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Tom Sparks: Photos

Let's see, where to start with the photos?...well, how about my first band, "The Mixed Emotions", very early on a Sunday morning at Chicago's North Avenue Beach, circa 1966 (L to R: Tom Hoffmann, Pat Shea, John Giacalone and yours truly)
Let's see, where to start with the photos?...well, how about my first band, "The Mixed Emotions", very early on a Sunday morning at Chicago's North Avenue Beach, circa 1966 (L to R: Tom Hoffmann, Pat Shea, John Giacalone and yours truly)
A few years later, here here I am playing guitar with "Northern Front", circa 1972
A few years later, here here I am playing guitar with "Northern Front", circa 1972
This is the only picture I could locate of "Northern Front", the group I spent most of the 1970's with, doing virtually all original material, recording a few records, and having a great time. L to R: Ed Sak, Alex Tiu, Chuck Giorno, me, and Tom Hoffmann
This is the only picture I could locate of "Northern Front", the group I spent most of the 1970's with, doing virtually all original material, recording a few records, and having a great time. L to R: Ed Sak, Alex Tiu, Chuck Giorno, me, and Tom Hoffmann
Working with Bob Kaider (on right), a great friend and recording engineer extraordinaire, at Lake Recording, circa 1985. He taught me a lot!
Working with Bob Kaider (on right), a great friend and recording engineer extraordinaire, at Lake Recording, circa 1985. He taught me a lot!
Speaking about Bob, here he is with one of his idols, the great Bill Haley in Chicago, circa 1956
Speaking about Bob, here he is with one of his idols, the great Bill Haley in Chicago, circa 1956
Working at Lake Recording, and ending up in a vary grainy picture, circa 1985
Working at Lake Recording, and ending up in a vary grainy picture, circa 1985
The last band I played in, "Danny and the Twisters". L to R: Me, Claud Bianchi, Danny Campos, Chuck Stratton, Carl Bruno and Gary Pahl
The last band I played in, "Danny and the Twisters". L to R: Me, Claud Bianchi, Danny Campos, Chuck Stratton, Carl Bruno and Gary Pahl
Teri Weston: A great lyricist from Canada whose words always seem to work
Teri Weston: A great lyricist from Canada whose words always seem to work
Nancy T smiling in the studio...
Nancy T smiling in the studio...
....followed closely by Nancy T singing in the studio
....followed closely by Nancy T singing in the studio
Here I am in the studio playing my favorite electric guitar..the Teisco Spectrum 5
Here I am in the studio playing my favorite electric guitar..the Teisco Spectrum 5
The Garritys (Melissa, Megan and Angela)
The Garritys (Melissa, Megan and Angela)
The Garritys with me, taking a break in our yard during our first recording sessions
The Garritys with me, taking a break in our yard during our first recording sessions
Melissa Bauer (The Garritys) playing guitar in the studio (she assured me that the bottle on the piano is root beer)
Melissa Bauer (The Garritys) playing guitar in the studio (she assured me that the bottle on the piano is root beer)
Me, Melissa and our good friend, Zupe at the 2002 Taxi Road Rally in Los Angeles
Me, Melissa and our good friend, Zupe at the 2002 Taxi Road Rally in Los Angeles
This picture doesn't have anything to do with music, but I had to put it in because I look pretty good in it (must be because the large glasses make my chin look smaller...)
This picture doesn't have anything to do with music, but I had to put it in because I look pretty good in it (must be because the large glasses make my chin look smaller...)
Of course, some people think this sketch is a better representation...
Of course, some people think this sketch is a better representation...
Okay, back to music pictures; here I am with my good friend Zupe (on right) at the Taxi Road Rally in Los Angeles
Okay, back to music pictures; here I am with my good friend Zupe (on right) at the Taxi Road Rally in Los Angeles
Stacy Donahue singing in studio
Stacy Donahue singing in studio
A lot of pictures from Horse & Writer will follow; here's a group shot. FR: John, Stacey, Kathy, Angela, Heath, "Senator" MR: Loretta, Skip, Jenny, Ruth BR: Hilde, me, AmyJo, Joey, Rory, Scott, Jan, Jim (sorry-there wasn't room for last names)
A lot of pictures from Horse & Writer will follow; here's a group shot. FR: John, Stacey, Kathy, Angela, Heath, "Senator" MR: Loretta, Skip, Jenny, Ruth BR: Hilde, me, AmyJo, Joey, Rory, Scott, Jan, Jim (sorry-there wasn't room for last names)
Loretta McNair, Hilde Sevens, Amy Jo Ellis, Angela McArthur and Jan Eller performing the song they wrote earlier in the day
Loretta McNair, Hilde Sevens, Amy Jo Ellis, Angela McArthur and Jan Eller performing the song they wrote earlier in the day
Tim Johnson, hit songwriter from Nashville, playing piano
Tim Johnson, hit songwriter from Nashville, playing piano
James Dean Hicks, another Nashville hit songwriter (and also NSAI Vice-President and great performer) plays one of his songs.
James Dean Hicks, another Nashville hit songwriter (and also NSAI Vice-President and great performer) plays one of his songs.
Skip Ewing couldn't get Tim or James off the piano, so he decided to grab his computer and work on cowboy poetry instead
Skip Ewing couldn't get Tim or James off the piano, so he decided to grab his computer and work on cowboy poetry instead
Change the theme for a second....here's another shot of Stacy Donahue singing in the studio
Change the theme for a second....here's another shot of Stacy Donahue singing in the studio
Back to H&W; here's hit-songwriter Rory Lee playing while his wife, Joey, looks on
Back to H&W; here's hit-songwriter Rory Lee playing while his wife, Joey, looks on
Now it's Joey's turn to sing (and let me tell you...she can really sing!)
