Randy Sparks, New Christy Minstrels Founder, Dies at 90
variety.comDiego Ramos Bechara editor Randy Sparks, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and founder of the folk music group the New Christy Minstrels, died Feb.
11 at an assisted-living facility in San Diego. He was 90. His son, Kevin, confirmed the news to the New York Times, adding that Sparks was living on his 168-acre ranch in Jenny Lind, Calif., northeast of San Francisco, until a few days before his death.
Sparks was an American musician, songwriter and founder of the folk group the New Christy Minstrels — gaining recognition for his work in the folk music revival of the 1960s.
He formed the group in 1961, which became known for its vocal harmonies and folk-pop sound. Under Sparks’ leadership, the New Christy Minstrels achieved commercial success with hits like “Green, Green,” which Sparks wrote with future “Eve of Destruction” singer Barry McGuire, “Today” and “Denver.” The group also won a Grammy Award in 1963 for best performance by a chorus for their debut album “Presenting the New Christy Minstrels,” which stayed on the Billboard albums chart for two years.
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