A Conversation with Minton Sparks (continued)

PM: So the blueprint that you established from the get-go about using musical accompaniment with the poetry, that was a real brainstorm. How did that happen?

MS: That started with my guitar teacher, Rob Jackson. Do you know him?

PM: We haven't met, but I remember him accompanying you in the early days. He was very good.

MS: Yes. He's wonderful.

PM: And he played banjo, too, right?

MS: Yeah, yeah. He's really, really--well, it's unbelievable how he supports creatively all of his students. And he and I had talked about doing a little music behind it. And I remember Marcus was in there too, saying, "Why don't you do something"--

PM: Marcus Hummond? [a respected hit songwriter as well as a musical playwright]

MS: Yeah. So look now, he can just go by first name.

[laughter]

MS: Madonna Hummond.

PM: [laughs]

MS: Anyway, Rob Jackson--we went into his studio, and we just kept fiddling back and forth. I'd read the poems and he'd write some music. He and I did a demo in his basement, just kind of fooling around with it. That was sort of the first little piece we did together. And then after Marcus heard that, he said he'd produce a full-blown thing, and he got Darrel[Scott] to do it with him.

PM: Yeah, you've had had a lot of celebrity ringers through the years.

MS: How did that happen? I didn't even know Darrel at the time. Marcus just said, "This guy will blow your mind. Get him."

PM: One of the most amazing guys who ever picked up a stringed instrument.

MS: I know. And he did it for free. I paid him in some pears at Christmas.

PM: Are you kidding me? See, that's him all over.

MS: Yeah, he's so nice. He had me play with him once this summer. That was fun.

PM: Where? At the Down Home in Johnson City?

MS: No. We did the Buisson Art Center. He did that all summer. I guess he's trying to help them build a following.

PM: Where is that?

MS: It's in Dahlonega, Georgia. And he's been having guest spots. He does it, and then has had guests all summer. [find out more about the Arts Center here]

PM: And other celebrity ringers--I remember Keb Mo was in there.

MS: Yeah. I loved what he did--

PM: How did that happen?

MS: It was unbelievable. But you know my buddy Nikki, right? You met her before?

PM: Oh, sure.

MS: She's with Waylon's management.

PM: Yeah. What's her last name?

MS: Mitchell.

PM: Nikki Mitchell. She's a real character.

MS: And she's sort of been a linchpin for a lot of the celebrity ringers, because she's in Waylon's office, and she just comes by people and she knows all those people. And she'd send them some of my stuff, and they'd be like, "Whoa, okay."

PM: And pardon me for asking you but how does Keb Mo fit into the Waylon Jennings picture exactly?

MS: How does he? Just that Waylon Jennings knew everybody.

PM: Right.

MS: I mean, Sting would be in Waylon Jennings' office--

PM: [laughs] Wow.

MS: I wish I could have gotten him. [laughs]

PM: Yeah, right. Well, you're not dead yet.

[laughter]

MS: Keb Mo was in town doing a show, and Nikki got to his folks, and he ended up coming over right before the show and sat down and said, "Now, what in the hell am I doing here?" He was almost mad.

PM: Oh, really?

MS: Yeah, because he just wasn't sure what was happening. And he said, "You talk?" He kept going, "You're a talker? I've never heard of a talker."

PM: A talker!

MS: Then he listened to it a couple of times, and then he goes, "I get it." And he just locked in so deep.

PM: But he really didn't know what to do at first.

MS: No, he had no idea.

PM: He had to walk into the groove. Wow.

MS: Yeah. And then, what he did, I thought it was a really cool thing.

PM: Definitely.   continue

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