Legendary Texas Tornados Member Speedy Sparks Has Died

There’s no such thing as “just a bass player.” Speedy Sparks was emblematic of this. In certain circles, Speedy Sparks was like the patron saint, and was thought of in no less regard than the legendary performers he had the pleasure of performing with over the years. In Austin, Speedy Sparks was the bass player everyone wanted in their band. In Texas, his name was held in topmost regard in the music scene. His passing closes an era in Texas music.

Doug Sahm, The Sir Douglas Quintent, The Texas Tornados, James Hand, The Texas Mavericks, Eve and the Exiles, Teddy and the Tall Tops, The Leroi Brothers, Alvin Crow and the Pleasant Valley Boys, Joe King Carrasco, Ben Vaughan, The Nortons, and his own bands such as Speedy Sparks and the Koolerators all were graced by the presence of Speedy Sparks who was a foundational, original member of the Austin and Central Texas music scene.

Miller “Speedy” Sparks was born on December 22, 1945, raised in Houston, TX, and moved to Austin in 1972 right as the music scene in the city was just starting to percolate. Though he played bass for numerous outfits, it wasn’t until about 1975 when he stopped trying to pursue other occupations, and focused on bass full-time. One of the first things he did was record with Joe King Carrasco down in San Antonio.

It was really Speedy’s friendship with Doug Sahm and that embedded him deep within the Texas music scene. Starting with the Sir Douglas Quintet, then later during Doug’s solo career, Speedy was Doug’s go-to bass player, which immediately meant other bands wanted to steal Speedy from Doug, and did frequently.

When the legendary Texas Tornados formed in 1989 with Doug, Flaco Jiménez, Augie Meyers, and Freddy Fender, there was no other bass player for the job than Speedy. Though his name never made it onto the front lines of Texas Tornados promotions or media coverage, he was there the whole time, and can be seen in the supergroup’s legendary appearance on Austin City Limits in 1990.

“Understated, grooveful, foundational – elevating,” is how Saustex Records owner Jeff Smith described Speedy’s playing upon his passing. “Speedy knew how to listen and how to lay it down in the mode of Jimmy Reed style blues – deceptively melodic and shaded with nuance. If someone were to ask me to point to anyone I think/thought was a great bass player Speedy would be at the top of my list. He intuitively knew exactly what and how much to play no matter the style of the song.”

Speedy was inspired mostly by blues, country, and rock and roll from the ’50s. As the ’70s progressed on in Austin and the sounds became more experimental, Sparks stuck to the foundations, which is what Doug Sahm and others appreciated about him. According to Monte Warden, Sparks once spray painted “Buddy” on the Holly St. northbound sign on I-35 rolling through Austin.

Another interesting fact about Speedy Sparks comes from his marriage to a single mother named Kay Sexton. Kay’s two boys Charlie and Will Sexton took to Speedy as a loving father and strong musical influence, even after Kay and Speedy split. Charlie and Will Sexton went on to become two of Austin’s most notable musicians.

Speedy Sparks played bass for Doug Sahm all the way up to his death in 1999. He also played bass for James Hand until his death in 2020. He won the Austin Chronicle Music Award for “Best Bass Player” of 1995-1996. Speedy was also presented a “Texas Music Legend” award by the Texas Songwriters Association in December 2020.

News of Speedy’s passing after a brief illness spread on Tuesday, October 7th, with many fellow Austin musicians sharing their memories. Speedy Sparks was 79 years old.

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