• MLK Art Award, 2013; Dr. Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission, Knoxville, TN
• Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong Legacy Award, 2011
• Grammy-nominated Anthology CD "Singing Through the Hard Times" 2009
• Nomination for W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Recording, 1991, for "Treasures & Tears"
• Certificate of Appreciation, 2003 Multi-Cultural Festival, Marquette High School, MO

• Certificate of Appreciation, 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
• Storytelling World Award 2001 Honor Title
• Knoxville Music History Mural 2000
• Knoxville Civil War Roundtable Award 2000
• NAACP Appreciation Award 1998
• Spirit of the Buffalo Soldier Award 1997
• Nomination for W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Artist
• The Hurston-Hughes Award, 1989
• Kentucky Colonel 1989
• John Henry Award, 1976 and 1982
• Personalities of the South 1975-76

• "Let Freedom Ring" (Tremont, 2012)
• "One Earth" (Tremont, 2009)
• "The Mountains Above and the Valleys Below" (Tremont, 2008)
• "Done Told the Truth Goodbye" (Tremont, 2006)
• "Midnight Memories" (Tremont, 2004)
• “Patchwork Tales” (Tremont, 1996)
• “The Blue & Gray in Black & White” (Flying Fish, 1992)
• “Treasures & Tears” (Flying Fish, 1990)
• “Eventide: Songs of Celebration” (Tremont, 1990)

• “A Magic Night” (Makin’ Jam, 1988)
• “Drive Back the Night” (L&R Records, 1984)
• “A Home in Tennessee” (A Gentle Wind, 1981)
• “Heroes and Hard Times” (Green Linnet, 1981)
• “Cold & Lonesome on a Train” (June Appal, 1977 and Tremont, 1990)
• “Bound to Sing the Blues” (Traditional, 1972)

Sparky Rucker has also appeared on many anthologies and has published several articles pertaining to history and folklore.

• Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
• National Folk Festival - Australia
• National Folk Festival - Scotland
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival
• International Storytelling Center
• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
• Tennessee Homecoming Festival
• Kerrville Folk Festival
• Walnut Valley Festival - Winfield, KS
• Mississippi Valley Blues Festival
• Clearwater Folk Festival
• Robert Johnson Memorial Blues Festival
• National Conference of the Center for Black Music Research and the College Music Society
• Vancouver Folk Festival
• Old Songs Festival - NY

• National Storytelling Festival
• Piccolo Spoleto Festival - Charleston, SC
• International Children’s Festival - Wolf Trap Farm Park
• American Folk Blues Tour, Europe, 1983 and 1985
• Gurten-Bern International Festival in Switzerland
• World’s Fair, 1982
• Mariposa, Winnepeg, and Philadelphia Folk Festivals

• "On Point" NPR
• “The Wild West” Time-Warner TV miniseries
• “Storytelling in North America” -- National Geographic Society, 1992
• Scholastic Teaching Resources Projects
• “Old Music for New Ears” - Kentucky Educational Television, 1992
• “Tall Tales of the Blue Ridge” - Eastern National Park & Monument Association video, 1992
• Mississippi Valley Blues Festival; WQPT-TV; PBS; Moline, IL
• “Live at Studio One” KUNI-FM
• “Folkscene Music” KPFK-FM, Calif.
• “KUNM-FM, Albuquerque, NM

• “Stories of North America” video, 1994, National Geographic Society
• “Catch the Spirit” Cable-TV (BET & CBN)
• “Carry It On” PBS series
• “Amazing Grace: Music in America” PBS
• “Stage 9” KIXE-TV; Redding, CA
• “Tonight at Ferlinghetti’s” WPBA-TV in Atlanta
• “Rockpalast” WDR, West Germany
• “Hier 11 um” East Germany
• “Morning Edition” NPR
• “Prairie Home Companion” NPR
• “Mountain Stage” NPR
• “Sandy Bradley’s Potlock” NPR