BLUE & GRAY IN BLACK & WHITE

Photo by Van Meade	"The Ruckers' performance was truly superb. The choice of music selections and the lively professionalism of their delivery kept the audience enthralled." Frank Deckert, Superintendent Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia
	"Mr. Sparky Rucker is a combination of Civil War historian, re-enactor, actor, and musician [who] brought to the cadet corps an understanding of the life and times of America's most costly war." The Oak Leaf Oak Ridge Military Academy Oak Ridge, NC

Sparky & Rhonda Rucker's passion for the American Civil War inspired their special historical program entitled The Blue & Gray in Black & White. This presentation tells stories from the war in music and narrative and focuses on the war's impact on the different regions of our country. The stories, some sad and some humorous, reflect personal insights from the various personalities who participated in the war. Sparky & Rhonda can often include stories about the events of the local community in which they are performing. Since more songs came out of the Civil War than any other war in history, they have a large repertoire of music to draw upon.

Sparky is also currently researching Confederate General James Edward Rains, who had a promising political career before the war as editor of the Nashville Banner and Davidson County’s attorney general. Rains died gloriously leading a charge at the Battle of Stones River. In that same battle, Rhonda's great-great grandfather, Lt. Col. William Thedford, took over his regiment when his colonel was captured. Sparky and Rhonda's family history, which includes both slaves and Confederate soldiers, adds to their unique perspective on the Civil War as they tell the story from several points of view.

The Ruckers have performed this program at such places as Petersburg National Battlefield, the Salute to the Park at Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park in 1990, Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site, the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga, the Cheney Cowles Museum Concert for the Spokane Folklore Society, and the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis & Elkins College, West Virginia. They have also performed this program for numerous institutions for higher learning including Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, Indiana University Northwest, and Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

This special, costumed program is available by prior arrangement.