The New Christy Minstrels®

Under the Direction of Randy Sparks

Celebrating 50 years 1961-2011!

ncm_in_front_billboard ncm_video

Click on above photo for short video

Can't see video? Click here for viewing on YouTube

Click here for
UPCOMING CONCERT SCHEDULE & TICKETS

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The New Christy Minstrels®
SET NEW RECORD October 15, 2011
Click here for details!

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Doesn't it always sound better when you're Singing In The Shower?
Woncha come and sing along with me?
What a pleasant way to spend half an hour
Wouldn't you like to sing a song with me?
I know that your mother may not understand
But what can she say if we invite the whole band?
Doesn't it always sound better when you're Singing In The Shower?
I'll bring along my new bar of soap

(Copyright 2010 Cherrybell Music)

Photo taken in the shower of Motel 6, San Dimas, California May 1, 2010.

Arva Deutschendorf was our gracious photographer, using Pete Henderson's camera.
Fine tuning of the above photo by Pete Henderson.

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Click here
for
UPCOMING CONCERT SCHEDULE & TICKETS INFO.

FOR BOOKING INFORMATION CONTACT

Producers, Inc.
(813) 988-8333

producers

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This IS the OFFICIAL website of

The New Christy Minstrel
Under the Direction of Randy Sparks

There's only one such group in the whole world,
and you've reached the one and only place we are
OFFICIALLY located in the cyber-world of the Internet.

randy_real_deal

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Celebrating
our
50th
year since
Founder, Randy Sparks
created The NCM in 1961!

ncm_2011

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Click here to see May 2, 2010 concert video,
when the group was joined by Chuck Cole, and
'Special Added Attraction' Barry McGuire.

CLICK ON YOUR CHOICE BELOW

UPCOMING CONCERT SCHEDULE

THE STORE

Photo of the Week: New Martin Signature Guitar

The NCM is seen on page 19 of the June 2010 issue of
Martin Guitar Company's magazine, 'Sounding Board' !
Click here to download Sounding Board.
(Please give it a minute to load.)

| Randy Sparks' Cancer Story | The NCM Biography
|The NCM Stage Plot |
What's Old Is New RECYCLED | The Store | Photo Gallery | Fan Mail | Chat Room |

New Christy Minstrels Foundation | Been to Kansas lately?| Favorite Instruments | Albums Through the Years | In The Beginning. . . | NCM Roster Past & Present

The Palm Springs Walk of Stars | The Cockamamie Quartette (with 3 people) limited edition CD

Please don't forget about Lori Brandon
lori
Click here to read more . . .

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randy

Randy Sparks, Founder

E-mail Randy

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dolan

 

pete

eddie

Dolan Ellis

E-mail Dolan

About Dolan: click here

Pete Henderson


Click to see Pete's photos

About Pete: click here

E-mail Pete

Eddie Boggs

E-mail Eddie

About Eddie: click here

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beckyjo

jenn

 

 

Becky Jo Benson

About Becky Jo: click here

 

Jennifer Lind

Click here to visit Jennifer's web site

E-mail Jennifer

 

 

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dave

 

greg

chuck

Dave Deutschendorf

E-mail Dave

About Dave: Click here

Greg O'Haver

E-mail Greg

About Greg: Click here

Click here to
see and hear Greg's
capo inventions!

Chuck Cole

(When available)

 

 

 

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pete_kudos

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vecca

Vecca The Show Dog

E-mail Vecca

Click here for Vecca's story

99_miles_sign

This is likely the most entertaining sign I have ever seen,
and it's accurate. It stands high up on the mountain just
west of Lolo Pass on U.S. Highway 12 in Idaho. The scenery
is natural for all of those 99 miles, much the same as it
must have looked to Lewis & Clark ever so long ago, but
if you're missing city life, you'll be pleased to find a Yuppie
restaurant about halfway down. How do I know it's a Yuppie
restaurant? The prices tell me so: 'Soup $7, Salad $9,
Quiche $11...' I think I'm going to be sick.
No, not from the winding road. RS

