Arthur Pete Spencer Jr. Music Collection, 1970–2001
Information, Description, and Finding Aid
Collection Information
Reference: AV-SPENCER
Dates: 1970–2001
Extent: 1.25 linear ft. across 1 archival box
Finding Aid Information
Creator(s): Steven Payne, Ph.D., Librarian and Archivist
Date created/updated: May 11, 2021
Biography
Arthur Pete Spencer Jr. was born in New York City on November 3, 1952 and died in The Bronx of COVID-19 on April 5, 2020. He spent the majority of his adolescence in The Bronx, specifically in the Soundview area, off of Story Avenue and Evergreen, where his parents settled after relocating from Pantego, North Carolina. Being a child of the 1950s, he grew up on the tunes of the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Artists like Earth, Wind, and Fire; The Jacksons, Prince and The Revolution, The Whispers, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles heavily inspired him to sing. Therefore, in his youth, he formed a singing group of friends from The Bronx. They sang cover songs at parties throughout Bronx neighborhoods. The aforementioned groups influenced his sound, but he most sounded like a humble Smokey Robinson.
The cassettes pay homage to his love of music. Even though he mainly listened to soul/R&B—his favorite group being The Whispers—he appreciated rap, rock, jazz, gospel, and country music. In his later days, he loved taking long drives, and these drives always included music. Sonically and materially, these cassettes represent the sounds of bygone eras while their materiality reflects the perseverance of these tunes in the present. The Arthur Pete Spencer Jr music collection memorializes its namesake through the expression he enjoyed most, music.
Description/Scope and Content
The collection consists of two series. Series 1 is comprised of 61 cassette tapes collected or produced by Arthur Pete Spencer Jr., the donor's father. Genres include soul, funk, R&B, hip hop, reggae, blues, gospel, and jazz. Series 2 includes one VHS recording of a Bronx CableVision production on African American History.
Provenance
The Arthur Pete Spencer Jr. music collection was donated to the society on May 7, 2021 by the donor's son, C. Lionel Spencer, who is also involved in the Bronx African American History Project through Fordham University.
Preferred Citation
[Item name or description,] Arthur Pete Spencer Jr. music collection, box _, folder _, The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
Points of Access
- Bronx history projects -- The Bronx African American History Project
- Individuals -- Spencer, Arthur Pete Jr.
- Music genres -- blues -- disco -- funk -- gospel -- hip hop -- jazz -- R&B -- reggae -- soul
Related Collections
- The Bronx African American History Project Digital Collection of Oral Histories. Fordham University Library.
- The Bronx African American History Project. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- David M. Carp papers on Latin Jazz. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Maxine Gordon papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Phil Newsum photograph collection. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Maxine Sullivan papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
