Nearly sixty years ago, at age 18 in 1965, Larry Sparks took his first professional job as a bluegrass musician, replacing guitarist George Shuffler with The Stanley Brothers. After Carter died in December 1966, Sparks took over lead singing duties, and he became the first lead singer with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. In 1969, Larry Sparks formed his own band, The Lonesome Ramblers, and they have released many highly-acclaimed albums over the years.

Ministry in Song finds the 2004 and 2005 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year singing both old classic favorites (like “House of Gold” and “I Saw the Light”), as well several standout tracks written by Daniel Crabtree (“Don't Take Your Eyes off of Jesus,” “Holdin' On,” “Jesus Won't You Guide Me” and “All Over Me”), and Jimmie Davis (“Someone to Care” and “To My Mansion in the Sky”).  Tennessee-based singer-songwriter Daniel Crabtree himself has released a couple albums of his original bluegrass gospel material with his group known as The Lights Chapel Boys.

And certainly, Larry Sparks presents a much more rawboned traditional bluegrass arrangement of a Jimmie Davis number like “To My Mansion in the Sky” that Davis originally recorded with driving harmonica, drums, piano, electric guitar and accompanied by the Anita Kerr Singers. At the same time, Sparks' spiritually-infused devotion and vision are no less profound as he sings, “If you live for the Savior, He will walk by your side. And you’ll be with Him forever, In that happy home on high.”

Of special note are three originals that Larry Sparks composed, “Where We'll Never Say Farewell,” “King Jesus” and “Lord, Show Me the Way.” Some of the tracks on Ministry in Song are presented with just Larry’s singing and guitar, and John Rigsby’s harmonica on “House of Gold” brings a special kind of melancholy coloring to that Hank Williams’ classic. With considerable emotion and honest sincerity, Sparks vocalizes, “I’d rather be in a dark grave, and to know that my poor soul was saved, than to live in this world in a house of gold, and deny my God and doom my soul.”

It’s nice that this kind of music is not over arranged or played, but when arrangements call for them, Evan Wilson (mandolin), Jacob Wright (banjo), Ron Stewart (fiddle, banjo on two tracks), Larry D. Sparks (bass) know just what accompaniment is needed. Singing from his heart and with soul, Larry Sparks’ Ministry in Song is a very strong musical effort that worships God with our praise. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)