I was born in CORSICANA TX.Started playing drums at the age of three.At the age of 4, I started developing and interest in playing the Organ from watching EZRA CARROLL (A family Friend). At the age of six, PAUL LEWIS (a 16 year old prodigy) took me in as a little brother and changed my life.Paul would take me all over and show me Gospel songs from artist like Walter & Edwin Hawkins to Andre Crouch.Also my parents were instrumental.My mother (MOLLY SPARKS) showed me and taught me my basicsHYMNS, and had me play traditional gospel music like REV. JAMES CLEVELAND, REV.CHARLES NICKS, MARGARET DUROUEX, V. MICHAEL MCKAY. My father (BOBBY SPARKS SR.) was and is a VINTAGE SRAIGHT AHEAD JAZZ MUSICIAN.He demanded that I listen to artist like DIZZY GILESPIE, DEXTER GORDON, JIMMY SMITH, STANLEY TURNTINE, ARNETT COBB, COUNT BASIE, DUKE ELLINGTON, JIMMY LUNGFORD BAND, SONNY ROLLINS, SONNY STITT AND MILES DAVIS(I HATED IT)At the age of 9, I discovered PRINCE, and then the FUNK startedTHIS PERIOD I WAS TRYING TO PLAY LIKE MATT (DR. FINK) FINKLOL.then there was the TIME, RICK JAMES, GAP BAND, CAMEO, SHALAMAR and others.at the age of 13 I put the music aside and was playing Basketball and Football at COLLINS MIDDLE SCHOOLas a DEFENSIVE NOSE TACKLE and MLB (depending on the defense formation, We did not do the 3-4 defense either).Basketball, I was a 2 guard until I was kicked of the team for smart mouthing the Head CoachBy this time I Started listening to gospel again.when I heard COMMISSIONED's (GO AND TELL SOMEBODY) record and heard the keyboard work of MICHAEL BROOKSchanged my life, THEN THIS PERIOD, I WANTED TO BE A GOSPEL MUSICIANThen I got into the WINANS, THE THOMPSON COMMUNITY SINGERS, EDWIN HAWKINS MUSIC & ARTS MASS CHOIR DOUGLAS MILLER and others of the 80s.By this time I was playing with a group from NAVARRO COLLEGE called VISSIONED, We would go all ov er The Dallas Ft.Worth area playing church musicalsalso I played for the NAVARRO GOSPEL CHOIR.at the age of 16, I was playing at a Jazz club in Ft. Worth and the WINANS keyboard bass player came and sat in: his name (BERNARD WRIGHT) I was on some Chick Corea stuff, (My COREA PERIOD)playing a whole lot of stuff that did not make senseBernard came in and tore the place down, playing 1 note.I STARTED HEARING MUSIC DIFFERENTLY
By this time i'm 17 or 18 listening to HERBIE HANCOCK, BUD POWELL, KEITH JARRETT.During this time, I moved to DALLAS to go to school at EASTFIELD COLLEGEMet some interesting people CURT BRADSHAW, Curt made a musician out of meHe knew I had a Gospel background, he knew Gospel musicians were not disipline, and he did not want me playing like thatGARY FREEMAN was teaching Piano, he was over the synthesizer class, and he was over the fusion band.GARY had amazing technique, he could play anything!!!!!! it was like being around Herbie or ChickDuring this
time I was Playing clubs around town and ARTHUR DYER & RODNEY FRAIZER hired me to play on a guy name KIRK FRANKLIN's WHY WE SING RECORD
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