Richard Lewis Spencer
Encyclopedia
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". Spencer wrote "Color Him Father" and Lewis Scruggs was the singer of the mega-hit with The Winstons on Metromedia Records.
Spencer is a 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 age 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, Lewis Scruggs 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 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/022098/fea_124-8671.shtml. 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
. 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.
He is married to 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.
The couple have three sons: Kahlil Boatright, Richard L. Spencer, III; and Cassian Boatright.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician and teacher. He played tenor saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
in Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
's band, behind Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
and The Impressions with The Winstons
The Winstons
The Winstons were a 1960s funk and soul music group, based in Washington, D.C.. They are known for their 1969 recording of an EP featuring a song entitled "Color Him Father" on the A-side, and a song entitled "Amen, Brother" on the B-side. Half-way into "Amen, Brother", there is a drum solo The...
. He was awarded the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
(R&B Songwriter Of The Year 1969) for his composition "Color Him Father". Spencer wrote "Color Him Father" and Lewis Scruggs was the singer of the mega-hit with The Winstons on Metromedia Records.
Spencer is a North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
native who, at the ages of 11 and 12, studied classical piano at the famed Beckwith Piano School in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. At age 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.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, 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, Lewis Scruggs 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
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song was also recorded by Linda Martell
Linda Martell
Linda Martell, born Thelma Bynem , is an American rhythm and blues and country music singer. In August 1969, she became the first African-American woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.-Biography:...
who took it to No. 14 on the Billboard country chart http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/022098/fea_124-8671.shtml. Spencer is the owner of the famous Amen break
Amen break
The Amen break is a brief drum solo performed in 1969 by Gregory Cylvester "G. C." Coleman in the song "Amen, Brother" performed by the 1960s funk and soul outfit The Winstons...
featuring a drum solo by the now-famous G.C. Coleman
Gregory C. Coleman
Gregory C. Coleman was a member of The Winstons and the drummer of the Amen Break, a famous drum solo taken from the recording "Amen, Brother" made in 1969 by The Winstons. This solo is one of the most frequently sampled drum loops in modern music and is used in genres from drum and bass to hip...
(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
University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia is a historically black, public university located in Washington, D.C. UDC is one of only a few urban land-grant universities in the country and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
where he received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
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 a M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in labor management relations
Labor relations
Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the employment relationship. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Many outsiders also equate industrial relations to labour relations...
. He studied for a M.Ed.
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
at the University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
and the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
, and completed the course work for a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at 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...
. Spencer retired from the Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
system in 2000, and is currently a licensed Baptist Minister and high school teacher (U.S. history, psychology, civics) in Montgomery County, Maryland.
He is married to 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.
The couple have three sons: Kahlil Boatright, Richard L. Spencer, III; and Cassian Boatright.