Melvin sparks
Melvin Sparks is still the master of the chicken pickin’ funk. He brought a powerful force to everything he touched, from blues to heart-pounding boogaloo. Many of the soul-jazz and organ combo recordings of the late '60s and early '70s featured Melvin’s rhythm and lead guitar work. The Houston native took up the guitar at 11, and was only 13 when he sat in with B.B. King. In 1963 he joined the Upsetters, the very band that backed Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and other big names. After leaving the Upsetters, Sparks played with organ legend Jack McDuff in 1966-1967. Melvin’s influence can be heard in the work of modern guitarists, including New Mastersounds’ Eddie Roberts and Soulive’s Eric Krasno.
A sought after guitarist throughout his life, Sparks enjoyed mixing with the current generation of jazz greats.. He occasionally played on stage with the Greyboy Allstars and other groove outfits, like Galactic and Soulive who introduced Melvin’s Soul Jazz style it to a brand new audience.