Dedicated to Lunacy and Sparky T. Rabbit
Welcome to a tribute dedicated to the life and legacy of Sparky T. Rabbit, a beloved artist whose creativity and passion left an indelible mark on those who knew him and the world of Pagan music.
This page celebrates Sparky’s work, particularly his collaboration with Greg Johnson in the duo Lunacy, which produced two remarkable albums. Here, you will find links to listen to and purchase their music, memories of Sparky’s vibrant spirit, and a glimpse into his lasting impact on his friends and fans, a legacy that continues to inspire.
Listen and download anywhere you listen to music.
She’s Been Waiting
About Lunacy
I first met Sparky at a summer men’s festival in the Midwest.
One evening, I heard singing coming from a wooded path, so I followed; it was Sparky singing his Full Moon Song, so lovely in the moonlight. After meeting more formally, Sparky and I started singing together quite often during that festival. One favorite session was in a huge concrete group shower in the men’s locker room. We sang an old spiritual, “Wade in the Water”, at the top of our lungs with water splashing around us. Fabulous echoes in that shower. That song became one of our go-to warm-ups; Sparky singing the melody lines and me the high descant.
Fast-forward many months. Sparky and I took our music more seriously and spent many weekends singing together, either at his house in the Quad Cities or my house in Kansas City. We developed a repertoire for the initial Lunacy album and recorded it in a small studio in Kansas City.
Fun fact: We pre-sold tapes of that initial recording to friends and family, both inside and outside of that summer men’s festival; those kind, supportive people helped make our dream possible.
Together, Sparky and I made many, many wonderful memories and music. I will always think back on those days very fondly.
And now to the present.
I want to thank Macha, Steven W. Posch, and Keith Ward for making the re-release of Lunacy possible. Without Macha’s diligent research in finding me and gathering details and original recordings of Lunacy, this would not have been possible. Special thanks to Keith for his inspired artwork for the new release, and many thanks to Steven for all his work on the liner notes and more. I hope you enjoy Lunacy in this rebirth.
Blessed be,
Greg Johnson, 2024
The re-release of Lunacy on October 6, 2024
The Pagan History Project invites you to rejoice with us that this wonderful contribution to Pagan culture is now back for all to enjoy.
The Music
Lunacy
In 1990, Sparky and Greg released Lunacy, an album of Pagan music.
Hand of Desire
Following the success of Lunacy, the duo released Hand of Desire in 1992.
Sparky T. Rabbit
February 3, 1954 – June 2, 2014
Peter B. Soderberg was born on February 3, 1954, in Rock Island, Illinois, where he lived most of his life. He was known as Bruner to some and Sparky T. Rabbit to many others.
Sparky was deeply involved in the arts from his youth, gaining local recognition for his many acting and singing roles. He performed with the Genesius Guild and Circa 21 Dinner Theatre. He appeared in several films, including Italian Avati-directed movies “Bix,” “Brothers and Sisters,” “An American Love,” and “The Hideout,” as well as Rock Island’s Zurborg-directed “Beauty Queen Butcher.”
Sparky was a prominent figure in the Midwest Heathen community, known for his work as a singer, songwriter, rite-maker, gadfly, and devoted friend of Freyr. He was celebrated for his critiques and satires of Paganism, monotheism, and other ideologies. His innovative and humorous contributions to the Pagan community earned him national recognition.
Handfasted to Ray Bayley since 1984, Sparky fondly remarked, “That’s 93 anniversaries in straight years!”
In 1990, Sparky T. Rabbit and Greg Johnson released an album of Pagan a cappella music named after their band, Lunacy. It proved popular, and in 1992, they recorded another album, Hand of Desire. These recordings remain beloved.
Sparky was cherished for his wisdom and satire, often quoted by those who knew him. He crossed the veil in his home on Monday, June 2, 2014, at 60.
Greg Johnson
I grew up a small-town boy in Iowa, a shy boy soprano with a big voice. My parents put me in vocal lessons, and at an early age, I sang all over the city and state as a soloist, in trios and choirs and community theater musicals. I had a tentative relationship with performing, preferring group ensembles versus solo work. My dream was to become a backup singer; I loved watching and hearing girl groups with their synchronized dance moves and close harmonies (and great outfits).
At an early age, my father sometimes took me to an African American church to hear “a real choir”, in his words, rather than the lackluster choir at my home Presbyterian church (dull as dishwater). Those experiences were magical as I witnessed call and response singing with amazing power and emotion.
As my voice changed in adolescence, I missed my high notes and took up whistling – a passion I continue to this day. We added whistling to several Lunacy songs.
After graduating from college in Iowa with a degree in fine arts, I spent a few years as a professional ceramicist in a studio near Iowa City (oddly close to Sparky’s hometown in the Quad Cities). Then, I moved to Kansas City to further my schooling and artistic training.
In Kansas City, I met my dear friend Everett, who was organizing a summer men’s festival at the Lake of the Ozarks. He asked me to come along with him; that experience turned out to be a turning point in my life. At the festival, I met my lifelong partner and now husband, and I also met Sparky.
One full moon night, I heard Sparky singing his Full Moon song as he walked along a path in the woods; I followed, enthralled. During that festival, Sparky and I started singing together. One of our initial jam sessions took place in, of all places, a concrete group shower; the acoustics were amazing! We sang and improvised harmonies around the old hymn, Wade in the Water. Sparky was the lead bass voice, and I was the high tenor. It was so much fun that we began singing together quite a bit during our time at the festival.
After the festival, Sparky and I stayed in touch and continued singing together. Oddly enough, I often drove to his house in the Quad Cities (not far from my former pottery studio), or he would come to our house in Kansas City to rehearse and compose. We cut our first album in a small studio in Kansas City, the endeavor partially funded by friends from the Men’s Festival; their support was wonderful.
I coined our name Lunacy, and we released our first album; my partner created the cover art, a fine artist in his own right. Sparky and I developed new songs over the following few years, and we cut our second album, Hand of Desire, in the same small recording studio in Kansas City.
Sparky was a big part of my life, and so was our musical partnership. Although we parted ways many years after our second album, I will always cherish our time and work together. In a way, Sparky helped me rediscover my love of singing and develop my pagan voice.