Spencer Odom was a pianist-arranger who conducted the music for the Frank Buck

Frank Buck (animal collector)

Frank Howard Buck was a hunter and "collector of wild animals," as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer...

 recording Tiger (record album)

Tiger (record album)

Tiger, a children’s record, was Frank Buck’s last recorded performance. The story was adapted by "Peter Steele" and Hecky Krasnow. In fact, Krasnow often wrote under two names, Peter Steele and Hecky Krasno, dropping the "w." In Tiger Krasnow combined two animals from two stories in Bring 'Em Back...

.

Early years

Odom was the son of Carrie Combs and Walter D. Odom. He received public musical education at Chicago Piano College, with private lessons under T. T. Taylor and Mrs. Estelle Bonds. His theory, arranging, composition and orchestral training were received under Major N. Clark Smith, who formed an orchestra from his best students including Ray Nance

Ray Nance

Ray Willis Nance was a jazz trumpeter, violinist and singer.Nance is best known for his long association with Duke Ellington through most of the 1940s and 1950s, after he was hired to replace Cootie Williams in 1940...

, Oliver Coleman, Claud Adams and Jesse Simpkins.

Career

Odom was pianist and arranger for many well known bands, Dave Peyton

Dave Peyton

Dave Peyton was an Americansongwriter, pianist, and arranger.Peyton first began as a pianist in the trio of Wilbur Sweatman, where he played from 1908 to 1912. Following this Peyton led his own ensembles in various theaters in Chicago...

 and Lionel Hampton

Lionel Hampton

Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...

, and was the pianist for the popular Flying Home

Flying Home

"Flying Home" is a 32-bar AABA jazz composition most often associated with Lionel Hampton, written by Benny Goodman, Eddie DeLange, and Hampton....

 record. He also made arrangements for Vincent Lopez

Vincent Lopez

Vincent Lopez was an American bandleader and pianist.Vincent Lopez was born of Portuguese immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York and was leading his own dance band in New York City by 1917...

. He accompanied and arranged for the Southernaires

Southernaires

The Southernaires, organized ca 1930, were an American popular vocal group in radio broadcasting of the 1930s and 1940s. They were known for their renditions of spirituals and work songs. In 1942, they won a widely publicized case of hotel discrimination....

 and the Mariners with Arthur Godfrey

Arthur Godfrey

Arthur Morton Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead...

.

Work with Frank Buck

In 1950, Odom was arranger and conductor for the Frank Buck

Frank Buck (animal collector)

Frank Howard Buck was a hunter and "collector of wild animals," as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer...

 recording Tiger (record album)

Tiger (record album)

Tiger, a children’s record, was Frank Buck’s last recorded performance. The story was adapted by "Peter Steele" and Hecky Krasnow. In fact, Krasnow often wrote under two names, Peter Steele and Hecky Krasno, dropping the "w." In Tiger Krasnow combined two animals from two stories in Bring 'Em Back...

.

Death

Odom died of a heart attack Christmas Eve in his New York studio, the Showcase, while he and his associate, Bill Hyer, were rehearsing talent. A 15 minute break had been called and while Odom and his partner were talking, Odom suddenly slumped to the floor. Doctors were called but failed to revive him.