Sparky & Rhonda Rucker

General Admission $12
($10 Opera House members)
Folk in Fredonia Music Series
Internationally acclaimed James "Sparky" Rucker is recognized as a leading folklorist, historian, musician, storyteller and author. He has been singing songs and telling stories from the American tradition for more than 40 years. Accompanying himself on guitar, banjo and spoons, Sparky has released more than a dozen recordings.
Rhonda Rucker is from Louisville, Kentucky, and practiced medicine for five years before becoming a full-time performer. She began taking piano lessons from a ragtime player when she was 4 years old. In addition to piano, Rhonda adds sweet-sounding vocal harmonies, a mean gutsy blues harmonica, old-time banjo and rhythmic bones to the duo's music. She began performng with Sparky in 1989 and appears on seven recordings with him.
The duo's audio release, Treasures & Tears, was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Recording. They also contributed music to the syndicated television miniseries, The Wild West. Their unique renditions of John Henry and Jesse James were used in the National Geographic Society's Storytelling in North America.
A concert by Sparky & Rhonda is a humor-filled journey through 400 years of African-American cultural and folk history. It includes old-time blues, Appalachian music, slave songs, Civil War music, spirituals, work songs, ballads, Civil Rights music and Sparky's own original compositions. The two deliver an uplifting presentation of toe-tapping music spiced with humor, history and tall tales.
Attending from out of town? Consider staying at one of the area's beautiful inns or bed & breakfasts as part of an overnight performance package.