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Tacoma's Rock-n-Roll Legends

Film Description:
Tacoma's Rock-n-Roll Legends is an entertaining and educational short film, mixed with interesting stories, facts and music honoring Tacoma's most notable garage rockers of the late fifties and early sixties. The movies raw and gritty format centers on a series of interviews conducted by Buck Ormsby of The Fabulous Wailers with Little Bill Engelhart of the Bluenotes, Kent Morrill of The Fabulous Wailers, KJR DJ Pat O' Day, Jerry Roslie of The Sonics, Jerry Miller of Moby Grape, and Don Wilson of The Ventures.

  • Randy Sparks
    Director
    Tacoma Chalk Off; A Glitch in the System
  • Randy Sparks
    Writer
    Tacoma Chalk Off; It Don't Rain on Sunny Days; A Glitch in the System
  • Randy Sparks
    Producer
    Tacoma Chalk Off; It Don't Rain on Sunny Days; A Glitch in the System
  • Buck Ormsby
    Key Cast
    "Host"
  • Bill Englehart
    Key Cast
    "Little Bill & the Bluenotes"
  • Kent Morrill
    Key Cast
    "The Fabulous Wailers"
  • Pat O'Day
    Key Cast
    "KJR Radio"
  • Jerry Roslie
    Key Cast
    "The Sonics"
  • Jerry Miller
    Key Cast
    "Moby Grape"
  • Don Wilson
    Key Cast
    "The Ventures"
  • Marilyn Strickland
    Key Cast
    "Tacoma Mayor"
  • The Fabulous Wailers
    Key Cast
    "Band"
  • Marlynn Strickland
    Key Cast
    "Tacoma Mayor"
  • John Markert
    Assistant to Director
  • Dawn Sparks
    Executive Producer
  • John "Buck" Ormsby
    Assistant Producer
  • Kent Morrill
    Assistant Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    24 minutes 57 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    150 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HDV
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2012 Tacoma Film Festival
    Tacoma, WA
    United States
    World Premiere
  • 2012 Gig Harbor Film Festival
    Gig Harbor, WA
    United States
  • 2014 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival
    Vancouver, WA
    United States
    Winner: Best Music Documentary
  • 2020 West Sound Film Festival
    Bremerton, WA
    United States
Director Biography - Randy Sparks

Randy Sparks holds two college degrees: B.S. in Business and a MBA from City University of Seattle. Currently he resides in Tacoma, WA. His art background began at an early age.

In 1968, at 10 he loved filming homemade movies, which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in. His proudest film of the time "The House of Blood" a 10 min super 8 flick.

In 1971, he concentrated on writing plays, songs, poems and art. Years later his college Art Professor told him that he would do well in making a career in Art. He said Randy drew like Michelangelo.

In 1975, Randy began four years of study in live theater involving plays, operas and variety shows. He would work closely with the companies' producers and directors particularly in areas involving lights and sound, acting, and set construction.

From 1979-1996 he was busy going to college, raising two children and performing live music. It wasn't till 1997 that he got involved with digital photography and video. He spent the next 2 years as an assistant photographer for the Seattle Seahawks, working with team photographer Corky Truin and a year with comedian/fine art photographer Rod Long.

In 2003, he begin filming promotional videos, music videos and concert videos. In 2007, he moved his energy towards creating his own pictures as a producer, director and co-writer.

Film successes include: Tacoma Chalk Off; It Don't Rain on Sunny Days; A Glitch In the System; Tacoma's Rock-n-Roll Legends (85K views on Facebook) and his current film Rose Colored Shades.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film was the result of me putting together a film presentation for Tacoma's Historical Society event honoring Tacoma's Rock-n-Roll legends on October 9, 2011. Buck Ormsby of The Fabulous Wailers asked me if I could do a 10 to 15 minute film utilizing footage from the 2 Garage Guys interviews. My goal was to educate and entertain the members of the Historical Society. My thought was many of them may not know how much talent came out of Tacoma, Washington. After the event, I added 10 more minutes to the film. I had Justin Peterson edit a 3 minute piece on The Ventures. I than wanted to include Buck Ormby receiving a proclamation award from the Mayor of Tacoma and end the film with Kent Morrill's (The Fabulous Wailers) last performance of Dirty Robber.