David Spencer

All through my life I've felt a passion for songs and exploring the arts, always keeping a sketchbook along with notebooks full of song lyrics, stories, and poems. Any spare money was spent on records, musical instruments, and art supplies. At fifteen I had cartoons published in a national magazine called Datebook. Through Fresno schools I served as artist on school newspapers, acted in plays, and in the 80s and 90s was involved with a local band called the Mojo Symphony that played accoustic reggae at the Wild Blue Yonder club, along with opening for touring reggae artists including Yellow Man and Pato Banton. Retiring as a teacher in 2012 I began painting regularly and found myself drawn to scenes from my decades of walking and bike riding the Fresno Streets. In 2015 I heard about an opening in Sorensen's Gallery and at my first art hop sold six paintings, which encouraged me immensely. I create as many do, in both music and visual art, to express the passions inside and tell the story of the life lived. For fifteen years i performed in Rogue shows as the Spencer Morris Group, writing theme shows where I play guitar and sing, while Randy Morris played sax, flute, and spoken narration, until Randy's untimely passing. At Sorensen's Gallery I would serenade the far spaces with my ukulele and guitar instrumentals during art hops, and occasionally work for the school system singing to autistic and preschool children. I never stopped playing music but this year the urge to write songs, play guitar, and sing has risen in intensity. Playing the Rogue Festival this year was wonderful and I look forward to every chance to pick up an instrument: guitar, ukulele, or mandolin, step up to any stage and share my humble but proud song of life.