Sputzy Sparacino

Sputzy Sparacino

voc, g, *1954
Singer / Musician of Pop
A.k.a. Jimmy S. Sparacino Jim Sparacino

Born on December 28, 1954 in Monessen, Pennsylvania. Tall, handsome, dark haired, brown eyed, and soulful voiced singer-musician Sputzy Sparacino started playing guitar when he was five years old and was hung up on Elvis Presley. He first started out singing lead vocals and playing guitar with his very first band The Timepiece at the Class of 1960's 10-year reunion on July 25, 1970, at Linden Hall in Layton, Pennsylvania. The original members of the band included both Rick DeRentis and Dave Kroskie on the guitar and vocals, Michael Houlis on bass, Bob Gladys on keyboards and Joe "Lumpy" Lombardo on drums and percussions. Jan Cocchiara later replaced Lombardo. The band performed at numerous events during both their junior high and high school days in Monessen. They had a lot of fun during those years. They were a group of young teenagers, great friends who loved music and loved to perform. Then after his departure from The Timepiece, during his Sophomore year in Monessen High School, Sputzy started his professional debut this time singing and playing guitar with Tommy Hawkins And The Holidays at Tony's Lounge in Monessen. They played from 1970 till 1972. They also played some of their gigs at Belle Vernon Moose Club. The other musicians included Tommy Hawkins on bass and trumpet (who was a 1960 Monessen High School graduate who had previously toured as a trumpet player and vocalist with the venerable Wayne Cochran And The C.C. Riders during the 1960s), Don DiPiazza on Hammond B3 organ, and Dave DiPiazza on drums and percussions. Then after Sputzy graduated from high school in 1972, he continued his formal education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He then transitioned to Union University in Jackson, Tennessee as a music major and then joined Keyboardist Russ Hall's band, The HandMade Band from 1973-1975 as the lead singer and one of the guitarists. The HandMade Band also had Wes Henley on lead guitar (who replaced Ron Haney, the original lead guitarist), Paul Doege on bass and trumpet, the late Floyd Beard on co-lead vocals and congas, Butch Gardner on saxophone and David Radford on drums and percussions. They had a great song list and were one of the most popular local groups for Jackson, Tennessee. Awarded the best band at Kaintuck Territory. They beat out groups from several different regions. Although the band was based out of Jackson, they had members from Chicago to Texas and Pittsburgh. The band played at the Port Jackson Club (5,600 seat club) at The Jackson, Tennessee Coliseum and the Jackson Fairgrounds in 1974. And they would even have Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons for their opening act in some of their concerts they played at The Jackson, Tennessee Coliseum in September 1974. They did lots of beautiful song covers of music by The Contours, Johnny Mathis, the late Ronnie Dyson, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Sly & The Family Stone, the late legendary Marvin Gaye, George McCrae, The O'Jays, The Doobie Brothers, War, the legendary Stevie Wonder, the late legendary Otis Redding, The The J. Geils Band, the late legendary Bob Marley, The Staple Singers and lots of other talented artists and bands. They composed their own songs as well. After The HandMade Band disbanded in 1975, Sputzy then left Tennessee and went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that Summer to form his next band Artistry, with bassist Jack Daro, singer Debbie DeMola, and the Macaluso brothers Greg (who then would play keyboards and work as the musical director of The Four Coins. Which was a popular R&B/Doo Wop Quartet from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania formed in 1953) and Tony (who then would play drums and percussions for The Four Coins). They first started performing at the Hospitality Inn in Wilkins Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in June and were working there for four weeks. Then they went on tour of Hospitality Inns in St. Louis, Missouri, Atlanta, Georgia, Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio and Hartford, Connecticut. They also played the Encore, the Hyatt House, and the Carousel in Pittsburgh. Then one year later, Artistry had disbanded. And Sputzy left to join The Four Coins in 1976. He