- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Spence Abrahams
- Johnnie Spence was born on February 4, 1936 in Banstead, Surrey, England, UK. He was a composer, known for This Is Tom Jones (1969), We Joined the Navy (1962) and The Limbo Line (1968). He was married to Marion Horton. He died on August 15, 1977 in Encino, California, USA.
- SpouseMarion Horton(January 5, 1964 - August 15, 1977) (his death, 2 children)
- His early work was predominantly in comedy records for Parlophone, occasionally working alongside Sir George Martin, who would later find fame as producer of The Beatles. Spence's credits at this time included such work as the Bernard Cribbins single "Right Said Fred".
- In April 1964, Ella Fitzgerald recorded three songs, to which Johnnie Spence wrote the arrangements, at EMI Recording Studios, Abbey Road, London, for her new album Hello Dolly. The single "Can't Buy Me Love" was a minor UK hit at no. 34.
- He recorded as The Johnnie Spence Big Band, Why Not (1968), on the Verve Records label, a swinging jazz album featuring Don Lusher (tb), Johnny Scott, Eddie Blair (tp) and Kenny Clare on drums. During 1963, Spence recorded an album with jazz singer Annie Ross, Sings A Handful Of Songs.
- His funeral took place at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills on 20 August 1977 with among the pallbearers Tom Jones and Gilbert O'Sullivan. Matt Monro was holidaying in Barbados and could not get a flight to Los Angeles in time for the funeral.
- On 2 July 1964, Cilla Black recorded the Lennon/McCartney song "It's For You", with a sort of jazzy waltz arrangement by Spence. "It displayed a degree of sophistication" according to producer George Martin, who also directed.
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