Who was Randy Sparks? Founder of the New Christy Minstrels Dead at 90

Randy Sparks, a pivotal figure in the folk revival of the early 1960s with his group, the New Christy Minstrels, passed away on February 11 at an assisted-living facility in San Diego. He was 90 years old.

Confirmation of his passing came from his son, Kevin, speaking to The New York Times. Until a few days before his death, Sparks had been residing on his 168-acre ranch in Jenny Lind, CA.

The New Christy Minstrels played a significant role in the 1960s folk scene, achieving widespread success on television and in album sales. In their first three years alone, the group sold an estimated 2 million albums. Their debut album, “Presenting the New Christy Minstrels,” earned them a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Chorus and enjoyed a two-year stint on the Billboard albums chart.

Their 1963 album, “Ramblin’,” reached the Top 15 and garnered the group its only gold disc. Additionally, their holiday album, “Merry Christmas!,” and the 1964 release, “Today,” which featured music from the movie “Advance to the Rear,” were also met with commercial success.

The New Christy Minstrels produced three Top 40 hits: “Today,” “Saturday Night,” and “Green, Green,” the latter co-written by Sparks and Barry McGuire, who would later gain fame with “Eve of Destruction.”

During the early 1960s, the New Christy Minstrels made numerous appearances on popular television shows like “The Andy Williams Show” and “Hootenanny.” In 1964, they even hosted their own NBC summer series, “Ford Presents the New Christy Minstrels,” and performed at the White House later that year.

Aside from his work with the New Christy Minstrels, Sparks nurtured emerging talent through his “farm group,” the Back Porch Majority. Notable artists who passed through his ranks included Steve Martin, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes, and Gene Clark of the Byrds.

In the mid-1960s, Sparks sold his interest in the New Christy Minstrels for $2.5 million and relocated to rural Northern California. There, he embarked on a 30-year collaboration with Burl Ives, co-writing songs and often serving as his opening act.

Randy Sparks is survived by his sons, Kevin and Cameron; daughters Melinda and Amanda; a sister, Naomi Allen; and four grandchildren.