Larry Sparks

Larry Sparks

Author: Tom Power February 13, 2024 Duration: 57:59
The legendary Larry Sparks, a prominent player in bluegrass for over six decades and a Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee, joins host Tom Power for 'Toy Heart.' Sparks shares insightful anecdotes from his early years, touring and performing with the Stanley Brothers and from his tenure with Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys. From traveling in a ‘67 station wagon to the challenges of navigating the music industry over so many decades, Sparks reflects on his particular journey through bluegrass, old-time, and country music. We explore his musical influences, his unique approach to bluegrass guitar playing, and the profound impact of gospel songs on his own soulful, down home sound. Sparks also offers a glimpse into his Nashville days, highlighting the unique challenges he faced in Music City. His stories reveal a dedication to preserving the essence of bluegrass and his commitment to honest storytelling. Hear Sparks describe making hits like “John Deere Tractor” as well as speaking to the spiritual resonance of gospel music. He paints a vivid picture of a musical legacy that spans more than 60 years, leaving an indelible mark on the heart and soul of the bluegrass community. Presented by BGS (The Bluegrass Situation) Interested in sponsoring us? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpods

There’s a story behind every song, and behind that story is a person who lived it. Toy Heart with Tom Power digs into those personal histories, focusing on the very roots of bluegrass music itself. Host Tom Power, known from CBC Radio, approaches these conversations with a genuine curiosity that goes beyond the typical interview. Each episode features an intimate talk with a foundational artist-voices like Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Alice Gerrard, Jesse McReynolds, and Jerry Douglas, among others. They don’t just recount career highlights; they trace their own origins, sharing the specific moments, influences, and challenges that shaped them within this distinct musical world. Produced in partnership with BGS (The Bluegrass Situation), this podcast is built for anyone who wants to understand not just how bluegrass sounds, but how it feels to those who created its legacy. The tone is conversational and revealing, often feeling like you’re overhearing a deep talk between old friends. New episodes arrive every other week, ready to be found wherever you listen.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 23

Toy Heart with Tom Power (A Podcast About Bluegrass)
Podcast Episodes
Jerry Douglas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:04
For the final episode of season one of Toy Heart, we have host Tom Power’s 2019 sit down with legendary artist, musician, and sideman Jerry Douglas at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual business confe…
Tony Trischka [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:32
Host Tom Power speaks with progressive banjo legend Tony Trischka at the home of his friend and former student, Béla Fleck. Trischka and Power talk about the time he saw and met Bob Dylan when no one was sure how to pron…
Jesse McReynolds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:29
Host Tom Power talks to Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Jesse McReynolds of Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys about his career in bluegrass. One of the last founding fathers of bluegrass, Jesse McReynold’s story is the sto…
Alison Brown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:59
Banjoist and record label head Alison Brown speaks with host Tom Power from her studio at Compass Records headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. They begin with her early records made with Stuart Duncan, "finding her peop…
Béla Fleck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:31
On this episode of Toy Heart, Béla Fleck talks to host Tom Power from his home studio and for the first time, he tells his story in bluegrass. Fleck started out in New York hearing Earl Scruggs for the first time, learni…
Alice Gerrard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:50
Old-time legend and Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Alice Gerrard talks to host Tom Power at her kitchen table in North Carolina. Gerrard tells stories of how she and other college students from the northern U.S. found blu…
Ricky Skaggs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:10
Bluegrass legend and Country Music Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs talks to TOY HEART host Tom Power about what it was like to grow up as a child prodigy, the real story of how he got pulled on stage by Bill Monroe, how meeti…