You Know Me Blues

Sparky Grinstead

The Man, The Legend, The Webpage

Welcome to the internet home of Oakland, California's pop/experimental/folk/rock musical eccentric, Sparky Grinstead.

After a 25-year "retirement", Sparky has returned to recording and performing. Last year saw the release of a new album, Winter Comes and Goes and the 30th anniversary edition of his first album, Won Out. Sparky is performing regularly with his band, The Backorders and is now working on a 2-CD anthology of his early work. A Backorders album is in the planning stages.

All About

Sparky Grinstead

Born July 4^th, 1953 in Mountain Home Idaho

Grew up in Oakland, California.

Started playing drums in 1969, picked up guitar in 1971.

Also self-taught on bass and piano.

First group: The Bonkeenies of America (1971 -75) Played bay area dives and colleges.

Strange but true: The Bonkeenies were the house band for the California School for the Deaf.

After the Bonkeenies disbanded, Sparky spent the next 9 years recording and releasing music on his own label, Sparlene records, usually doing all of the writing, singing, performing and producing. In 1984 he announced his “retirement” from music.

Changing his name to Norman Famous, he began playing in various local groups, sometimes on bass, sometimes on drums.

In 1989 he formed his own group, dubbed the Backorders, and began playing clubs again. He broke up the band in ’93 and, still using his new name, began playing drums in various local bands.

In 1996, now calling himself Earl Grinstead, he began playing drums for the folk-rock group El Sob. The band released 2 critically acclaimed CDs before breaking up in 2001.

Sparky spent the next two years digitizing his back catalog. 3 of his albums were re-released on CD.

Again as Norman Famous, he started playing guitar in a new version of the Backorders, at the same time playing drums for the popular alt-country outfit, Belleville.

In 2008, working with producer Eric Kampman, he recorded his first collection of new material in nearly 26 years. Now, as Sparky Grinstead, he continues to perform with the Backorders.