Kenneth Spencer (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kenneth Spencer
Kenneth Spencer (c. 1960)
Background information
Birth name	Kenneth Lee Spencer
Born	(1913-04-25)April 25, 1913 Los Angeles, California
Died	February 25, 1964(1964-02-25) (aged 50) Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana
Genres	Opera, musical, folk, gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1930s–1964

Kenneth Spencer (born April 25, 1913 – died February 25, 1964) was an American singer and actor. He was known for his powerful voice. Spencer starred in many Broadway musicals and films in the United States during the 1940s.

However, he faced unfair treatment because of his race in the United States. This made him frustrated. So, in 1950, Spencer moved to West Germany. There, he had a very successful singing career. He also acted in several German movies. Sadly, his career ended too soon when he died in a plane crash.

Early Life and Career

Kenneth Spencer was born in Los Angeles, California. His father worked in a steel factory. Kenneth loved to sing. He took private singing lessons while working as a gardener. A famous singer named Roland Hayes noticed his talent. Hayes helped him get a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music. Kenneth graduated from there in 1938.

After school, Spencer wanted to start a singing career. But he faced many challenges. These challenges were due to racial prejudice in the United States. This meant people treated him unfairly because he was black.

In 1940, he was a backup singer for Paul Robeson. This was for the Broadway musical John Henry. In 1941, he had his first big solo concert. It was at Town Hall in New York City.

Success in Film and Musicals

During the early 1940s, Spencer became very popular in California. He performed concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. He also sang on the radio. This led to him getting roles in two big movies in 1943. These were made by MGM.

He appeared in the musical film Cabin in the Sky. In this movie, he sang alongside stars like Ethel Waters and Lena Horne. He also acted in the war movie Bataan. Later, he sang a special song in the film A Walk in the Sun (1945).

Spencer returned to Broadway in 1946. He played the role of Joe in Show Boat. This musical was very famous. He sang the well-known song Ol' Man River. The show was a huge success. It ran for almost a full year, which was amazing at the time. This production was also the first to have a full cast album recorded in America.

Moving to Germany

In 1949, Kenneth Spencer performed in Europe for the first time. This was at a music festival in Nice, France. The people in Europe loved his performance. Soon, he started getting offers to perform all over Europe. This was a big change for Spencer. It was the first time he worked in a place where his race did not hold him back.

In 1950, he went back to Europe. He sang on many radio shows in France. He also gave popular concerts in Berlin. He even performed with the famous Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. Spencer loved how the German people welcomed him. He was also tired of the limited chances he had in America. So, in late 1950, he moved his family to Wuppertal, West Germany.

Kenneth Spencer lived in Germany for the next 14 years. He performed in many concerts, operas, and plays. He also acted in several German films. He was very popular because he could sing many types of music. He sang spirituals, classical music, and folk songs. He could even sing folk songs in their original languages, like French, German, Italian, Russian, and Hebrew. In the 1950s and 1960s, he made many recordings with Columbia Masterworks Records. These recordings included classical music, spirituals, and folk songs.

Tragic End

Kenneth Spencer's career ended suddenly. He died in a plane crash on February 25, 1964. The plane was Eastern Air Lines Flight 304. It crashed into Lake Pontchartrain after taking off from the New Orleans International Airport.

Filmography

L–R: Ethel Waters, Kenneth Spencer, Eddie Anderson, Lena Horne, and Rex Ingram in Cabin in the Sky (1943)