Spenc Beamon's Biography
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Born and rasied in Detroit, MI, at the age of 4, Spenc's father got him stated on bass & Guitar. Spenc and his older brother William had one lesson from there father on the bass guitar. How to play the boggie woogie was the lesson.
He played Guitar for the Choir in 7th grade at Jackson Jr. High in Detroit Michigan. He left for Memphis Tenn. to stay with his dad for a while during the second half of 7th grade, and 8th grade. It was During this time he picked up the Saxophone and the Flute.
He moved back to Detroit and attended Southeastern High School, Where he learned to play every instrument in the band room. He played in all of the bands at school. He was also selected for All State Band on Flute during the 9th grade. He had two special visitors come to Southeastern. The first was Marcus Belgrave (well known Detroit Jazz Trumpet player) and the second was George Benson (well known Detroit Jazz Saxophonist). They introduced Spenc to Jazz Theory.
He moved back to Memphis Tennessee to spend his 12th Grade year with his Dad. He went to Hillcrest High School. He played in all of the school bands there also. However, He became board. He set up a Jazz combo. They performed the pep-ralleys and special school functions. The school also had Spenc rehearse all of the performers in the Talent Show his senior year. The judges gave Spenc the First Place Trophy because he played Guitar, Bass, Saxophone, & Flute in different acts throughout the talent show. The next step was the state talent show. This later earned Spenc a Job at Libertyland Amusment Park, and performing shows overseas a year later.
He Received three scholarships. Two full scholarships at Kentucky State, Northwest Jr. College in Senatobia Mississippi, and one partial scholarship from Memphis State. These were the only schools he tried out for. He decided to go to North West Jr. College in Senatobia Mississippi because it was a full scholarship and it was only 30 miles away from his Dad's home in Memphis Tenn. He performed in all of the Bands and groups at this college. There was a special group called the Entertainers that he performed with on Guitar, Flute, and Sax. He got bored with just performing with all of the bands, so Mr. Tripplet his band Director, gave him a book on arranging an composing music for Small Combos & Big Bands. He did big band arrangements for the Jazz Band. The band performed his original music at the basketball games, pep-ralleys and special functions.
He worked for Liberty Land Amusment Park in Memphis Tennesse performing in the shows during the summer seasons. He played in all of the shows either on Saxophone, Flute, Guitar, or Bass for four Seasons. During the off season, he had the opportunity to go on four tours. The first one was a tour of the Orient, the second was the Caribean, the third was the Mediterainean and Europe, The last one was a State side Airforce Showcase tour. The group covered 20,000 miles of travel on the Airforce Showcase tour.
In Memphis Tenn. He had the opportuninty to perform with Finius Newborn, Herman Green, Ruby Wilson (The Qween of Beal Street), Joyce Cobb, and B.B. King twice in the same day. He later moved to Fontana, California (50 miles from L.A.) in August 1984. He had an opportunity to perform with Pops Popwell of the Jazz Crusaders, and Joe Farrell (late Saxophonist for Chick Corea). He left California in December of 1984 and moved back to Detroit.
When he returned to Detroit he got into IBM Mainframe Computers and took a class at the Computer Skills Training Center where he later became the Instructor. His first Computer Operations job was with EDS at the EDS Troy Print Center. He used this 2nd career to Finance his home studio. He finished his first Album Playing all of the instruments in 1990 (Innovative Expressions Volume 1). He received three recording contract offers, from CBS, RCA, & Capitol records in 1990. He turned these deals down. Spenc's Entertainment lawyer let RCA Records know that Spenc's talent was worth a lot more than what was being offered in the deal.
Spenc has 16 albums and many singles playing all of the instruments all different styles. Innovative Expressions Volume 9 is all Big Band, and Innovative Expressions Volume 12 is a full Orchestra. Two more albums were done with students.
In Detroit Michigan he performed the tune Mascarade on alto saxophone with George Benson at Feedom Hill. He had his first concert performing his music opening for Alex Bouon on December 19, 2003. He is still freelanceing, performing with several bands in Detroit. Spenc is also and excellenct teacher of music.