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Dad began playing guitar at the age of 8. His mother would line up his 12 brothers
and sisters to sing as Dad played.
If you visited the Spencer home, in Jackson, Kentucky, you just expected
to hear some good Bluegrass Music.
Until his illness, Dad continued playing music from his
home base on Slab Run in West Portsmouth.
He played with some of the best known names in the music
business.
Bill Monroe, Sid Campbell, Ralph Stanley, The Osborne Brothers, Hylo Brown, Mac Wiseman, Ricky
Skaggs, Keith Whitley and long time good friend Joe Isaacs. HIs favorite Don Reno of Reno & Smiley.
Anyone with a general knowledge of Bluegrass, knows the list is impressive. Equally, Fred's skills were highly regarded in
the world of Bluegrass Music.
Then Dad met two individuals that changed his life. In the
late 60's he met Carol (Distel). It didn't take long to decide they were meant for each other, they were married in 1967.
Just as his mother before him, Dad & Mom raised their own group-The Spencer Family-this time
it was Dad & Mom my sister Cristy my brother Fred Jr & nephew Lennie Centers.(son of the late Roy Lee Centers)
This time the family stuck with Gospel Bluegrass, the reason was the other individual introduced into
Dad's life.
Mom said he told her the biggest change of his life, was meeting Jesus Christ as his personal
savior. According to Mom, Dad felt the Gospel group was what God had intended all along. He told her each peron
has at least one gift. Dad said "just be yourself, and use your gift".
We would jump on the bus every
Friday evening. The Spencer Family would sing over the weekend and would not return home until late Sunday nights or early
Monday mornings.
During this time Dad would bring in other big name Gospel groups for Benefit Concerts,
at Portsmouth West High School which included one of my favorites The Isaacs. As long as someone needed help, Dad was ready
to help by playing music to entertain and help his friends.
Cancer caused the music to stop on
Monday March 20, 2000. It did not stop the memory of his happiness or his testimony for the love of God.
We know his long-time friends of The Grand Ole Opry and Bluegrass Music have not forgotten Dad by the number of cards we recieved.
Bluegrass was his kind of music and he loved it. His many friends, in and out of the music industry,
will continue to love him. Anyone who knew my Dad loved him and will always miss him.
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