A. B. Spellman
Encyclopedia
A. B. Spellman (born August 12, 1935 Nixonton, North Carolina
), is an African-American poet
, music critic, music historian
, arts administrator, and author
. He first garnered attention for his 1964 book of poems entitled The Beautiful Days. In 1966 he published a highly influential book on the history of African American music entitled Four Lives in the Bebop Business (aka Black Music: Four Lives) (Random House
). From 1975 to 2005 he worked as an Arts Administrator for the National Endowment for the Arts
. He has been particularly instrumental in supporting and forwarding jazz
music within the United States
.
where he was a member of the basketball team, glee club and oratorical club. After graduating in 1953, he entered Howard University
where he was active in the chorus, the Howard Players, and he began his writing career. He graduated in 1956 with a Bachelors of Science in political science
and then continued with graduate studies in Howard's law school.
In 1959, Spellman began a career as a music critic for a number of magazines including Metronome
and Down Beat
, for which he wrote reviews of jazz music and musicians. In 1964, he published his first and only book of poems entitled The Beautiful Days, which was very well received and considerably raised his profile as a writer. His reputation, however, was truly solidified two years later with his first full-length book, Four Lives in the Bebop Business—later republished as Four Jazz Lives—an in-depth look at the lives of jazz musicians Cecil Taylor
, Ornette Coleman
, Herbie Nichols
, and Jackie McLean
.
After touring the nation with several other African-American poets in 1967, Spellman joined the staff of Rhythm Magazine where he wrote poems and political essays until 1969. After leaving the magazine, Spellman conducted a series of lectures at major universities throughout the United States, including Moorehouse College, Emory University
, and Rutgers University
, among others. He then joined the faculty at Harvard University
where he taught African American studies from 1972-1975.
In 1975 Spellman left Harvard to become director of the Arts in Education Study Project for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. Three years later he became the director of the NEA's Arts Endowment Expansion Program, a position he held for the next eight years. Between 1994 and 1996, he served as associate deputy for program coordination at the NEA, and then became the director of the NEA's Office of Guidelines and Panel Operations. In 1998, Spellman was appointed the deputy chairman for the Office of Guidelines, Panel and Council Operations for the NEA where he remained until his retirement in 2005.
In 2008, Spellman published Things I Must Have Known, his first full-length collection of poetry, with Coffee House Press
.
Nixonton, North Carolina
Nixonton is an unincorporated community in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. Nixonton was once a municipality, having been incorporated in 1758. It is part of the Elizabeth City, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area....
), is an African-American poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, music critic, music historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, arts administrator, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He first garnered attention for his 1964 book of poems entitled The Beautiful Days. In 1966 he published a highly influential book on the history of African American music entitled Four Lives in the Bebop Business (aka Black Music: Four Lives) (Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
). From 1975 to 2005 he worked as an Arts Administrator for the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
. He has been particularly instrumental in supporting and forwarding jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music within the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Spellman is the son of two teachers and attended P.W. Moore High School in Elizabeth City, North CarolinaElizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
where he was a member of the basketball team, glee club and oratorical club. After graduating in 1953, he entered Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
where he was active in the chorus, the Howard Players, and he began his writing career. He graduated in 1956 with a Bachelors of Science in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and then continued with graduate studies in Howard's law school.
In 1959, Spellman began a career as a music critic for a number of magazines including Metronome
Metronome
A metronome is any device that produces regular, metrical ticks — settable in beats per minute. These ticks represent a fixed, regular aural pulse; some metronomes also include synchronized visual motion...
and Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
, for which he wrote reviews of jazz music and musicians. In 1964, he published his first and only book of poems entitled The Beautiful Days, which was very well received and considerably raised his profile as a writer. His reputation, however, was truly solidified two years later with his first full-length book, Four Lives in the Bebop Business—later republished as Four Jazz Lives—an in-depth look at the lives of jazz musicians Cecil Taylor
Cecil Taylor
Cecil Percival Taylor is an American pianist and poet. Classically trained, Taylor is generally acknowledged as one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an extremely energetic, physical approach, producing complex improvised sounds, frequently involving tone clusters and...
, Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman is an American saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter and composer. He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s....
, Herbie Nichols
Herbie Nichols
Herbie Nichols , was an American jazz pianist and composer who wrote the jazz standard "Lady Sings the Blues". Obscure during his lifetime, he is now highly regarded by many musicians and critics.-Life:...
, and Jackie McLean
Jackie McLean
John Lenwood McLean was an American jazz alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader and educator, born in New York City.-Biography:McLean's father, John Sr., played guitar in Tiny Bradshaw's orchestra...
.
After touring the nation with several other African-American poets in 1967, Spellman joined the staff of Rhythm Magazine where he wrote poems and political essays until 1969. After leaving the magazine, Spellman conducted a series of lectures at major universities throughout the United States, including Moorehouse College, Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, and Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, among others. He then joined the faculty at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he taught African American studies from 1972-1975.
In 1975 Spellman left Harvard to become director of the Arts in Education Study Project for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. Three years later he became the director of the NEA's Arts Endowment Expansion Program, a position he held for the next eight years. Between 1994 and 1996, he served as associate deputy for program coordination at the NEA, and then became the director of the NEA's Office of Guidelines and Panel Operations. In 1998, Spellman was appointed the deputy chairman for the Office of Guidelines, Panel and Council Operations for the NEA where he remained until his retirement in 2005.
In 2008, Spellman published Things I Must Have Known, his first full-length collection of poetry, with Coffee House Press
Coffee House Press
Coffee House Press is a nonprofit independent press based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The press’s goal is to "produce books that celebrate imagination, innovation in the craft of writing, and the many authentic voices of the American experience." It is widely considered to be among the top five...
.