OCR Text |
Show Reflections, June by Richard 7, Bamum-Reec- 1984, Page 2 e David can do it. He goes to school and he plays for money. If you get the right breaks you can make a pretty good Consider David Spencer, the Trombone King, Tooeles Miller Jazz Band artist. Yes, you could see him at every home Jazz game this year, pumping on living." Salt Lake you have to do other things to supplement your income," he explains as David begins to horse around with other members of the trombone section, now preparing for their evening of work. ("You call that work?" one member says. You call that work?" And then he laughs a big belly laugh, knowing something about the love of music only those with a long history in the business understand.) But it hasnt always been the Jazz Band life for the Sterling Scholar in music from Tooele High School. There were the hard times of childhood, when he failed so miserably at the demanding task of unaided human flight. Such heavenly quests would become a way of life later of course (David is on his way to the LDS San Bernadino Mission in June) but, at that time, his mother reIn that slide trombone, working his magic, spurring on the team. He was with us at the band at Lagoon, says Dave Evanoff, director of the band. When I left and we started to put the band back together for the Miller Jazz band I wanted to get the best 12 people could get. David was definitely one of those wanted. One on one hes one of the best trombone players in the state," says Evanoff. We've got three of the best around in the band but hes definitely one of the best. There's definitely a I I particular trombone technique and David has it. Its something have or you dont have. that you Of course he has experience with a bunch of other instruments but hes really caught on with the trombone," says Evanoff. "It seems like he was made for the trombone sometimes. He really loves members the early attempts were singularly unsuccessful. When he was just a little boy he wanted to be Superman," she recalls. He had a cape and the whole thing. Out back hed get up on the cinder block wall and try to jump off and fly. He fell several times, bumping his head." Times are hard in the Superman business and David soon learned that if he wanted to fly it would have to be in another costume so he turned to one he was simultaneously developing through his childhood. He always loved music," his mom says. Even when he was little he was very musical. He comes from a long line of musicians, Not only was his father, Dr. Phillip Spencer, a trombone player back 35 years ago at Payson High School, but he also played in the Navy band during the Korean War. A first generation heritage, however, is paltry in comparison to the rich family tradition the Spencer family brings to its lineage. that horn." Indeed. You watch him at the Jazz games and you can see that hes in another kingdom when he starts into his routine. For example, there was the time that he was out on the court with two other members of the band, jerking a woman out of the stand to be serenaded as only a Jazz band can do it in front of 12,000 fans. It was kind of embarrassing," the woman said later, her face flushed red. But it was fun, too. If someone has enough determination they can make a living as a musician in Utah," says Evanoff. foot-stompin- g Davids great-grandfath- is William Clayson," says Dr. Spencer. He wrote quite a few hymns in the Mormon hymn book." What hymns? Well, do you remember the Hope of Israel"? How about "The Iron Rod"?: Hold to the rod, the iron rod, so strong and straight and true. The iron rod is the word of God. . . Discover for yourself why Golden Corral is the best family steak house in America! Sun.-Thur- s. 1110 Fri. 411 No. Main 11-1- & 1 Sat. . as brothers, Stephen and Kirk, were accomplished musicians in high school So with a musical heritage as steeped in talent as David Spencer's, you wouldn't think he'd be victimized by the frivolity of youth now that he has reached the venerable age of 19, a former 3.7 grade point average, honor-rol- l student at Tooele High, a scholarship recipient at the U of U, a member of the University of Utah Symphonic Band and the University Marching Band. But its true. It happens that Dave Spencer drives an Oldsmobile, an ancient shark of the highways actually, and right after a big Utah Jazz victory, with the Jazz Band blowing loud and victorious, Dave Spencer walked to his car to discover that yes, it had been toilet-papere- "We did it," Cathy and Kathy said. "Hes so cute. Hes such a nice boy. We thought hed think it was fun." Dave Spencer stood there, his mouth open and his mind buzzing. I had no idea who did it," he says. Crazy girls." His father is the musician in the family," says Karen Spencer. I play the piano a little but his father is the musician. His two older brothers, Stephen, and Kirk, play the coronet. They played in the Tooele High School Band but they didnt pursue a music career." Even as a baby David loved music," Mrs. Spencer said. Hes listened to it when he was just so small." But the hard reality of the music business is a difficult nut to crack. If you arent a member of the Utah Symphony or a music teacher it's difficult to make a living at playing music all the time," says Mr. Spencer, who is a form- er scout leader. His son, an Eagle Scout, is considering other careers. He has yet to determine exactly what field he will enter, he knows that he loves his music; but he also understands that playing the trombone can get pretty slim at times. During his mission hell get many opportunities to consider life without the trusty trombone at his side. "They dont let you bring musical instruments into the mission field," Mrs. Spencer says. Im sure hell survive." David is the outgoing boy in the. Spencer family, the regular livewire. You can believe it if you ever had the chance to watch him play at the Salt Palace for the Jazz Band or out at Lagoon with the Lagoon Band. I remember when he was on the swim team," says one former swimmer. "He was a good diver. One day he did a dive and landed right on his face against the water. Thats when he said he had some other things to do. He was a good diver, too." "Hes more outgoing than my other boys," says Mrs. Spencer. He's been an outstanding son. We weren't able to see him perform at the Salt Palace this year because we had conflicts but we saw him in the Symphonic Band and at the High School Band Day at the "U" |