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Sparky (James) and Rhonda Rucker are a performing duo. They travel to various places to sing folk and traditional music. They have been nominated for musical awards. Combined, they have released 16 albums. Ten of these albums were together. Their album, Treasures and Tears, was in the running for an award (the W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Recording). Their music style os vast including blues, Appalachian music, slave songs, storytelling, etc.
Sparky Rucker is from Knoxville, Tennessee. He is a civil rights activist. He attended the University of Tennessee and attained a degree. After school, he became a teacher in Chattanooga before becoming a singer full-time. Today, Sparky continues to sing and teaches music in places such as Common Ground on the Hill, Maryland and Augusta Heritage Center, West Virginia. Sparky has contributed to a few books during his time as well.
Rhonda Rucker is from Louisville, Kentucky. She is an author and storyteller along with being a musician. She plays multiple instruments including the banjo and harmonica. Before she was all of these things, she worked in the medical profession. She attended the University of Kentucky where she completed all medical school requirements. Rhonda has taught courses at the University of Tennessee as well as at multiple events and festivals.
Sparky (James) and Rhonda Rucker are a performing duo. They travel to various places to sing folk and traditional music. They have been nominated for musical awards. Combined, they have released 16 albums. Ten of these albums were together. Their album, Treasures and Tears, was in the running for an award (the W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Recording). Their music style os vast including blues, Appalachian music, slave songs, storytelling, etc.
Sparky Rucker is from Knoxville, Tennessee. He is a civil rights activist. He attended the University of Tennessee and attained a degree. After school, he became a teacher in Chattanooga before becoming a singer full-time. Today, Sparky continues to sing and teaches music in places such as Common Ground on the Hill, Maryland and Augusta Heritage Center, West Virginia. Sparky has contributed to a few books during his time as well.
Rhonda Rucker is from Louisville, Kentucky. She is an author and storyteller along with being a musician. She plays multiple instruments including the banjo and harmonica. Before she was all of these things, she worked in the medical profession. She attended the University of Kentucky where she completed all medical school requirements. Rhonda has taught courses at the University of Tennessee as well as at multiple events and festivals.
Discography
* Cold & Lonesome on a TrainJune Appal Recordings
June Appal Recordings is a record label that was founded by Jack Wright and established by Appalshop to record and distribute music of and from central Appalachia. Artists with June Appal include Buell Kazee, Morgan Sexton, Lee Sexton, Carla Gov ...
* Heroes & Hard Times (1981) Green Linnet Records
Green Linnet Records was an American independent record label that specialized in Celtic music. Founded by Lisa Null and Patrick Sky as Innisfree Records in 1973, the label was initially based in Null's house in New Canaan, Connecticut. In 1975, t ...
* A Home in Tennessee
* Drive Back the Night - live(1983) live recording of Sparky's solo performance at the 1983 Old Time Music and Craft Festival in Shawano, Wisconsin
* A Magic Night - live (1983)
* The Blue & Gray in Black & White (1989) Flying Fish Records
Flying Fish Records was a record label founded in Chicago in 1974 that specialized in folk, blues, and country music. In the 1990s the label was sold to Rounder Records.
Bruce Kaplan, the label's founder, was a native of Chicago and the son of ...
* Treasures & Tears (1990) Flying Fish Records
Flying Fish Records was a record label founded in Chicago in 1974 that specialized in folk, blues, and country music. In the 1990s the label was sold to Rounder Records.
Bruce Kaplan, the label's founder, was a native of Chicago and the son of ...
Sparky and Rhonda's first recording as a duo.
* Eventide
* Midnight Memories (2004)
* Done Told the Truth Goodbye (2006)
* The Mountains Above & The Valleys Below (2008)
* One Earth (2009)
* Let Freedom Ring (2012)
* Down By the RiversideBooks
* Swing Low, Sweet Harriet by Rhonda Rucker * Welcome to Bombingham by Rhonda Rucker * Make a Change by Rhonda Rucker * "Telling Tales in Tandem" by Sparky and Rhonda Rucker for the book, Team Up! Tell In Tandem! * Sparky Rucker contributes to August House book for Scary Stories * Sparky Rucker contributes to Encyclopedia of AppalachiaReferences
External links
* American folk musical groups American multi-instrumentalists Living people Musical groups from Louisville, Kentucky Singers from Tennessee Musical groups from Knoxville, Tennessee Folk musicians from Kentucky Singers from Kentucky Year of birth missing (living people) Male–female musical duos American musical duos Folk music duos African-American banjoists African-American guitarists {{Louisville-stub