Craig Sala, Vocalist & Keyboard
 Richard Sabatini, Vocalist and Guitar
David Silva, Sax
Billy Packard, Electric Lead Guitar
   Ken Mabie, Bass Guitar & Vocalist
John Stege, Percussion
  Ruthie, Vocalist

   
Craig Sala

Craig began playing an upright piano at age 12.  He was fascinated by Fats Domino and Elvis Presley and learned to play by listening to those tunes.
At age 16, he was approached by Pete Pavacich, Richard Sabatini and David Silva; thus, the beginning of the teenage garage band known as The Sparkletones.
They started in the recreation room at the Whutzit Club on Friday nights in 1959 and went on to play on local television stations such as "Record Hop" in San Jose and the "Ben Alexander Show" in San Francisco, and Battle of the Bands at Northern California County Fairs.

In the late 60's, the band members went their separate ways and Craig worked as Manager for the California Water Service while getting his degree in Business Administration.  At 32, with a wife and three children, he became a Police Officer for the City of Santa Clara, where he served the City he was born and grew up in,  for 25 years.

The Sparkletones reunited a few years ago to play at their 40th High School Reunion and have made a great comeback.  Craig loves the band and truly believes The Sparkletones send a wonderful message about a time in history that everyone enjoyed.  He loves to see the audience dancing or tapping their feet.

Craig remarried in 2000 and he and his wife, Sharon, reside in Capitola.
He is currently retired from Santa Clara PD and teaches Criminal Justice at Cabrillo College part time.  His hobbies are golf, gourmet cooking, travel and  The Sparkletones.
He is currently writing a mystery novel, which he hopes to have published in 2009.

Richard Sabatini

David Silva

Billy Packard 

When Billy was a kid of about 7, he started listening to Rock and Roll on a tiny transistor radio.  The earliest Rock pioneers, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Carl Perkins, and many others, had so profound an effect on him that he was hooked for life.  He started music lessons shortly thereafter.  He studied several instruments, settling on the guitar in high school.  The electric guitar became a way to snag chicks, have fun, and make a lot of noise playing parties, church socials and any number of other gatherings.

Following high school, Billy began to take music more seriously, studying theory and other styles, while continuing to rock and roll with the times.  He also began playing the Mandolin in other sytles of music from around the world.  A few years ago, the original members of The Sparkletones asked Billy to help organize the band to do a 40th high school reunion.  The event was a huge success; and the group continues to play all the fabulous hits from the Fifties.  Billy's original guitar style captures the tones and excitement of the era while adding something new.
Long live and long play The Sparkletones!

Ken Mabie 

Ken has been "the" bassman since the middle 60's, playing in bands in Watsonville - such as the Tomorrow River Society, The Fog, Tomorrow's Sunrise, The Germs, and the No Respect Band.  Being a local boy, he saw the music scene in Santa Cruz County develop and become a happening part of local culture.  The Cocoanut Grove, Bibi's, the Catalyst and other venues provided entertainment for the locals, and places for the bands to play.  By the way, Ken became "the" bass player early on because no one else would do it!!  Everyone wants to be a guitar star!

Ken graduated from Watsonville HIgh School, Cabrillo College, and San Jose State (1972) and joined the workforce as a County Health Inspector, and later started his own business as a soils consultant.  But the music is always coursing through his veins and the sounds never stop.  The "bottom" is solid, and the beat keeps on rocking.

John Stege

John was born and raised in Los Angeles and became interested in Rock and Roll Music and the drums in the mid sixties with the onslaught of the British Invasion with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, The Seeds, Eric Burden and the Animals..He saw many of these bands "LIVE" at different venues in the L.A. area.  He got his first drum kit in the 6th grade and took two years of lessons from Tony Bell at "Drum City," a music store in the San Fernando Valley.  Tony was a local musician who just happened to be from Britain; John was then forever hooked on everything percussion.

After playing in different garage bands in high school, John came to Santa Clara University in 1969 as a freshman basketball player on a full ride scholarship.  Despite a rigorous schedule that included a full class load, daily practice, and travel to places like UCLA, North Carolina, and Notre Dame for games, he never lost his interest in music.  He helped form a local "Oldies" band called "Jacque Strap and The Dixie Cups" that emulated the then popular act "Sha Na Na."  He graduated from Santa Clara in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English.

Fast forward to the spring of 2007, where John auditioned for The Sparkletones and he's been having an absolute blast with the band ever since.  John resides in Aptos with Laura, his beautiful wife of 15 years.

Ruthie 

Ruthie was born and raised in Texas, harmonizing with her Mamma, sisters and aunts in Grandmother's kitchen.  She sang in the church choir as early back as she can remember.  Ruthie began playing piano at the age of 8 and guitar at age 15.  As she got older, she decided to put down the guitar, pick up the microphone and take her place as the lead vocalist for several bands... by being a little bit Country and a little bit Rock & Roll.  After her move to California, Ruthie was formally trained in vocal instruction and became the Karaoke Queen of the South Bay!  Even though she enjoys the self-proclaimed title of Karaoke Queen, her real love is singing live - and she is a wonderful addition to The Sparkletones.

For Information or booking contact:

 Craig Sala, Manager
831-477-1140
831-359-5009 (cell)

Sparkletones@pacbell.net