Sparks RIP
Posted: Mar 21, 2011RIP Melvin Sparks
R & B-jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks died on March 13 at age 64. Born in Houston, Texas, Sparks started playing guitar at age 11. He even performed with B.B. King at 13. Before he was out of high school he began working with Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. Later he joined the Upsetters—a group formed by Little Richard—who backed up Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye.
Sparks soon moved to New York City and became a session musician for the Blue Note and Prestige labels. Sparks later went on to record and perform as a solo artist. In recent years, Sparks performed with the Greyboy Allstars, Galactic and Soulive. Sparks died of complications related to diabetes. The flag flies at half mast…
James Calemine
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