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john_dave

Newest New Christy Minstrel
Second chances in life are often hard to come by, but for Greg O'Haver and
Randy Sparks they are a timely reality. Greg auditioned for Randy at
Ledbetter's Store of Fun & Folk Music in West Los Angeles in 1967, and he
was nearly accomplished enough to win a place in The New Society's musical
tour to the Orient, but then Fats Johnson freed up his schedule, and took
away that opportunity. So, how do you get to Carnegie Hall if you're from
Carmel, Indiana? Continue to practice. That's what Greg O'Haver did, and
Randy Sparks offered him a second audition at the end of March 2010. "He was
nearly talented enough before," explains Sparks, "but now his skills are
unquestionable, and he's our newest, brightest star in the revived New
Christy Minstrels. "

The world-famous folk group was in need of a replacement for their
long-time Chief Instrumentalist, Art Podell, whose shoes wouldn't be easy
to fill, Sparks points out. "We needed a skilled guitarist who also
played great banjo, and he would have to sing strong harmony parts and
offer show-stopping solos." Mission accomplished! This person would need
to be young enough to become the group's promising future, but old enough
to be accepted as a veteran performer. At sixty-five, O'Haver is exactly
right. He's also old enough to fly at the senior rate on Southwest
Airlines! A recent widower, Greg O'Haver was in need a change of
scenery, and the group's busy calendar offers excellent practical therapy.

"In our business of show," Sparks points out, "there's no place for
time-off. If you don't exercise your talent on a daily basis, it becomes
a casualty of living, and Greg has worked at his craft non-stop. That
dedication shows in his performing. We are thrilled to welcome him to the
group."

Greg wore his 1968 jacket to attend the March 19, 2010 NCM concert
in Robinson, Illinois, where Greg and Randy talked about great memories of Ledbetter's.

ledbetters_jacket

 

Eight Is Enough.

"I'm not admitting that we now require eight performers to duplicate the sound
that we used to get with seven. The fact is, I feel very much like a patriarch at a
family reunion, the more the merrier. Eight is also better for the
economy, and we've had quite enough of downsizing lately.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir probably doesn't need all 360 voices,
but they sure sound good. I'm an old man. Indulge me." RS

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Congratulations are in order!
As of April 2, 2010,
our not for profit organization the
NEW CHRISTY MINSTRELS FOUNDATION
has been approved by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a
PUBLIC CHARITY.
Thank you all for your continued support of free-to-schools
Folk music concerts and sheet music!
www.newchristyminstrelsfoundation.org

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Take a glance
backwards at the historical first 8X10 photos of The NCM. We had already completed
the initial album, Presenting The New Christy Minstrels, the one that would
eventually win a Grammy, and Columbia Records and our theatrical agency were
demanding photographs. The only problem was that half the group had quit abruptly
and quite rudely. Their spokesperson said, "Randy, this is the dumbest idea anybody
ever came up with, and it's not going anywhere, and you're the only one who doesn't
know it. We only did it for the money. Don't bother us again!" (click!). In
desperation, I quickly assembled my five remaining players, coaxed two of the
deserters into returning just for the photo session, and added my secretary and two
showbiz friends as ringers to depict the group. Here's an outtake that I haven't
seen in 48 years. Jeff Jacobs sent it to me, and I have no idea where he might
have acquired it. E-Bay?

stand_ins

Left to right, standing:
Billy Cudmore, Nick Woods, Randy Boone (ringer, the actor/singer, barely visible),
Jesse Lee Turner (ringer, recording artist, had a hit record: Little Space Girl),
Jackie Miller (now Davidson), Randy Sparks (seated on stool), Terry Wadsworth.
Seated in front: Diane Fortune (ringer, my secretary), Art podell, and Dolan Ellis
(seated on stool).

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The shot which briefly served as our 'official photo' has come from NCM Group Historian
Tom Pickles.

group_stand_ins

Back row: Jesse Lee Turner, Randy Boone, Terry Wadsworth, Art podell, Nick Woods,
Dolan Ellis and Billy Cudmore. Front: Diane Fortune, Randy Sparks and Jackie Miller.

Two years later this photograph resurfaced on the cover of the Green Green sheet
music in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong.