Series
| Series | Title | Box | Items |
| 1 | Cassette Tapes | 1 | 1–61 |
| 2 | VHS Tapes | 1 | 62 |
Container List
Series 1: Cassette tapes
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
1 |
2Pac, How Do U Want It |
1996 |
|
1 |
2 |
Angesione, Black Diamond |
n.d. |
|
1 |
3 |
Marc Anthony, I Need to Know/Contra La Corriente |
1997 |
|
1 |
4 |
Avant, My Thoughts |
2000 |
|
1 |
5 |
Jon B., Cool Relax |
1997 |
|
1 |
6 |
Eric Benét, A Day in the Life |
1999 |
|
1 |
7 |
Mary J. Blige, Mary |
1999 |
|
1 |
8 |
Brandy, Never Say Never |
1998 |
|
1 |
9 |
Mary Car, Forever |
n.d. |
|
1 |
10 |
Carnival Soca Hitz |
2000 |
|
1 |
11 |
Dance With Me, Jazz Collection Con Sabor |
|
|
1 |
12 |
The Dells, The Dells |
1973 |
|
1 |
13 |
Dru Hill, Dru World Order |
2002 |
|
1 |
14 |
Whitney Houston, My Love is Your Love |
1998 |
|
1 |
15 |
The Isley Brothers, Beautiful Ballads |
1994 |
|
1 |
16 |
T.D. Jakes, Good Friday Worship |
n.d. |
|
1 |
17 |
Jamaican “97” |
1997 |
|
1 |
18 |
Boney James, Sweet Thing/Gerald Albright, The Very Best of Gerald Albright |
1997; 2001 |
|
1 |
19 |
Miles Jaye, Miles |
1987 |
|
1 |
20 |
Jazz of the Soul, vol. 1 |
n.d. |
|
1 |
21 |
Van Jones and Slow Songs |
n.d. |
|
1 |
22 |
R. Kelly, The Best Juicy Remixes/Carl Thomas, Emotional |
2000 |
|
1 |
23 |
R. Kelly, R, disk 2 |
1998 |
|
1 |
24 |
Lati Mix Song |
n.d. |
|
1 |
25 |
Gerald Levert, G |
1999 |
|
1 |
26 |
Lil’ Kim, Notorious KIM |
2000 |
|
1 |
27 |
Little Anthony, Compilation |
n.d. |
|
1 |
28 |
Love Song II |
n.d. |
|
1 |
29 |
Marion Meadows, Classics in the Key of G; For Lovers Only |
1990 |
|
1 |
30 |
Maze, The Greatest Hits Of |
1989 |
|
1 |
31 |
Mix Songs 2001 |
2001 |
|
1 |
32 |
The Moments, The Best of the Moments |
1973 |
|
1 |
33 |
Motown Classics |
n.d. |
|
1 |
34 |
The Notorious B.I.G., Born Again |
1999 |
|
1 |
35 |
Dawn Penn, No, No, No |
1994 |
|
1 |
36 |
Kelly Price, Mirror Mirror |
2000 |
|
1 |
37 |
Smokey Robinson, Compilation |
n.d. |
|
1 |
38 |
Sade, Lovers Rock |
2000 |
|
1 |
39 |
Santana, Supernatural |
1999 |
|
1 |
40 |
Solid Gold Soul |
1970 |
|
1 |
41 |
Solid Gold Soul |
1971 |
|
1 |
42 |
Solid Gold Soul |
1972 |
|
1 |
43 |
Solid Gold Soul |
1973 |
|
1 |
44 |
Arthur Spencer, Blues Mix (5) |
n.d. |
|
1 |
45 |
Arthur Spencer, Life (Blues Mix) |
1981 |
|
1 |
46 |
Arthur Spencer (Arthur), New Hit |
n.d. |
|
1 |
47 |
Arthur Spencer (Pete), New Hit |
n.d. |
|
1 |
48 |
Arthur Spencer, Safe Sex, part 7 |
n.d. |
|
1 |
49 |
Arthur Spencer, Safe Sex, part 7, side 2 |
n.d. |
|
1 |
50 |
Arthur Spencer (Arthur), Slow Song |
n.d. |
|
1 |
51 |
Temp, Maxwell |
n.d. |
|
1 |
52 |
The Ultimate Classic James |
n.d. |
|
1 |
53 |
Untitled |
n.d. |
|
1 |
54 |
Untitled |
n.d. |
|
1 |
55 |
Untitled |
n.d. |
|
1 |
56 |
Untitled |
n.d. |
|
1 |
57 |
Luther Vandross, Always and Forever |
n.d. |
|
1 |
58 |
Whispers, More of the Night (no cassette) |
1990 |
|
1 |
59 |
Cece Winans, Alone in His Presence |
1995 |
|
1 |
60 |
Timothy Wright, Jerome L. Ferrell, and the Lighthouse Interdenominational Choir, Hallelujah is the Highest Praise |
1987 |
|
1 |
61 |
Bobby Womack, Compilation |
n.d. |
Series 2: VHS tapes
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
62 |
Bronx Cablevision Show on Bronx African American History |
n.d. |