O'Neil Spencer
William "O'Neil" Spencer (November 25, 1909 – July 24, 1944) was a jazz drummer and singer. He is most known for his work in the John Kirby Sextet. He began with work for Al Sears and from 1931 to 1936 he worked with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. He joined Kirby's group in 1937, but had to leave for a time in 1941 due to tuberculosis. He rejoined in 1942 staying until 1943, but died soon after from the disease. |
Birth and Death Data: Born November 25, 1909 (Cedarville), Died July 24, 1944 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1942
Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, vocalist, washboard
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 26-50 of 260 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 62596 | 10-in. | 9/15/1937 | Honeymoonin' on a dime | Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 62760 | 10-in. | 11/11/1937 | The dipsy doodle | Milt Herth Trio | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 62761 | 10-in. | 11/11/1937 | That's a plenty | Milt Herth Trio | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 62830 | 10-in. | 12/1/1937 | Sweet Lorraine | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 62831 | 10-in. | 12/1/1937 | I know that you know | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 62832 | 10-in. | 12/1/1937 | Bump it (Apex blues) | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 62833 | 10-in. | 12/1/1937 | Four or five times | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 62834 | 10-in. | 12/1/1937 | Hell in my heart | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 62835 | 10-in. | 12/1/1937 | Call me darling, call me sweetheart, call me dear | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 62836 | 10-in. | 12/1/1937 | I'm walkin' this town | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 62837 | 10-in. | 12/1/1937 | Japansy | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63136 | 10-in. | 1/7/1938 | Bei mir bist du schoen | Milt Herth Trio | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 63137 | 10-in. | 1/7/1938 | The big dipper | Milt Herth Trio | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 63141 | 10-in. | 1/10/1938 | Passionette | Willie Smith | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 63142 | 10-in. | 1/10/1938 | Morning air | Willie Smith | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 63189 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Wild man blues | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, drums, washboard, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63190 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Melancholy | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, drums, washboard | ||
| Decca | 63191 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | 29th and Dearborn | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, drums, washboard | ||
| Decca | 63192 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Blues galore | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, drums, washboard, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63193 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Stack O'Lee blues | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, drums, washboard, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63194 | 10-in. | 1/21/1938 | Shake your can | Johnny Dodds and his Chicago Boys | instrumentalist, drums, washboard, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63251 | 10-in. | 2/7/1938 | There ain't gonna be no doggone afterwhile | Bob Howard Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 63252 | 10-in. | 2/7/1938 | If you're a viper | Bob Howard Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 63253 | 10-in. | 2/7/1938 | Baby, it must be love | Bob Howard Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 63254 | 10-in. | 2/7/1938 | Raggedy but right | Bob Howard Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Spencer, O'Neil," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107086.
Spencer, O'Neil. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107086.
"Spencer, O'Neil." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: O'Neill Spencer
Discogs: O'Neil Spencer
Allmusic: O'Neil Spencer
Grove: O'Neil Spencer
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Spencer, O'Neil, 1909-1944 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n94048915
Wikidata: O'Neill Spencer - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2043379
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/22328868
MusicBrainz: O'Neill Spencer - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/40727d52-6756-48d3-a26b-088541060865
ISNI: 0000 0000 6309 1588 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000063091588
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