Richard Lewis Spencer

Richard Lewis Spencer is an African-American musician and teacher. He played tenor saxophone in Otis Redding's band, behind Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions with The Winstons. He was awarded the Grammy Award (R&B Songwriter Of The Year 1969) for his composition "Color Him Father".[1] Spencer wrote "Color Him Father" and Richard was the singer of the mega-hit with The Winstons on Metromedia Records.[2][3]

Biography

Spencer is a Wadesboro, North Carolina native who, at the ages of 11 and 12, studied classical piano at the famed Beckwith Piano School in Charlotte, North Carolina. At the age of 13, he became the organist and pianist for the late Bishop J.H. Sherman of The Church Of God In Christ.

In 1962, Spencer moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked with various bar bands including recording with Leroy Taylor and The 4k's as one of the first acts to sign with historic Shrine Records.

In 1969, Richard was lead singer for the song "Color Him Father" became a hit for The Winstons, an R&B group from Washington, D.C. The Winstons' recording reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song was also recorded by Linda Martell who took it to No. 14 on the Billboard country chart . Spencer is the owner of the famous Amen break featuring a drum solo by the now-famous G.C. Coleman (deceased). There are some who claim that this piece of music helped to launch hip-hop and the electronic subcultures.

After a successful career, Spencer left the music business in 1970. He returned to college to study at the University of the District of Columbia where he received a B.A. in political science and a M.S. in labor management relations. He studied for a M.Ed. at the University of Phoenix and the University of North Carolina, and completed the course work for a Ph.D. at Howard University.[1] Spencer retired from the Washington Metro system in 2000, and is currently a licensed Baptist Minister and high school teacher (U.S. history, psychology, civics) in Montgomery County, Maryland. In March 2015, Spencer was selected and received the prestigious "DC Legendary Musicians Award".

He is divorced from Angela Boatright, an Episcopal priest, author, former nun, and former journalist (WOR radio and Newsday),who has co-authored with Spencer their first novel, The Heir, released on Xlibris Press. Spencer published his first novel The Molasses Tree: A Southern Love Story in 2003. Richard has one son Richard L. Spencer, III.

References

  1. 1 2 Harrington, Richard (30 June 2006). "A Celebration of Home-Grown Soul". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Payne, Jim; Weinger, Harry (2007). The Great Drummers of R&B Funk & Soul. Mel Bay Publications. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-7866-7303-2. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Rufo, Tony (2006). The Complete Book of Pop Music Wit & Wisdom. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-4143-0731-2. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
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