William H. "Bill" Sparks, 58, a Nevada resident for 25 years, died April 30, 2005, in Reno of cancer. He was born Feb. 20, 1947, in Sharon, Pa., to William D. and Lucille E. Fromm Sparks.
He graduated from Hickory High School in Pennsylvania in 1965. and attended Youngstown State University in Ohio. He was an accomplished violinist and received second place in the state competition during his senior year of high school.
He landscaped part-time, but music was his life. He formed several bands, in which he played bass guitar. Some of his bands were Z Band, Nevada Band and Queen Bee and the Stingers. His bands performed throughout Nevada. He also played with Coyote, which featured Garn Littledyke. He was a master engineer generating and recording music for Pete L'Angelle, Michael Harris and Gretchen Wood.
He owned a recording studio in New York City. He played at the Las Vegas Hilton and in the Catskill Mountains at the Nevele Country Club. He was an avid Pittsburgh fan and never without a Steelers, Pirates or Penguins hat.
He was preceded in death by his father in 2003.
Among his survivors are his wife of 21 years, the former Darlene McLeroy of Carson City; mother and twin brother, Jim, of Pennsylvania; brothers Gary of Ohio, Ray of Pennsylvania and Ken of New York; six nephews, two nieces and four stepdaughters, all of Alaska; and eight stepgrandchildren.
Friends may send a message to the family guest book at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.
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