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Len Spencer

Leonard Garfield Spencer (February 12, 1867 – December 15, 1914) was an early American recording artist. He began recording for the Columbia Phonograph Company, in 1889 or 1890. Between 1892 and 1897 he recorded extensively for the New Jersey Phonograph Company and its successor the United States Phonograph Company. He specialized in vaudeville sketches and comic songs, but also sang sentimental ballads popular at the time. He returned to Columbia in 1898 for an exclusive contract then began recording for Berliner Gramophone (disc) records in 1899 and continued with Victor and Columbia as discs became the dominant format in the early 1900s.

He began performing with banjoist Vess L. Ossman in 1901 and with Ada Jones in 1905. He is best remembered today for his vaudeville-style comic sketches, such as "The Arkansaw Traveler" (1902), combining clever turns of phrase, ironic elocutionary delivery, sound effects and music to create colorful dialogues featuring itinerant Southerners, auctioneers, circus barkers, and Irish, Jewish or Black Americans. Many of his roles were performed in either blackface or brownface. Spencer's output was eclectic. He imitated animal sounds in "A Barnyard Serenade" (1906) and released another record titled "The Transformation Scene from 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'," but also popularized songs still known today such as "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom De-ay" and "A Hot Time in the Old Town." Music historian Bob Stanley deems it "probable" that Spencer's comedic "Arkansaw Traveler" routine was the first record to sell one million copies, though official documentation is lacking.

As the popularity of Len's style of humor waned in the latter part of the decade, he opened a booking agency called "Len Spencer's Lyceum" in New York. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage while working at the Lyceum on December 15, 1914.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 12, 1867 (Washington, D.C.), Died December 15, 1914 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1896 - 1925

Roles Represented in DAHR: speaker, author, baritone vocal, performer, composer, adapter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 576-600 of 812 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Zonophone 6297 10-in. Before Aug. 1906 Bashful Henry and his lovin' Lucy Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Descriptive scene and vocal duet, with orchestra author, speaker  
Zonophone 6298 10-in. Before Aug. 1906 Fritz and Louisa Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 6303 10-in. Before July 1906 Peaches and cream Ada Jones Comic scene and vocal duet, with orchestra author  
Zonophone 6305 10-in. Before July 1906 Coming home from Coney Island Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 6308 10-in. Before July 1906 Jokesmiths Steve Porter Comic dialogue author  
Zonophone 6309 10-in. Before Oct. 1906 The morning after Flanagan's night off Steve Porter Comic dialogue author  
Zonophone 6804 10-in. Before Nov. 1906 Jim Jackson's last farewell Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 6988 10-in. Before Jan. 1907 Jim Jackson and his jealous Julia Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 6991 10-in. Before Dec. 1906 Down on the farm Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 6993 10-in. Before Dec. 1906 Good-a bye, John Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 7487 10-in. Before Apr. 1907 Meet me down at the corner Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene speaker, author  
Zonophone 7488 10-in. Before May 1907 Giving Matt the mitten Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 7491 12-in. Before June 1907 Rudolph and Rosie at the roller skating rink Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 7643 10-in. ca. 1907 Illinois Sewing Machine Co. Len Spencer Promotional talk speaker  
Zonophone 7674 10-in. Before Aug. 1907 Blondy Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 7676 10-in. Before June 1907 Henry Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 7678 10-in. Before June 1907 Becky and Izzy Ada Jones Comic scene author  
Zonophone 7901 10-in. ca. 1908 Becky and Izzy Ada Jones Comic scene author  
Zonophone 7905 10-in. Before Sept. 1907 Chimmy and Maggie in Nickel Land Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8217 10-in. Before Jan. 1908 Broncho Bob (And his little Cheyenne) Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8220 10-in. Before Oct. 1907 Herman and Minnie Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8221 10-in. Before Feb. 1908 You've got to love me a lot Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene and female-male vocal duet, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8223 10-in. Before Dec. 1907 Mariutch at Coney Island Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8225 10-in. Before Apr. 1908 Vagabonds Gilbert Girard Comic monologue, with imitations author  
Zonophone 8569 10-in. Before June 1908 Santiago Flynn Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
(Results 576-600 of 812 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Spencer, Len," accessed May 8, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106197.

Spencer, Len. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 8, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106197.

"Spencer, Len." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 8 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106197

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