The 'boys in the band' are wearing their new shirts, and the girls have matching
blouses, our very first uniforms, representing the last few dollars I had to my
name. A few weeks later we were prosperous beyond belief.

We didn't have the advantage of Becky Jo Benson and PhotoShop back then. Every
personnel change was a painful inconvenience. Come to think about it, that part
hasn't changed so much. RS

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RS & THE NCM R&D Department

When Dolan Ellis "retired" to become Arizona's Official Balladeer, RS & his Minstrels were left flatfooted with no replacement member up-to-speed not even one in mind. They knew they had a problem. Recruiting began immediately. Randy brought Gene Clark from Kansas City, then somebody suggested Doug Brookins. Trial by fire was hardly an acceptable way to replace the irreplaceable Dolan Ellis, so Randy created Ledbetter's, a rehearsal hall with an audience on Westwood Blvd. near UCLA in West Los Angeles.

MANY MORE DISCOVERIES WERE MADE HERE: SUCH AS:

John Denver

john_denver_and_randy_photo john_speaking_at_burls_funeral rs_and_jd_framed
Click on above photo
for John Denver, speaking at Burl Ive's memorial service.

 

george_mckelvey_and_randy

George McKelvey
with Randy Sparks at George's
70th Birthday party.

Click here for Tribute to George McKelvey.

flyer_from_ledbetters

steve_martin_in_the_beginning
stars in collage

Ralph Grasso
star of stage and screen.

ralph_grasso_with_rs3
Ralph Grasso top left in 1961
with Paul Sykes, and front row, Randy Sparks, and Jackie
(now known as Jackie Miller Davidson).

ralph_grasso_and_christies
Shown above from left to right, during the recording of the first NCM Christmas album,
Ralph Grasso, Larry Ramos, Nick Woods, and Clarence Treat.

 

The Palm Springs Walk of Stars

walk_of_stars_article

Randy Sparks And The New Christy Minstrels To Be Honored With 318th Star On Palm Springs Walk Of Stars
By Staff 03.JAN.09
Palm Springs, CA- Grammy winning, ground-breaking singers and musicians, Randy Sparks and The New Christy Minstrels, will be honored with the 318th Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.The star will be unveiled inside the McCallum Theater on Monday January 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM, with placement in the sidewalk at 538 N. Palm Canyon Dr. at a later date. Robert Alexander, President of the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, will preside over the event. The public and media are invited to attend.A groundbreaking folk ensemble with a rich, robust vocal blend, The New Christy Minstrels has entertained millions of fans around the world since they were first assembled by visionary folk singer Randy Sparks over forty seven years ago. Under Sparks' astute leadership, the "Christies" have scored major success in recordings, on television and-most significant-on the concert circuit. Their innovative sounds were a major influence on popular and folk music in the Sixties. People of all ages were so captivated by their rich harmonies and robust energy that the Christies' career skyrocketed in record time.In 1962, their debut album, "Presenting the New Christy Minstrels", earned a Grammy for Best Performance by a Chorus. With weekly appearances on the debut season of The Andy Williams Show, they soon attracted a legion of fans across the country. Before year-end, they were appearing at Carnegie Hall, followed by appearances at The Greek Theatre, The Coconut Grove, The Latin Quarter, The Copacabana, and The Hollywood Bowl just to name a few. In 1964, they made their first appearance at the White House before then President Lyndon Johnson.Between 1962 and 1968 they released sixteen albums. Their "Ramblin'" album went gold and became a folk classic, garnering rave reviews and featured their first major hit single, "Green, Green". The group enjoyed other chart successes with "This Land is Your Land", "Denver", and "Chim Chim Cher-ee", which the group preformed onThe Academy Awards ceremony the evening the song won "Best Song of 1964. And they are still at it. With Randy Sparks at the helm, the group continues performing with the refreshing Christy sound that has left an enduring legacy on the music world. - Desert Local News©

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randy and his signs

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martin

randy_martin

four_martins

jenn_greg_eddie_martin

(Above) Jennifer Lind, Greg O'Haver, and Eddie Boggs
autographing a Martin guitar at the NAMM show

greg_martin

(Above) Greg O'Haver with the autographed Martin guitar
which Martin & Company Guitars donated to charity.

