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 176-200 of 260 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 65750 | 10-in. | 6/8/1939 | In an 18th century drawing room | Milt Herth Trio | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 65751 | 10-in. | 6/8/1939 | The shoemaker's holiday | Milt Herth Trio | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 65752 | 10-in. | 6/8/1939 | Everybody loves my baby | Milt Herth Trio | instrumentalist, drums, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 65756 | 10-in. | 6/8/1939 | Come easy, go easy | Rosetta Howard | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 65757 | 10-in. | 6/8/1939 | My blues is like whiskey | Rosetta Howard | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 65758 | 10-in. | 6/8/1939 | The jive is here | Rosetta Howard | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 65759 | 10-in. | 6/8/1939 | My downfall | Rosetta Howard | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 65760 | 10-in. | 6/8/1939 | Hog-wild blues | Rosetta Howard | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66167 | 10-in. | 8/22/1939 | The man with the mandolin | Leo Watson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66168 | 10-in. | 8/22/1939 | Utt da zay (The tailor song) | Leo Watson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66169 | 10-in. | 8/22/1939 | Ja-da | Leo Watson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66170 | 10-in. | 8/22/1939 | It's the tune that counts | Leo Watson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66245 | 10-in. | 8/30/1939 | You ain't had no blues | Blue Lu Barker | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66246 | 10-in. | 8/30/1939 | Marked woman | Blue Lu Barker | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66247 | 10-in. | 8/30/1939 | Midnight blues | Blue Lu Barker | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66248 | 10-in. | 8/30/1939 | Down in the dumps | Blue Lu Barker | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66764 | 10-in. | 10/13/1939 | Cheatin' on me | Helen Proctor | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66765 | 10-in. | 10/13/1939 | Let's call it a day | Helen Proctor | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66766 | 10-in. | 10/13/1939 | Take me along with you | Helen Proctor | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 66767 | 10-in. | 10/13/1939 | Blues at midnight | Helen Proctor | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 67672 | 10-in. | 5/3/1940 | Nothin' to do | Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 67673 | 10-in. | 5/3/1940 | The down home blues | Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 67674 | 10-in. | 5/3/1940 | Your feet's too big | Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 67675 | 10-in. | 5/3/1940 | What's cooking? | Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 67821 | 10-in. | 5/27/1940 | The down home blues | Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys | instrumentalist, drums |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Spencer, O'Neil," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107086.
Spencer, O'Neil. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107086.
"Spencer, O'Neil." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 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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