Melvin Sparks
| Melvin Sparks | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 22, 1946 Houston, Texas, United States. |
| Died | March 15, 2011 (aged 64) Mount Vernon, New York, United States |
| Genres | Soul jazz, hard bop, jazz blues |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1960s–2011 |
| Labels | Prestige, Savant |
Melvin Sparks (March 22, 1946 – March 15, 2011) was an American soul jazz, hard bop and jazz blues guitarist. He recorded a number of albums for Prestige Records, later recording for Savant Records. He appeared on several recordings with musicians including Lou Donaldson, Sonny Stitt, Leon Spencer and Johnny Hammond Smith.
Sparks was born in Houston, Texas, United States, and raised in a musical family. He received his first guitar at age 11. Sparks began working in the rhythm and blues genre as a high school student, first with Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, and then with the Upsetters, a touring band formed by Little Richard, which also backed Jackie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye.
Sparks moved to New York City and worked as a session musician for Blue Note and Prestige Records. As part of the burgeoning soul-jazz scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Sparks often backed organists like Jack McDuff, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Charles Earland. Sparks released his debut album, Sparks!, for Prestige in 1970.
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