SEA OF SERENITY: THE VERY BEST OF RICK SPARKS, VOLUME 2 (2023 ALBUM)
Greenville, SC (9/15/23) - I'm so happy to announce the release of Sea of Serenity: The Very Best of Rick Sparks, Volume 2 ! It's available now from all major services, including Amazon Music, Apple/iTunes, Spotify and Pandora. CLICK TO LISTEN
Sea of Serenity features 14 of my best songs from my last 4 albums and includes 3 new songs: Sea of Serenity, Mother Nature's Son (from The Beatles' White Album) and the classic hymn, Nearer My God to Thee. Replenish your spirit today with the beauty and peace of Sea of Serenity: The Very Best of Rick Sparks, Vol. 2.
SEA OF SERENITY (2023 SINGLE)
Greenville, SC (9/1/23) - We're excited to announce the release of Sea of Serenity, our new single from the forthcoming album, Sea of Serenity: The Very Best of Rick Sparks, Vol. 2 ! CLICK TO LISTEN
With the approach of autumn, Sea of Serenity is my farewell to summer, sand & sea. Featuring the laid-back vibe of slow electric guitar arpeggios combined with quiet voices, flute and strings, Sea of Serenity provides a soothing refuge of tranquility and replenishment. Unwind to the memory of summer nights and ocean breezes with Sea of Serenity.
Sea of Serenity is available now for streaming/download from all major services, including Amazon Music, Apple/iTunes and Spotify. The single is represented to the media by Stacey and Ed Bonk at LAZZ Promotions, (905)470-1230, lazzpromotions@lazzpromotions.com.
NIGHTSONG: LOVE SONGS & LULLABIES (2023 ALBUM)
Greenville, SC (5/1/23) - ASCAP pianist/composer Rick Sparks has released Nightsong: Love Songs & Lullabies, his 9th studio album since 2014. Rick describes the album's 10 songs as “nocturnal music of beauty and spirituality, intimacy and renewal." Nightsong features 4 new originals and 6 cover songs from iconic artists including Phil Collins, Sting and Paul McCartney.
Using mostly neoclassical arrangements, Rick recorded Nightsong in his home studio between January and March 2023. With a runtime of 49 minutes, the album features traditional instrumentation (piano, flute, strings, bells) as well as wordless ethereal voices and synthesizer pads. The result is a lovely tapestry of inspiring, transcendent music of healing and peace.
The nocturnal theme of the album was prompted by a verse from Job 35:10 ("God my Maker gives songs in the night.") According to Rick, ”I tried with Nightsong to convey the intimacy of listening to music at night, a feeling both of solitude and spirituality.”
Reviews of Rick's music include “Timeless… enchanting.” -Blue Wolf Reviews; “Superb… rich and rewarding.” -BT Fasmer, New Age Guide; “Simply great new-age music… immerse yourself in these sounds.” -Buzz Music; “Graceful and stunningly beautiful.” -Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano.com.
Nightsong: Love Songs & Lullabies is available now for streaming and download from all major online services, with CDs available from Amazon. The album is represented to the media by Stacey and Ed Bonk at LAZZ Promotions, (905)470-1230, lazzpromotions@lazzpromotions.com. More information is available from Rick's music website, www.ricksparksmusic.net.
WHAT'LL I DO (2023 single)
Greenville, SC (1/30/23) - In celebration of romantic love this Valentine's Day and every day, we're excited to announce the release of the lullaby single, What'll I Do, available now from all major digital outlets. CLICK TO LISTEN
Written a hundred years ago by legendary American composer Irving Berlin, What'll I Do laments the loss of true love. It's been a favorite of mine since I first heard it in Robert Redford's 1974 movie, The Great Gatsby.
Arranged as a lullaby, What'll I Do is my first single and advance release from the album, Nightsong: Lullabies & Love Songs, coming May 1st. Enjoy!
QUIET PIANO HYMNS (2022 album)
Greenville, SC (9/1/2022) - I'm so happy to announce the release of my very first solo piano album, a special project titled Quiet Piano Hymns. These are some of my favorite classic hymns & gospel songs that I first learned as a boy and have treasured now for over 50 years as a church pianist.
I love contemporary worship music, but it's the great old hymns and gospel songs that I treasure the most. Their melodies and lyrics bear indelible memories for me of God's saints in worship, singing of Christ's love and salvation for all who believe in Him. I hope you enjoy listening to (and singing along with) these sweet songs as much as I enjoyed recording them. LISTEN TO & ORDER QUIET PIANO HYMNS
SPEAK PEACE (2022 album)
PRAYER FOR UKRAINE (2022 single)
Greenville, SC (3/15/2022) – Pianist & composer Rick Sparks has released a new instrumental single titled Prayer for Ukraine, from his forthcoming album, Speak Peace. All proceeds from the single will be donated to World Vision’s Ukraine relief operation.
