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College: Fine Arts

An Affrilachian Concert with Some 'Spark'

Published: Sep 22, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 22, 2010) - The University of Kentucky John Jacob Niles Center for American Music welcomes renowned musicians Sparky and Rhonda Rucker to campus as part of the concert series "Appalachia in the Bluegrass," which explores traditional music in the Appalachian region. Sparky and Rhonda will perform at noon Friday, Sept. 24, in the Niles Gallery, located in the Lucille C. Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

Sparky and Rhonda Rucker perform throughout the U.S. as well as overseas, singing songs and telling stories from the American folk tradition. Sparky has been performing more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a leading folklorist, musician, historian, storyteller and author. He accompanies himself with fingerstyle picking and bottleneck blues guitar, banjo and spoons. Rhonda is an accomplished harmonica, piano, banjo and bones player, and also adds vocal harmonies to their songs.

Sparky and Rhonda are known to deliver uplifting presentations of toe-tapping music spiced with humor, history and tall tales. They take audiences on an educational and emotional journey that ranges from poignant stories of slavery and war to an amusing rendition of a Brer Rabbit tale or witty commentaries on current events. Their music includes a variety of old-time blues, slave songs, Appalachian music, spirituals, ballads, work songs, Civil War music, cowboy music, railroad songs, and a few of their own original compositions.

Sparky and Rhonda have numerous recordings, and their 1991 release, "Treasures and Tears," was nominated for the W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Recording. They have also contributed music to the syndicated television miniseries "The Wild West," directed by Kieth Merrill. Sparky's renditions of "John Henry" and "Jesse James" were used in the National Geographic Society’s 1994 video "Storytelling in North America."

Sparky has also appeared on numerous radio programs, including National Public Radio’s "Morning Edition," "Prairie Home Companion" and "Mountain Stage." He also performed in "Carry It On" and "Amazing Grace: Music in America," two videos produced by the Public Broadcasting System.

To listen to music performed by Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/sparkyrhondarucker.

The annual "Appalachia in the Bluegrass" concert series, presented by UK's John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, explores and celebrates traditional music of the Appalachian region. A variety of traditional Appalachia music has been represented through the past few years; from old time sounds of a mountain banjo player to blues-infused styles of music. This year's concert series focuses on different types of American folk music celebrating its roots in old time music. The Niles Center is a collaborative research and performance center of the UK College of Fine Arts, UK School of Music and UK Libraries.

This year's concert series is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Niles Center and the Appalachian Studies Program.

For more information on the Sparky and Rhonda Rucker concert or the "Appalachia in the Bluegrass" concert series, contact Ron Pen, director of the Niles Center by e-mail to Ron.Pen@uky.edu or visit online at www.uky.edu/FineArts/Music/Niles.

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