Larry Sparks 4

Flatpick Profile: Rich Starkey 14

Martin Guitars: Part 1 (1833-1980) 21

Highlight on the Martin D-18 25

Columnist Profile: Dix Bruce 35

Masters of Rhythm Guitar: Jamie Clifton 39

COLUMIVS

Practice, Practice, Practice 11

Craig Vance

Beginner's Page: "Gold Rush" 12

Dan Huckabee

Flatpick Rhythm Guitar: Swing Style Rhythm 17

Joe Carr

Kaufman's Corner: "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" 27

Steve Kaufman

Nashville Flat Top 30

Brad Davis

Break Time: Blues in Bluegrass 33

Chris Jones

The O-Zone: "Little Maggie" 37

Orrin Star

Crosspicking: "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" 44

Dix Bruce

Music Theory: Mastering the Fingerboard 47

Mike Maddux

Vintage Voice 51

Bill Bush

Flatpicking Fiddle Tunes: More About Variations 54

Adam Granger

Exploring Bluegrass Guitar: Improvisation, Part III 56

Steve Pottier

Eclectic Acoustic: "Huggin' The Rail" 70

John McGann

Exploring the British Islands 73

Beppe Gambetta

DET’A.RTWIEIVTS

Letters 52

New Release Highlight: Luke Bulla 60

Reviews 64

For those of us who love to hear tire blues

in our bluegrass guitar, the records and CDs

we love to spin frequently bear the name

“Larry Sparks." With his heavy, aggressive,

dynamic, downstroking attack on that deep,

dark, bassy Martin D-2S, Larry knows how

to make the blues bluer and the lonesome

lonelier. He has a unique voice on the gui-

tar and is a true pioneer of the flatpick style

of lead guitar in bluegrass. Although he is

probably best known as a singer and

bandleader, many of today’s flatpickers

have been influenced by his dynamic,

bluesy guitar playing.

Chris Jones, of Chris Jones and the Night

Drivers, is one of today’s top artists who

has been heavily influenced by Larry’s play-

ing. When asked about this influence, Chris

said, “Larry Sparks was the first 'big name’

bluegrass musician I ever saw performing

live and it had a big impact on me. 1 was

blown away not only by the soul fulness of

his singing, but by his guitar playing. It had

so much punch and feeling to it—not only

a bluesier version of Stanley style guitar

playing, but a style completely his own.”

In a discussion about Larry Sparks, Hot

Rize guitarist Charles Sawtelle said, “Larry

Sparks is one of my favorite guitar players.

He is really unique. I like that he plays a lot

of blues licks and syncopated stuff. I really

like his guitar style and I like his singing

too. He is a great singer. He is one guy

who’s talent on the guitar seems to be re-

ally overlooked. But everyone I know who

is really into the heart and soul of bluegrass,

people like Peter Rowan and Laurie Lewis,

really like him a lot too.”

Our distinguished columnist Steve

Pottier says, “1 first became aware of Larry

Sparks through my friend Rick Mann. Rick

would always pour his heart and soul into

everything he sang. I’d ask him “Where’d

you learn ‘These Old Blues?”’ He’d answer

“Larry Sparks.” I asked about “Brand New

Broken Heart?” He said, “Larry Sparks.”

How about, “Lonesome Old Feeling?”

Same answer, “Larry Sparks.” Rick’s sing-

ing and playing was so intense, and he

seemed to have gotten a lot of his inspira-...