He composed "Today";[4] this was a hit for the New Christy Minstrels from their 1964 album of the same title for Columbia Records (CL 2159/CS 8959).

Sparks also wrote "Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio", which was recorded and made famous by John Denver.

Sparks composed the musical score for the 1964 movie Advance to the Rear, a Civil War spoof.

Sparks sang the theme song over the opening credits of the 1958 film Thunder Road.

[6] In 1975, Sparks provided the new vocal tracks for the characters Ernest the "Dude" and Zeke in the Country Bear Jamboree.