Grammy-winner and singer-songwriter Randy Sparks, who founded the folk music ensemble New Christy Minstrels, died on February 11 at age 90. The musician in an assisted living facility in San Diego. Sparks, renowned as an American musician and songwriter, made significant contributions to the revival of folk music in the 1960s with the formation of New Christy Minstrels. This musical group, best known for its melodic harmonies and folk-pop sound, was formed in 1961, with Sparks leading the way. The New Christy Minstrels achieved remarkable success with hit songs, including “Today,” “Denver,” and “Green, Green,” which Sparks co-wrote with future “Eve of Destruction” vocalist Barry McGuire. The New Christy Minstrels were also a mainstay on television between 1962 and 1963, appearing on 26 episodes of The Andy Williams Show on NBC and eight episodes of ABC’s Hootenanny. The group even got its own NBC show in the summer of 1964 titled Ford Presents the New Christy Minstrels.
- 2/18/2024
- TV Insider
Randy Sparks, whose group the New Christy Minstrels was a huge part of the folk revival of the early 1960s, died February 11 at an assisted-living facility in San Diego. He was 90.
His son, Kevin, confirmed the death to The New York Times. Sparks was living on his 168-acre ranch in Jenny Lind, CA, until a few days before his death.
The New Christy Minstrels were constantly on TV in the 1960s and sold an estimated 2 million albums in their first three years. The group’s first album, Presenting the New Christy Minstrels, won the Grammy Award for best performance by a chorus and stayed on the Billboard albums chart for two years.
The group’s 1963 LP Ramblin’ made the Top 15 and was its only gold disc. The holiday set Merry Christmas! also was a hit that year, Today hit No. 9 in 1964, becoming the Christys’ lone Top 10 album. It featured music...
His son, Kevin, confirmed the death to The New York Times. Sparks was living on his 168-acre ranch in Jenny Lind, CA, until a few days before his death.
The New Christy Minstrels were constantly on TV in the 1960s and sold an estimated 2 million albums in their first three years. The group’s first album, Presenting the New Christy Minstrels, won the Grammy Award for best performance by a chorus and stayed on the Billboard albums chart for two years.
The group’s 1963 LP Ramblin’ made the Top 15 and was its only gold disc. The holiday set Merry Christmas! also was a hit that year, Today hit No. 9 in 1964, becoming the Christys’ lone Top 10 album. It featured music...
- 2/17/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The Monkees Peter Tork may have been known as the happy-go-lucky member of the music group. But, behind the scenes, he enjoyed a life filled with the perks of celebrity. He counted some of his fellow 1960s musicians as his friends and hosted legendary “clothing-optional” parties. In looking back on those carefree times, Tork once joked, “a good time was had by most.”
Peter Tork | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Peter Tork hosted some prolific 1960s musicians during parties at his California home
Just north of Laurel Canyon, in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, was Peter Tork’s home. His home was a hotbed of musicians who regularly stopped by to commiserate and have fun. These pals included The Byrds’ David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Denny Doherty, Barry McGuire, and Steven Stills.
He told Rolling Stone his pals would “mostly come over in the afternoon. Sometimes I would wake...
Peter Tork | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Peter Tork hosted some prolific 1960s musicians during parties at his California home
Just north of Laurel Canyon, in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, was Peter Tork’s home. His home was a hotbed of musicians who regularly stopped by to commiserate and have fun. These pals included The Byrds’ David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Denny Doherty, Barry McGuire, and Steven Stills.
He told Rolling Stone his pals would “mostly come over in the afternoon. Sometimes I would wake...
- 3/9/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Here’s a Great picture whose time has come — Theodore J. Flicker’s spy spoof is one of the smartest, funniest political satires ever, and probably James Coburn’s finest hour as an actor-producer. A high-class shrink knows too many Presidential secrets, making him an international espionage target in a giddy spy chase. Everything leads to an absurd-sounding Sci-fi conspiracy that’s quickly becoming a reality. Coburn’s hipster cred holds up well, abetted by a great lineup of talent, led by improv pioneers Godfrey Cambridge and Severn Darden.
The President’s Analyst
Blu-ray (Plays on Region A)
Viavision [Imprint] 42
1967 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 103 min. / Street Date May 26 or June 2, 2021 / Available from / 34.95 au
Starring: James Coburn, Godfrey Cambridge, Severn Darden, Joan Delaney, Pat Harrington, Barry McGuire, Jill Banner, Eduard Franz, Walter Burke, Will Geer, William Daniels, Joan Darling, Sheldon Collins, Arte Johnson, Kathleen Hughes.
Cinematography: William A. Fraker
Production Designer: Pato Guzman
Art Direction: Hal Pereira,...
The President’s Analyst
Blu-ray (Plays on Region A)
Viavision [Imprint] 42
1967 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 103 min. / Street Date May 26 or June 2, 2021 / Available from / 34.95 au
Starring: James Coburn, Godfrey Cambridge, Severn Darden, Joan Delaney, Pat Harrington, Barry McGuire, Jill Banner, Eduard Franz, Walter Burke, Will Geer, William Daniels, Joan Darling, Sheldon Collins, Arte Johnson, Kathleen Hughes.
Cinematography: William A. Fraker
Production Designer: Pato Guzman
Art Direction: Hal Pereira,...
- 6/8/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Kenny Rogers, whose music went beyond the country music genre he is known for, died at home in Sandy Springs, Ga., Friday night, according to the New York Times. He was 81.
“The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25Pm at the age of 81,” his family said in a statement to Twitter. “Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.”
Rogers was known for duets like his chart-topping pairing with Dolly Parton, “Islands in the Stream,” and crossover hits like “Coward of the County,” “Lucille,” “Lady,” and his signature song, “The Gambler.” But the Country Music Hall of Famer went through all genres in his musical journey, from playing upright bass in a jazz band, through subtle Vietnam War commentary with his cover of Mel Tillis’ song “Ruby” to psychedelic swing...
“The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25Pm at the age of 81,” his family said in a statement to Twitter. “Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.”
Rogers was known for duets like his chart-topping pairing with Dolly Parton, “Islands in the Stream,” and crossover hits like “Coward of the County,” “Lucille,” “Lady,” and his signature song, “The Gambler.” But the Country Music Hall of Famer went through all genres in his musical journey, from playing upright bass in a jazz band, through subtle Vietnam War commentary with his cover of Mel Tillis’ song “Ruby” to psychedelic swing...
- 3/21/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
If the Monkees were supposed to be uncool, someone forgot to tell Jimi Hendrix, the Who, half the Beatles, Mama Cass and the future members of Crosby, Stills and Nash — all of whom spent a good chunk of 1967 and 1968 hanging out with Peter Tork in Los Angeles. In 2007, Tork called up Rolling Stone to reminisce about his Sixties heyday for one of our 40th anniversary issues. Here, for the first time, is that interview in full.
Jimi Hendrix had some fond memories of hanging out at your house.
He would...
Jimi Hendrix had some fond memories of hanging out at your house.
He would...
- 2/22/2019
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
Help! They need somebody! Help! Not just anybody! Help! You know they need someone… to give them a big fat new account! Help! Last week’s episode of Mad Men dropped The Beatles explicitly and hysterically (thank you, Sally, for making your mom smile) into the show’s matrix of cultural references—and brought Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce to the proverbial Eve Of Destruction. Loathsome good ol’ boy Lee Garner, Jr. of Lucky Strike—which represents nearly 70% of the agency’s business—told Roger that the tobacco company was pulling its account. The reason: Consolidation. Lucky Strike’s parent company...
- 10/2/2010
- by Jeff Jensen
- EW.com - PopWatch
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