From Spirituals to Freedom – Building America, a musical performance by Sparky and Rhonda Rucker
August 29, 2026, Cartersville, GA – The Bartow History Museum will present From Spirituals to Freedom: Building America, a musical performance by Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, on August 29 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Grand Theater. This special program is part of the By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. The performance is free and open to the public.
Take a musical journey through America’s past as Sparky and Rhonda Rucker combine music, storytelling, and history to explore how spirituals and folk songs evolved and helped shape American thought and culture. Through powerful songs and engaging narratives, the duo will guide audiences through stories of resilience, struggle, freedom, and cultural identity, demonstrating how music has preserved history and carried important messages across generations.
This unique performance highlights the connections between traditional music and the broader American experience, offering an entertaining and meaningful look at the people, events, and movements that helped build the nation.
Admission is free. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of music, history, and storytelling as we celebrate 250 years of American history and culture.
About the Performers
James “Sparky” Rucker has spent more than fifty years performing and preserving American folk music and storytelling traditions. A Knoxville, Tennessee native, sings, plays guitar, and shares stories rooted in history and social justice. He has released sixteen albums, contributed to Grammy-nominated recordings, and appeared on national programs including NPR’s Mountain Stage, Morning Edition, and A Prairie Home Companion.
Sparky actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement, working with organizations such as SNCC, SCLC, and the Poor People’s Campaign. He also studied and collaborated at the Highlander Center alongside civil rights leaders including Rosa Parks and Myles Horton. Throughout his career, he has performed at major venues such as the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, while also leading educational programs at schools, festivals, and cultural institutions.
Rhonda Rucker performs with Sparky as a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, author, and educator. She plays guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, and percussion, blending Appalachian
folk, blues, and gospel traditions with original compositions. Her work reflects a lifelong engagement with music, storytelling, environmental themes, and social history.
Before dedicating herself fully to music and storytelling, Rhonda worked as a physician in internal medicine. She is also an accomplished author whose work includes historical fiction set during the Civil Rights era, along with contributions to educational and cultural publications.
Together, Sparky and Rhonda Rucker bring a dynamic and educational performance that connects American musical traditions to the lived history of the nation.
About the Bartow History Museum
The Bartow History Museum, located in Historic Downtown Cartersville, documents the history of Northwest Georgia’s Bartow County spanning more than 200 years. Artifacts, photographs, documents, and a variety of interactive exhibits tell the story of settlement, Cherokee life of removal, Civil War strife, and lifestyles of years past. The Bartow History Museum also provides a variety of educational opportunities for adults, children, families, and school groups. Our extensive archives and research library contains photographs, documents, newspapers, rare books, genealogy records, oral history interviews, and more. For additional information, visit www.bartowhistorymuseum.org.
Press Release Bartow History Museum