Visit Martin Guitars

Photo of the Week:
The New Christy Minstrels®
Martin Signature Guitar

~~~~~~~

Kala is the official brand of ukuleles
used by The New Christy Minstrels®
Under the Direction of Randy Sparks

kala_pete_bj

Pete Henderson & Becky Jo Benson
each proud owners of Kala Ukuleles!

becky jo with kala uks

Visit Kala

 

ed_stockton

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Upcoming Concert Schedule
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Advance tickets ALWAYS recommended!
This group normally sells out.
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2012

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Friday, January 13, 2012
Two (2) Concerts!

2012_quartzsite

Click here for more information on the QIA

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Saturday, January 14, 2012
SUN CITY SHADOW HILLS
CONCERTS 4-U
Presents
Two (2) Concerts!

shadow_hills

Performances will be at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Montecito Clubhouse

Complimentary Wine and Water served
Checks, Visa, Discover, and Master Card accepted

Montecito Clubhouse
80-888 Sun City Blvd.
Indio, California 92203

Tickets are available to the public

For TICKETS on sale Oct. 1st call Lifestyle at 760-772-9617
For information/concert series call Darryl at 760-469-5677
~~~~~~~~~~
Doors open 1/2 half hour before shows
RESERVED SEATING

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Saturday, April 21, 2012

caswell

Caswell County Civic Center
536 Main Street East
Yanceyville, North Carolina 27379
Concert 8:00 P.M.

Click here for Information and Tickets NOW ON SALE

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
through
Saturday, September 29, 2012

norsk_hostfest

NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST
SCANDINAVIAN FESTIVAL
MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA

Click here for
Tickets & Information

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LOOKING FOR YOUR FAVORITE ALBUMS?

THE STORE

 

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recycled_back

$20.00 includes shipping in the U.S.

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Back in stock as of Febraury 2011!

Two albums on one CD for one price
TODAY and RAMBLIN'

today_ramblin

$20.00 includes shipping in the U.S.

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The New Christy Minstrels
Green Green

green_green_cd_cover

$12.00 includes shipping in the U.S.

 

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NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Two albums on one CD for one price
TELL
TALL TALES & LAND OF GIANTS

tall_tales_cd

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NO LONGER AVAILABLE
MERRY CHRISTMAS

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MERRY CHRISTMAS! VOLUME II: 45 YEARS LATER

merrychristmas_cover

merry_christmas_songs

DADDY, DOES SANTA RIDE A HARLEY?

$20.00 includes shipping in the U.S.

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RANDY'S THOUGHTS ON THE NEW CD

I am feeling the need to mostly congratulate Clarence Treat for his brilliant sweetening with the use of the real NCM voices and Jason Barney for excellent juggling of parts, perfecting of notes, and making this recording one of the best Christmas music offerings I have ever heard. I love the songs, naturally, that comes with the territory. I'm biased, but even if I hadn't manufactured these ditties, I would respect what they are saying and the BEAUTIFUL and EXCITING way each story is told. I've elimiated the explanation of each solg from the liner notes, and I fully expect folks from all around the world to ask what the songs are about. I have heard the enhanced recording for the first time just tonight, and I am THRILLED beyond belief. Great! Cheers! RS

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NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Two albums on one CD for one price
PRESENTING & IN PERSON

 

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The Back Porch Majority

Backporch Majority

$20.00 includes shipping in the U.S.

The Cockamamie Quartette (with three people)

cockamamie_cd_graphics

$17.00 includes shipping in the U.S.

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The Store
Barb Evans
5953 Haugan Drive
Missoula, MT 59803

Barb Evans (406) 543-1268

© 2010 New Christy Minstrels Foundation
All rights reserved 

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FOR OTHER FEATURES RETURN TO

Home

New Christy Minstrels Foundation |The Store |Photo Gallery | Fan Mail | Chat Room | Schedule

Randy Sparks' Cancer Story |Albums Through the Years

The Palm Springs Walk of Stars

The Cockamamie Quartette (with 3 people)