A Grammy recipient whose expertise spans jazz and gospel on the organ, Bobby Sparks II earned widespread recognition through his role in Snarky Puppy and his extended association with gospel leader Kirk Franklin. His initial work alongside Franklin began in the early '90s, after which he joined Roy Hargrove's RH Factor and contributed to projects by an array of jazz, gospel, and pop figures such as Fred Hammond, Marcus Miller, George Benson, Nelly Furtado, and additional artists. The year 2019 saw the arrival of his debut solo effort, Schizophrenia: The Yang Project.
Corsicana, Texas, was the site of his birth in 1973, where he was raised by parents active as both educators and performers. His mother, serving as a church organist, placed him at the piano when he turned three and nurtured his affinity for hymns and gospel repertoire, while his father, a trumpeter, exposed him to jazz and highlighted organists including Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, and Lonnie Smith. Rapid progress followed, leading to frequent appearances with church choirs, musical workshops, and vocal ensembles throughout his youth. At sixteen he received a Hammond B-3, which he promptly commanded, and after completing high school he refined his abilities through music studies at Eastfield College in Mesquite near Dallas. During that time he encountered and entered Kirk Franklin's gospel ensemble.
Between 1992 and 2005 he functioned as Franklin's musical director, participating in tours and recordings that encompassed the 1993 release Kirk Franklin & the Holy Family, the 1998 album Nu Nation Project, and the 2002 project The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin. These efforts with Franklin yielded multiple honors, among them several Grammy Awards.
As a sought-after session musician, Sparks has collaborated with gospel figures such as Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans, and Donnie McClurkin, together with jazz and R&B artists including Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Lalah Hathaway, and Kirk Whalum, to name a few. He played a central part in trumpeter Roy Hargrove's funk-jazz group RH Factor, featured on the 2003 album Hard Groove, the 2004 release Strength, and the 2006 recording Distractions. Over time he extended his reach into radio and television by providing music for programs such as Top Model and films such as The Prince of Egypt. Beyond stage work, he has also acted as organist at Pathway of Life Church.
A consistent participant in the acclaimed jam band Snarky Puppy since 2016, he appears on the 2016 Grammy-winning album Culcha Vulcha and the 2019 set Immigrance. That same year Sparks issued his first album under his own name, Schizophrenia: The Yang Project, which included input from Hargrove, Marcus Miller, Snarky Puppy's Michael League, and further contributors.
