In 1961, Randy Sparks assembled the New Christy Minstrels, a 10 person folk chorus by combining some previous groups including Barry & Barry and Mike Settle and the Settlers.
The group was very popular leading to clone groups such as the Serendipity Singers and was the launching pad for many performers. The group had big hits with Today and Green, Green featuring lead singer Barry McGuire who left the group in 1964 and had a monster hit with Eve of Destruction. Gene Clark also left in 1964 to form the Byrds with Roger McGuinn and others.
In 1967, Filipino Larry Ramos left to become the lead singer of The Association on their hit Windy. In 1968, Kenny Rogers, Mike Settle, and others left to form the First Edition singing Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town, and other major Country hits.
In 1974 Mike Settle and Kim Carnesbecame part of the bubblegum pop group the Sugar Bears and in 1981 Carnes had her own hit with Bette Davis Eyes. So, Spark’s concept and ear for talented musicians has continued to reverberate throughout the music industry right up till today
I HEAR AMERICA SINGING - NEW CHRISTY MINSTRELS
1. Bull ‘Gine Run by Barry & Barry
2. Settle Down by Mike Settle and the Settlers
3. Today by New Christy Minstrels
4. Green, Green by New Christy Minstrels
5. Le Printemps Sur la Colline by New Christy Minstrels
6. The Far Side of the Hill by The Back Porch Majority
7. Friends by The Back Porch Majority
8. Don’t Let the Rain Come Down by The Serendipity Singers
9. Beans in Our Ears by The Serendipity Singers
10. Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire
11. Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds
12. Don’t You Write Her Off by McGuinn, Clark, & Hillman
13. Windy by The Association
14. Fallin’ In Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
15. Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
16. Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
17. You’re the One by The Sugar Bears
18. Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
19. Colonel Sanders Thighs by Rotunda
