Don Spencer

Donald Richard Spencer was born on 22 March 1941,[1]the son of John Henry and Lillian May in Tamworth.[4] Spencer attended Tamworth High School.[4] He played hockey as a teenager and competed in the Australian championships. At 17, he left Australia and travelled to Africa, where, in his 20s, he trained with the Kenyan hockey team, trying out for the Olympics. A chance meeting with locally-born, British singer-songwriter, Roger Whittaker, in Nairobi inspired Spencer to buy a guitar and start his musical career.[2]

In the early 1960s, Don Spencer moved to London and became a solo singer-guitarist, supporting various acts such as The Rolling Stones, the Four Seasons, The Hollies and Marianne Faithfull.[5] His first single, "Fireball", was released on the His Master's Voice label; it was the closing theme song for the television science fiction series Fireball XL5, written by Barry Gray. In March 1963, it reached No. 32 on the UK Singles Chart.[6][7] Other singles included "Busy Doing Nothing", "Worried Mind", "Marriage Is for Old Folks", and a cover of The Beatles' 1965 song "In My Life". In 1964, he covered Brent Edwards' version of Johnny Madara and David White's track "Pride Is Such a Little Word".[8]

Spencer who's started his successful broadcasting career in the United Kingdom, where at the BBC he presented his own teenage pop show Gangway! for seven years; afterwards, he co-hosted a radio program called Pop-In.[5] He later appeared in TV comedies such as Face It with Ronnie Barker.

Spencer having returned to Australia, appeared on TV's Bandstand, subsequently he briefly featured in 'series 'Sons and Daughters and Return to Eden, and in the 1974 film Barry McKenzie Holds His Own.[9] In 1977, Spencer wrote his next single, "What's a Pommie?"; the track was covered by fellow Australians Rolf Harris and Col Elliott.[10]

Don Spencer (far right), with Simon Burke, Benita Collings, Andrew McFarlane, Eddie Perfect and Justine Clarke in 2016

Spencer is best known for his long tenure. as a children's entertainer, as both a presenter and recording artist, he joined the Australia TV series Play School in 1968 and the United Kingdom version of the same title in 1978.[4][11] He continued on both versions for 17 years,[4] the only male presenter to appear on both versions. One of his well-known phrases was "old magazines", which he used to effect when describing items used to make something.[11] During this period, he recorded and released albums, primarily through ABC Records over a 27 year period that helped to educate children, mostly about the many species of Australian animals, and they in turn have received awards for gold and platinum sales.[12][11] He continued on the Australian version until 1999.[4]

At the APRA Music Awards of 1995, Spencer's track "Have a Beaut Day" was nominated for Most Performed Children's Work; it was co-written by Spencer with Allan Caswell.[13]

In 2002, Spencer established the Australian Children's Music Foundation (ACMF) as its inaugural CEO.[14][15] In 2007, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Australia Day (26 January) for "service to children's music and television as a songwriter and performer, and through the establishment of the Australian Children's Music Foundation".[16][17][18] In 2008, Spencer was awarded for Excellence in Community Support presented by Support Act Limited.[19][20]

In December 2010, the ACMF sponsored a supergroup, Peacebeliever, which recorded a cover version of Plastic Ono Band's 1969 single "Give Peace a Chance" for their charity.[21] Alongside Spencer, fellow vocalists include Katie Noonan, Blue King Brown, Tim Freedman, Newton Faulkner, and Omara Portuondo.[21] In July 2013, Spencer announced the ACMF's 11th annual National Kids Songwriting Competition, which is open to school-aged children from four to eighteen years old. Spencer said, "We want kids to unleash their creativity and engage with learning in a fun way ... Music can give kids really positive self expression and is a great tool for improving literacy levels".[15]

As of 2023, Spencer continues to record and perform with his latest release a musical adaption, based on Rudyard Kipling poem "If"[22]

Spencer with his daughter Danielle in 2011

Don Spencer married Julie Horsfall, a caterer from Yorkshire.[23] They have two children: Dean and Danielle Spencer (born 16 May 1969).[18] Dean is a musician, while Danielle is an actress and singer, who was married to actor Russell Crowe from 2003 to 2018.[24]

Spencer resides in Darlinghurst, New South Wales.[25]

• Bandstand – television series
• Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974)
• King's Men – television series (1976)
• Sons and Daughters – television series (1982)
• Return to Eden – television series (1986)
• A Country Practice – television series (1991)
• Play School – Australian television series (1968–99)
• Play School – UK television series (1972–88)

Books written or co-written by Don Spencer:

• Spencer, Don; Caswell, Allen; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1985). Feathers Fur or Fins. Woolloomooloo: Chappell & Intersong Music, Australian Broadcasting Commission. ISBN 0-94710-688-X.[30]
• Spencer, Don; Caswell, Allan; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1989). Don Spencer's Australian Animals. Sydney, NSW: ABC Enterprises for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ISBN 0-64212-841-3.[31]
• Spencer, Don (1989). Don Spencer's More Songs from Feathers, Fur or Fins. Sydney, NSW: ABC Records.[32]
• Spencer, Don (1990). Don Spencer's Let's Have Fun. North Sydney, NSW: Warner Chappell Music. ISBN 1-86362-023-0.[33]
• Spencer, Don; Macken, Clare; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1993). Don Spencer's Thumbs Up! Australia. Illustrated by Felicity Meyer. Sydney, NSW: ABC Books. ISBN 0-7333-0231-9.[34]
• Spencer, Don; Bryant, Nick (2000). 1001 Cool Jokes with Don Spencer. Illustrated by Glen Singleton. Dingley Village: Hinkler Books. ISBN 1-86515-182-3.[35]
• Sharkey, Jane; Holland, Margaret; Spencer, Don (2005). Sing and Learn Times Tables. Dingley Village: Hinkler Books. ISBN 978-1-74121-930-2.[36]
• Spencer, Don (2011). Don Spencer's Don't Call Me a Koala Bear and Other Aussie Songs. Illustrated by Michelle Pike. Scoresby: Five Mile Press. ISBN 978-1-74300-135-6.[37]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Don Spencer.

• Don Spencer at IMDb
• Don Spencer discography at Discogs