Tracie Spencer facts for kids

Tracie Monique Spencer (born July 12, 1976) is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous in 1987 when she was just 11 years old. Tracie won the junior vocalist competition on the TV show Star Search.

Soon after, she signed a contract with Capitol Records. She was the youngest female artist to do so at the time. Tracie Spencer became well-known for her R&B and pop songs. Some of her hits include "Symptoms of True Love" (1988), "This House" (1990), "Tender Kisses" (1991), and "It's All About You (Not About Me)" (1999).

About Tracie Spencer

Her Early Life and School

Tracie Spencer was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on July 12, 1976. Her parents are Theresa and Marvin E. Spencer Sr. Her mother has Creole and Native American family roots. Her father was a musician. Tracie has three siblings: Marvin Jr., Marty, and Tricia.

Did you know Tracie Spencer is related to Beyoncé? Both singers share some of the same great-grandparents!

Tracie started singing when she was only three years old. By age five, she began modeling in beauty pageants. Besides singing, Tracie was a great student. She also played basketball in elementary and high school. She went to Columbus High School in Waterloo. She graduated in 1994. By then, she had already released four songs that made it to the Top-10 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts.

Her Music Career

Starting Out: 1987–1992

Tracie Spencer was very talented from a young age. She was making her own music videos before she was ten! This talent led her to compete on Star Search in 1987. She won the $10,000 prize for junior vocalists. After her win, Tracie became the youngest female artist to sign a record deal with a big company, Capitol Records. She was also the youngest to release an album.

Her first album, called Tracie Spencer, came out on January 16, 1988. This album had popular songs like "Hide and Seek" and "Symptoms of True Love". It also included her version of John Lennon's song "Imagine". These songs all appeared on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts.

Tracie's second album, Make the Difference, was released on August 27, 1990. The first song from this album, "Save Your Love", reached No. 7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Her next song, "This House", became her biggest hit. It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Another song, "Tender Kisses", became No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Because of this song, Tracie became the youngest female artist to win the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year award in 1992. Other songs from this album, "This Time Make It Funky" and "Love Me", also did well on the charts. Tracie recorded another album called Naturelle in 1993. However, Capitol Records decided not to release it.

Later Years: 1993–1999

As a teenager, Tracie Spencer helped the Children's Defense Fund. She received the Martin Luther King Christian Leadership Award. This was for being a good role model for young people. She traveled around the U.S. and other countries for a "Stay in School" program.

In 1993, Tracie appeared on the TV show Family Matters. She also appeared in commercials. She sang songs for several movies, including "I'll Be There for You" for Good Burger (1997). She also sang "The Rain" for Down in the Delta and "Don't Slip Away" for Super Mario Bros. (film) and Girlfight.

Tracie also worked as a model for famous brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Chanel. She was part of fashion weeks in New York City and Los Angeles in 1999 and 2000. She appeared in many magazines.

On June 29, 1999, Tracie released her third album, Tracie. This album featured the songs "It's All About You (Not About Me)" and "Still in My Heart".

Recent Activities: 2023–Present

After taking a break from music, Tracie Spencer returned to the public eye. On September 29, 2023, she appeared on the TV talk show Sherri with fellow R&B singer Shanice. Tracie has also been active on social media, sharing her performances and activities with fans.

Tracie Spencer's Music

Studio Albums

Singles