Everyday Creation
Everyday Creation is about purpose, awe and good vibrations. The show's title refers to three types of creation: The ways we express ourselves (for example, with art, music and so many other pursuits fueled by purpose and passion); the parts of life that fill us with awe (birth, death, love, the big picture); and our personal power to create our best possible lives while also making the world a better place. Here, you’ll encounter interviews, essays and some episodes created simply for information and fun. I'm your host Kate Jones, welcoming you to Everyday Creation.
Everyday Creation
Randy Sparks Formed the New Christy Minstrels and Wrote Their Hit Song, "Today"
Randy Sparks, who died in February 2024, began his career during the folk music craze of the late 1950s and early '60s. In 1961, the singer-songwriter merged his group with two others to form the New Christy Minstrels.
Sparks wrote "Today" long before the Minstrels made it a hit in 1964. The song reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. You can watch the group singing "Today" here. You'll also see a lot of comments by viewers who have fond memories of the song. And here's a fun little detail about Sparks himself: "In the 1970s, Randy Sparks had a small bar, nightclub in the small town of Linden, CA. It was so much fun to go there. It was called the Buffalo Bar and actually had a stuffed buffalo on the bar."
Sparks also had a keen eye for discovering and nurturing new talent. Sheldon Zoldan, who wrote and recorded this tribute, offers an impressive list of famous performers who Sparks discovered and mentored.
The photo accompanying this episode is of Sparks in 1964. It's credited to Columbia Records and was used as a trade ad in Billboard for Sparks' single "Julie Knows." The photo is available on Wikipedia. And in the chapters, you'll find a shot of the Minstrels' debut album.
This tribute is one of 41 stories that Sheldon, a longtime journalist, has written about the music notables who passed away in 2024. He's written tributes for other years as well. You can listen to the ones from 2023 on Everyday Creation. We'll have the 2022 tributes available later this year.
Sheldon also is the creator of Song of the Day, a story that he sends by email to a list of subscribers. To get on his subscriber list, email shzoldan@comcast.net with the subject line ADD ME TO SOTD.
This is Kate Jones. Thank you for listening to Everyday Creation, available on YouTube and in podcast directories including Apple, Audible, iHeart and Spotify.
Excerpt:
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"Sparks got his start during the folk music
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craze of the late 1950s,
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early 1960s.
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He merged his group and two others into
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the New Christy Minstrels
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in 1961.
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Sparks' plan was for the Minstrels only to
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record,
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but Columbia Records had other ideas.
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Executives demanded they tour to promote the album.
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The Minstrels did more than tour. They became
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popular TV guests."
Kate:
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That's just a snippet of Sheldon Zoldan's tribute
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to Randy Sparks,
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who died in February 2024.
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For more, here's the rest of the story:
Sheldon:
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Randy Sparks was a man of musical talents.
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He could sing. He could write songs. But
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his greatest gift was discovering diamonds in the
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rough and smoothing away the rough.
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Sparks died February 11th
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in San Diego.
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He was 90 years old.
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The Song of the Day is paying tribute
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to the musicians,
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singers and songwriters
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who died in 2024.
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Sparks got his start during the folk music
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craze of the late 1950s, early
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1960s.
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He merged his group and two others into
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the New Christy Minstrels
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in 1961.
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Sparks' plan was for the Minstrels only to
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record,
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but Columbia Records had other ideas.
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Executives demanded they tour to promote the album.
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The Minstrels did more than tour. They became
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popular TV guests.
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Sparks stepped away from touring with the group
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in 1963
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to focus on writing and opening a Los
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Angeles nightclub.
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He sold ownership of the Minstrels
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name a year later
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for $2.5 million,
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the equivalent of $25.1 million
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today.
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Sparks had an eye for talent.
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He formed the group Back Porch Majority
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to develop talent to fill openings when artists
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left the Minstrels.
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He discovered Steve Martin at a banjo contest
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at Knott's Berry Farm.
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He hired John Deutschendorf
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Jr.,
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but not until he agreed to change his
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name. Deutschendorf
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decided to become John Denver.
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Sparks mentored Barry McGuire, who co-wrote with him
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and went on to have the hit "Eve
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of Destruction,"
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Gene Clark, who later joined the Byrds,
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Kim Carnes, who sang "Bette Davis Eyes,"
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country hitmaker Kenny Rogers,
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and Larry Ramos,
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later of the Association.
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Sparks wrote
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"Today"
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years before the Minstrels turned it into a
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hit in 1964.
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It reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot
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100.
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McGuire and Clark were the lead singers.
Kate:
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This is Kate Jones.
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You'll find a lot of other tributes on
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Everyday Creation.
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Please check them out, and thank you for
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listening.