In Rick’s words, “Prayer for Ukraine was inspired by the brave people of Ukraine in their courageous defense of freedom. The song offers a somber yet beautiful hope for deliverance from the darkness of war. May it inspire all who hear it to support & pray for Ukraine in her greatest hour of need.”
The picture on the cover of the single is a closeup of a young Ukrainian bride in her beautiful traditional dress holding flowers. The song begins with a cello solo playing the main theme, followed by variations with strings, angelic voices and piano.
Click HERE to listen to Prayer for Ukraine. The single is available for download/streaming from Amazon, Apple Music/iTunes, Pandora, Spotify and other major digital outlets. Prayer for Ukraine is the first single from Rick’s 2022 album, Speak Peace.
Recent reviews for Rick’s music include “Graceful and stunningly beautiful.” – Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano.com; “Timeless… enchanting.” – Blue Wolf Reviews, Australia; “Very healing, with wisdom, elegance & innocence.” – Dyan Garris, Zone Music Reporter; “Rich & rewarding.” – BT Fasmer, New Age Music Guide.
Rick Sparks is an ASCAP pianist/composer based in Greenville, South Carolina. His quiet-music albums are heard worldwide on broadcast and online outlets, including SiriusXM Spa, Music Choice Soundscapes, Amazon Music and Apple/iTunes.
BELLA (2021 album)
(Greenville, SC – 6/1/21) – I am so pleased to announce the release of Bella, my 7th album since 2014. The songs of Bella became an oasis of beauty & peace for me during nearly 5 months of production. May the music of Bella do the same for you.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR BELLA'S SONGS! Bella is available now for downloads &/or streaming from Amazon, Apple/iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, Deezer & all major digital outlets, with CDs available from Amazon.
"Bella is timeless... enchanting." - Janet Mawdesley, Blue Wolf Reviews (Australia); "A graceful and stunningly beautiful album... one of Rick's best to date." - Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano.com; "Musical magic... innocence, charm and kindness." - Steve Sheppard, One World Music Radio (Cyprus); "Very healing... a gentle, angelic call for peace." - Dyan Garris, Zone Music Reporter; "An amazing oasis of peace & beauty - make Bella the soundtrack to your Summer 2021." - Pat Marino, Sunset Cruise Show #533 (June '21), NYC.
Bella’s cover art by 19th-century Italian artist Robert Ferruzzi is a striking portrait of a little girl in prayer. No one except the artist knows who the girl was, but her beautiful (bella) countenance was my continuing inspiration for the album. In my mind, she could only be “Bella.”
I am thankful to have found such lovely inspiration for Bella's music. May you find the album reflecting both Bella's beauty and the hope contained in her prayers.
Bella features 10 piano-based songs of beauty and peace in a tapestry of piano, strings, flute and angelic voices. It includes 7 new originals as well as covers of Paul McCartney's My Valentine, classical composer Anton Dvorak's Going Home, and H. Gregson-Williams' Smiling.
Dreams of Peace: The Very Best of Rick Sparks (2019 album)
Dreams of Peace: The Very Best of Rick Sparks on iTunes/Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify & other leading digital outlets.
Dreams of Peace features Rick's choice of favorite songs from his 5 quiet-music albums since 2014. Dreams of Peace is a transcendent collection of Rick's best songs, over one hour of music designed to replenish your spirit with beauty & peace.
Hushabye (2019)
Hushabye is Rick Sparks' most peaceful album yet, a tapestry of strings, piano, flute & angelic voices that will replenish your spirit with tranquility and beauty. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO HUSHABYE!
HUSHABYE (2019)
(Greenville, SC – 6/11/19) Pianist and composer Rick Sparks is well-known to fans of new-age and neo-classical music for his trademark peaceful, melodic songs featuring piano layered with stunning string arrangements, augmented with soft angelic voices with wordless vocalizations. This combination is perfect for his latest album, Hushabye, created to help listeners with relaxation, meditation and sleep.
The wordless vocals on Hushabye were prompted in part by Rick’s love of Brian Wilson’s vocal arrangements with the Beach Boys. According to Rick, “Brian always said he used three-part vocal harmonies because to his ear, it 'sounded like angels.' I took that to heart by using angelic-sounding voices singing multi-part harmonies." The voices on Hushabye might also recall the pure tones of an English boys’ choir.
Hushabye contains nine new original tunes, along with his instrumental arrangements of the million-selling pop hit “Love Can Make You Happy” by the 1960’s group Mercy, as well as the classic children’s hymn “Jesus Loves Me.” In addition to piano, strings and voices, the music also includes the sounds of a flute. Piano is Sparks’ featured instrument, but he is an adept arranger who uses synthesizer to give his music layers, textures, colors and additional depth.
Since 2014, Rick’s recordings have received airplay on hundreds of broadcast and online radio stations around the world, including SiriusXM’s Spa channel and NPR public radio stations throughout the U.S.