Now it's Joey's turn to sing (and let me tell you...she can really sing!)
Ruth Walli, Jan Eller and Jim Berryhill waiting for an evening H&W session
Ruth Walli, Jan Eller and Jim Berryhill waiting for an evening H&W session
John Bogosh and Jenny Foley relaxing in front of the fireplace
John Bogosh and Jenny Foley relaxing in front of the fireplace
Tim Johnson and James Dean Hicks playing one of their songs
Tim Johnson and James Dean Hicks playing one of their songs
Joey Martin and Rory Lee out and about
Joey Martin and Rory Lee out and about
Dinner on the last night. You know, H&W is pretty amazing experience; you not only enhance your creative ability, you establish relationships with some of the nicest and most talented friends you'll ever meet; I highly recommend attending if you can
Dinner on the last night. You know, H&W is pretty amazing experience; you not only enhance your creative ability, you establish relationships with some of the nicest and most talented friends you'll ever meet; I highly recommend attending if you can
Another dinner shot (what can I say?....I eat fast and had a camera...)
Another dinner shot (what can I say?....I eat fast and had a camera...)
Our dinner table on the last night at H&W. I belong in that empty space between Jim and Kathy (but I'm much too hyper to sit still...)
Our dinner table on the last night at H&W. I belong in that empty space between Jim and Kathy (but I'm much too hyper to sit still...)
Tim Johnson, wondering why I'm setting-off the flash right in his face
Tim Johnson, wondering why I'm setting-off the flash right in his face
Stacey Snowden-Martin, Horse & Writer Coordinator, Skip's Assistant, and all-around great person (and extremely tolerant, too, as I must have called and e-mailed her 50 times before H&W)
Stacey Snowden-Martin, Horse & Writer Coordinator, Skip's Assistant, and all-around great person (and extremely tolerant, too, as I must have called and e-mailed her 50 times before H&W)
Stacy Donahue still singing in studio...and why not?; she's good at it!
Stacy Donahue still singing in studio...and why not?; she's good at it!
Stacy listening to a take (of course, maybe she's just exhausted from all that singing..)
Stacy listening to a take (of course, maybe she's just exhausted from all that singing..)
Looks like Stacy's happy with the take (check out her CD and you'll find out why)
Looks like Stacy's happy with the take (check out her CD and you'll find out why)
Stacy and me in our backyard, a few days before she moved to Nashville
Stacy and me in our backyard, a few days before she moved to Nashville
Stacy and me in the studio
Stacy and me in the studio
Stacy brought her cousins Cailin (L) and Reagan to the studio (Hey!!...I forgot to sign Cailin's cast!!!...)
Stacy brought her cousins Cailin (L) and Reagan to the studio (Hey!!...I forgot to sign Cailin's cast!!!...)
This time, I get surprised while playing piano at Lake Recording
This time, I get surprised while playing piano at Lake Recording
A couple of photos from our recent Nashville visit. First, Stacy and me at the Wildhorse Saloon
A couple of photos from our recent Nashville visit. First, Stacy and me at the Wildhorse Saloon
And Kathy and Stacy at the same place (although the horse doesn't look all that wild...)
And Kathy and Stacy at the same place (although the horse doesn't look all that wild...)
Since Zupe brought his camera (as opposed to my phone-camera), we made the rounds during the Taxi Road Rally. First, here's Zupe, Michael Lederer (Taxi VP) and me
Since Zupe brought his camera (as opposed to my phone-camera), we made the rounds during the Taxi Road Rally. First, here's Zupe, Michael Lederer (Taxi VP) and me
Here's a shot of me and Michael Anderson at the Taxi Rally (he wrote "Maybe It Was Memphis" for Pam Tillis). I really look forward to talking with him every year because he's as nice a person as he is a knowledgable and successful songwriter
Here's a shot of me and Michael Anderson at the Taxi Rally (he wrote "Maybe It Was Memphis" for Pam Tillis). I really look forward to talking with him every year because he's as nice a person as he is a knowledgable and successful songwriter
During lunch at the Taxi Rally, I ran into Loretta McNair and Amy Jo Ellis, both friends from Horse & Writer and both Taxi Members (it was great to see them again!)
During lunch at the Taxi Rally, I ran into Loretta McNair and Amy Jo Ellis, both friends from Horse & Writer and both Taxi Members (it was great to see them again!)
And even though he has a million and one things to do in order to throw the best music convention year-after-year, Michael Laskow (Taxi President) took a few minutes for Zupe (R) and me.
And even though he has a million and one things to do in order to throw the best music convention year-after-year, Michael Laskow (Taxi President) took a few minutes for Zupe (R) and me.
And finally, here's Zupe and me posing for the Taxi computer-cam
And finally, here's Zupe and me posing for the Taxi computer-cam
Andi Morici singing "Love Is Made That Way" (August 2005)
Andi Morici singing "Love Is Made That Way" (August 2005)
...and Andi now smiling afterwards, either because she's happy with the take or glad to be finished (check out the song on the Music Page and see what you think)
...and Andi now smiling afterwards, either because she's happy with the take or glad to be finished (check out the song on the Music Page and see what you think)
Thanks for checking out the pictures
Thanks for checking out the pictures