Spencer Odom (born August 19, 1913, Chicago; died December 24, 1962 (age 49)

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

) was a pianist-arranger who conducted the music for the Frank Buck recording Tiger (record album).

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 Willis Nance (December 10, 1913 – January 28, 1976) was an American jazz trumpeter, violinist and singer. He is best remembered for his long association with Duke Ellington and his orchestra. Early years Nance was the leader of his ow ...

, Oliver Coleman, Claud Adams and Jesse Simpkins.

Career

Odom was pianist and arranger for many well known bands,

Dave Peyton Dave Peyton (19 August 1889 – 30 April 1955) was an American songwriter, pianist, arranger, orchestra leader, and music critic columnist for the ''Chicago Defender''. Peyton first began as a pianist in the trio of Wilbur Sweatman, along wit ...

and

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...

, and was the pianist for the popular

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record. He also made arrangements for Vincent Lopez. He accompanied and arranged for the

Southernaires The Southernaires, organized in 1929, were an American popular vocal group, popular 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 hote ...

and the Mariners with

Arthur Godfrey Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname The Old Redhead. At the peak of his success, in the early-to-mid 1950s, Godf ...

.SOUTHERNAIRES HEARD; Feature Spencer Odom, Pianist, on Program at Town Hall. New York Times. January 12, 1948, p 15.

Work with Frank Buck

In 1950, Odom was arranger and conductor for the Frank Buck recording Tiger (record album).

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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odom, Spencer 1913 births 1962 deaths Musicians from Chicago 20th-century American pianists American male pianists 20th-century American male musicians