Years active 1933–1949 | Name Tim Spencer Role Singer | |
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Birth name Vernon Harold Timothy Spencer Born July 13, 1908
Webb City, Missouri ( 1908-07-13 ) Genres Western music
Country music Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Actor Died April 26, 1974, Victorville, California, United States Spouse Velma Blanton (m. 1934–1974), Mable McKibben Movies Sons of the Pioneers, A Feud There Was, Rainbow Over Texas | ||
Associated acts Sons of the Pioneers | ||
Vernon Harold Timothy Spencer (July 13, 1908 – April 26, 1974) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. Spencer is best known for founding the popular American Cowboy singing group the Sons of the Pioneers in 1933 along with Bob Nolan and Roy Rogers.
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Biography
Vernon Harold Timothy Spencer was born to Edgar and Laura Alice Spencer on July 13, 1908 in Webb City, Missouri. The family moved to New Mexico when Tim was five years old, one of eight boys and two girls. The family later moved to Picher, Oklahoma two years later. In 1931, Tim left Oklahoma for Los Angeles and began working at Safeway.
Career
Spencer appeared with the Sons of the Pioneers in multiple films, and wrote many of the songs they performed. He retired from the Sons of the Pioneers in 1949, but continued managing them until 1952, and recorded with them until 1957 for RCA Victor. After leaving the group, Spencer organized a gospel music publishing company called Manna [Gaviota] Music . The company secured the rights to How Great Thou Art, which provided a solid business footing.
Tim Spencer was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame as an individual western music songwriter, and as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers. He was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers in 1995.
Notable Songs
His most popular commercial song was "Room Full of Roses", which was the No. 1 song in pop music in 1949 and again the No. 1 song in country music in 1974.