Reggie 'Rocket' Sparkes

 

Reggie 'Rocket' Sparkes

By Pete Clemons

Given that he was once a well known local musician in and around Coventry, entertaining me several times, I felt it was appropriate to write down a few words about Reggie 'Rocket' Sparkes.

This is not meant as a definitive list of bands he played in. In fact I hope it isn't as I would love to see it added too. But it is a starter.

Born 1938 the earliest I see Reggie mentioned in a band was in 1965 and a group called The Soul Sect. The Soul Sect had a comparatively posh Bedford Van, a very good PA and plenty of gigs lined up, albeit in working mens' clubs. By all accounts they gave a valuable lesson in how to get enjoyment by revamping music that was initially not to the bands taste but demanded by the audience such as Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich numbers.

The Soul Sect featured Reg Sparkes on bass, his brother Rick Sparkes on drums, a rhythm guitar, player, Tony Warner who played a Hohner Cembalet Electric Piano and Colin Williams on on stereo Gibson guitar. Which I believe he acquired during the back end of 1966. They were later joined by Tim James on vocals and blues harp.

The Soul Sect, who also played a mix of Tamla Motown and Soul music, went on to gain a residency at the Chesford Grange Hotel. However the HP company eventually repossessed the gear and that was the end of The Soul Sect.

Towards the end of 1966 The Soul Sect lost Tim James and had a change of name, They carried on with a cosmic psychedelic name From the Sun.

From the Sun initially carried on from where The Soul Sect finished and found themselves plying their talents in clubs and pubs all over the north of England. British blues was in its infancy and the band found themselves becoming influenced by the likes of Eric Clapton and John MayalL's Bluesbreakers who at that time included Peter Green and Ainsley Dunbar and who they saw play at Coventry’s all night gig at The Locarno during Oct 1966.

From The Sun were Mick O'Rourke (vocals), Colin Williams (guitar), Tony Warner (organ), Reg Sparkes (bass), Rick Sparkes (drums). (The original singer Pete ?, who joined during the bands Chesford Grange days, was replaced by Mick O'Rourke from The Gazelles.)

It seems that after the 1960s passed and Reggie's flirtations with the underground music scene diminished he reverted to the rock and roll circuit where the 'Rocket' part of the name came in.

Vince Holliday is not 100% sure but thinks it did have something to do with his love for rock and roll. The audience would shout an encouraging 'Rock It' to Reggie. And the Reggie Rocket moniker stuck with him throughout his life.

It is sad when we lose another one of the local musicians who has made life so much more bearable. Reggie was very well known around the Coventry Music scene and will be greatly missed, especially by the likes of drummer Nigel Lomas who jammed, with Reggie, in a lot of those rock and rolling sessions.

Thanks to Robert Weston-Bartholomew and Vince Holliday for, unwittingly, providing some valuable thoughts and insights.