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 201-225 of 260 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 67822 | 10-in. | 5/27/1940 | Your feet's too big | Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 67823 | 10-in. | 5/27/1940 | Nothin' to do | Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 67824 | 10-in. | 5/27/1940 | What's cooking? | Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69016 | 10-in. | 4/17/1941 | If it's true | Mills Brothers | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69017 | 10-in. | 4/17/1941 | The very thought of you | Mills Brothers | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69018 | 10-in. | 4/17/1941 | Rig a jig jig | Mills Brothers | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69166 | 10-in. | 5/9/1941 | Be honest with me | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69167 | 10-in. | 5/9/1941 | Just a little bit South of North Carolina | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69168 | 10-in. | 5/9/1941 | G'bye now | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69169 | 10-in. | 5/9/1941 | Goodbye, dear, I'll be back in a year | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69364 | 10-in. | 6/17/1941 | Loch Lomond | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69369 | 10-in. | 6/17/1941 | Just like a gypsy | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69370 | 10-in. | 6/17/1941 | My blue heaven | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69371 | 10-in. | 6/17/1941 | St. Louis blues | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69589 | 10-in. | 7/31/1941 | Got a letter from my kid today | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69649 | 10-in. | 8/19/1941 | Wedding bells | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69650 | 10-in. | 8/19/1941 | Till we meet again | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69651 | 10-in. | 8/19/1941 | I don't want to set the world on fire | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69652 | 10-in. | 8/19/1941 | You gotta quit cheatin' on me | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69653 | 10-in. | 8/19/1941 | Uncle Eph's got the coon | Dick Robertson Orchestra | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69988 | 10-in. | 12/3/1941 | When your lover has gone | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69989 | 10-in. | 12/3/1941 | My ideal | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69990 | 10-in. | 12/3/1941 | The night we called it a day | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 69991 | 10-in. | 12/3/1941 | Concerto for two | Maxine Sullivan | instrumentalist, drums | ||
| Decca | 70138 | 10-in. | 1/9/1942 | Remember Pearl Harbor-1 | Dick Robertson Orchestra | 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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