40

Yet as glittering as the list of guest pickers is, it pales next to the names of guests who leapt at the chance to sing with Larry Sparks. Vince Gill provides tenor harmonies on a rapid-fire take of the Delmore Brothers’ "Blues Stay Away From Me," country legend Tom T. Hall makes a rare appearance to swap verses on his own "I Want You To Meet My Friend," Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski frame Sparks’ lead with burnished harmonies on the signature "John Deere Tractor" – and that’s just for starters. The long list encompasses country, bluegrass and bluegrass gospel friends and colleagues, but perhaps more notably, as a sign of Sparks’ ongoing influence, a group of next-generation country stars – Andy Griggs, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Kevin Denney, all of whom were familiar with his music before being invited to join in the project. Add it all up and it’s hard to imagine a more fitting and enjoyable celebration of a bluegrass great’s life and career.