was scheduled to appear with The Four Coins on Dec. 21-22 at Tony's Lounge back in Monessen where he was born and raised. He sang and played with them in Las Vegas, Tahoe and Reno, Nevada and Japan from 1976-1979 in Casinos. Four Coins also included Bo Wagner the lead singer, with Ernie Pontiere (who would then play as Sputzy's trombonist, percussionist, and third keyboardist in Gigolo back in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, sang with the American Male Pop music vocal trio The Lettermen and who was then the lead singer and trombonist of We Three), and Matt Welch on vocals, Sputzy's longtime great friend, the late Joey Argiro on bass guitar (who had previously played with Sputzy in Breakaway. And who would then play as Sputzy's bassist in Gigolo (5) and Modern Man back in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Greg Macaluso on keyboards, Gary Allen on trumpet, John Thompson on trombone, and Tony Macaluso on drums and percussions. After Sputzy's departure from Four Coins, he then joined a band called Robyn & Sputzy which was a Vegas Lounge Act. Performed at the Sahara, Hilton, MGM Grand, Flamingo and Tropicana from 1978-1980. Sputzy then moved to Pittsburgh in 1980. He then became an even more popular crooner and guitarist. He joined the Pittsburgh R&B/Dance/Cover band, Gigolo. They played from 1982-1990. Gigolo (5) was an opening act for The Whispers,The Jets, and The Weather Girls. Sputzy's band mates in Gigolo were Joey Argiro on bass, Ray DeLisio on keyboards (who also was known for being the keyboardist of TLC and The Allnight Rhythm Band. And who is now known for being the lead singer-keyboardist of Casanova), Armand De Genova on co-keyboards (who also played keyboards for The Parker Bros. And who has also been known for playing piano and keyboard for Larry Coryell, Emily Remler. Richard Groove Holmes, the late legendary Mary Wells, Peter Noone the lead singer of Herman's Hermits, the late legendary organist and pianist Gene Ludwig of The Vogues, The Jive Five, and Don & Juan. And who is now known for being the keyboardist and bassist of Sound Check), Ernie Pontiere on trombone, keyboards, and percussion instruments, and Larry McClusky on drums and percussions (who was also known for playing drums for Jazz singer-guitarist George Benson). Larry then left Gigolo in 1983 and was replaced by Ron Orrico (who then played drums and percussions for The All Night Rhythm Band. And who is now known for being the drummer and percussionist of Casanova). Then at the same time, Armand De Genova left Gigolo and was replaced by Gary Carolla as the new co-keyboardist. The band played at places filled with dance floors including, the VIP clubs in downtown Pittsburgh, The Willows in Industry near The Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca, Pennsylvania, in The Ramada Inn Airport ballroom, and at The Video Standard in New Castle, Pennsylvania. They did lots of great covers of music by Rick James, The S.O.S. Band, The Gap Band, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jeffrey Osborne, The Chi-Lites, Laid Back, D-Train, Cameo, Chaka Khan, Peabo Bryson, Lakeside and of course the talented King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. Then in 1984, Mark Matteo would come in to join the band as the new lead singer and lead guitarist after Sputzy had left. Then after Sputzy's departure from Gigolo in 1984, he went on to join Modern Man from 1984-1991 as the lead singer after Gary Hohman (who was known for being the lead singer and one of the guitarists of the popular Pittsburgh Rock band T-Dice from 1979-1984) the original lead singer of the band had left. Modern Man was another popular Pittsburgh R&B/Dance/Cover band. They performed Top 40 music, some original songs, and a lot of R&B at the VIP Clubs, Confetti, The Meadows Race Track, in bars, dance halls, private events, music festivals and lots of other popular Pittsburgh area dance clubs. They even did some great solo Teddy Pendergrass and Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song covers. They also played as an opening act for The Jets. The band included Buddy Hall, the lead guitarist, Tommy Bellin, the bassist, Talmadge Pearsall the keyboardist and co-lead singer, and Jim Blazer on co-keyboards and programmed drums. Sputzy and his band later played two original song ballads "The World Inside Your Eyes" and "If Tomorrow Comes" for George Romero's "Day Of The Dead" (1985) horror movie soundtrack. The music was all composed by the talented filmmaker and musician John Harrison (who played Bass for the late Blues/Rock Singer-Guitarist Roy Buchanan for several years) who also worked as the first assistant director of the movie at the same time. But Modern Man played two song covers of John's theme songs from the movie. Sputzy, Jim Blazer and Talmadge Pearsall wrote the original lyrics for "The World Inside Your Eyes" ("Day Of The Dead" Ballad Theme song). But Sputzy and Jim only wrote the lyrics for "If Tomorrow Comes". Then Sputzy and Delilah (who was known back then for being the lead singer of the Pittsburgh R&B/Gospel/Funk band Samson & Delilah from 1967-1988) sang "The World Inside Your Eyes" together as duet for the soundtrack itself. Then in 1988, Mark Matteo would come in to take Buddy Hall's place as the lead guitarist while Joey Argiro would come in to take Tommy Bellin's place as the bassist, Gary Carolla would come in to take Jim Blazer's place as the co-keyboardist, and Tom Tornow would come in to play drums and percussions. Then they still continued playing their gigs together as the band until they finally disbanded by then in 1991. The band released two albums and they had national dance chart success. Then after Modern Man, Sputzy then formed his new R&B/Dance/Cover band, Sputzy & The Soul Providers in 1991. Sputzy & The Soul Providers performed for weddings, corporate events, country clubs, and private parties, and released two albums, and opened for many National Acts: Jeffrey Osborne, Chicago, The Monkees, The Turtles, Hall & Oates, Chuck Berry, James Brown, The Four Tops, Average White Band, Lou Christie, Bo Diddley, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Ronnie Spector. In 1994 he released his own two albums as a Solo Artist. They were called "Not Just Any Love Song" and "Too Much Too Soon" with lots of great R&B covers. And his original song "If Tomorrow Comes" from Day of the Dead (1985) soundtrack appeared on the two albums. Also his cover of Teddy Pendergrass' "Love T.K.O." he had recorded with Modern Man in 1986 had appeared on the "Too Much Too Soon" album. His previous bassists from Modern Man, Joey Argiro and Tommy Bellin would also join him on The Buckinghams's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", Randy Newman's "You Can Leave Your Hat On", Bobby Martin's "Not Just Any Love Song", Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Anyone Who Had A Heart", Marvin Gaye and The Marvelettes' "Forever", Edwin Starr's "Agent Double O Soul", Ray Charles' "Smack Dab In The Middle", and Aretha Franklin's "See Saw" on "Too Much Too Soon". In 2009, Sputzy formed his own R&B/Dance/Cover band Sputzy & Jeremy with Jeremy Olsen on Keyboards. They performed together at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington, Pennsylvania, Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Wright's Seafood Inn in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and all different kinds of musical events filled with dance halls. And they released their first and only album "Twisted" with lots of music by Santana, The Cascades, Jonny Lang, Timmy Thomas, Willie Nelson, Van Morrison, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin, and Johnny Cash. Then in late 2012, Sputzy formed a new R&B/Dance/Cover band with the beautiful Blues singer-guitarist Shari Richards, and singer-guitarist Tony Janflone Jr. called PGH. The other members include George Elliot the bassist, Jeremy Olsen still on the keyboards, Curtis Swift the saxophonist, Mark Custer the trumpeter, Bob Matchett the trombonist, Derrick Edwards the percussionist and Joe Kluchar the drummer and percussionist. They play R&B tunes by Sam Cooke, Aaron Neville & The Neville Brothers, Etta James and The Commodores. They have been playing at The Meadows Race Track & Casino, Jergel's Rhythm Grille in Warrendale, Pennsylvania and other venues. His original influences include Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. At a young age, Sputzy felt their albums were more important that his vocal training, he would take money given him by his parents for voice lessons, and buy the latest albums by these artists. Along with God given talent, these early influences helped to develop his rich vocal style laden with soulful emotion.