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Roger Hamilton Spotts was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 20, 1928. Spotts dreamed of playing the saxophone in California. In Los Angeles, Spotts became a prolific jazz saxophonist, pianist, arranger, and composer with a career spanning five decades. He collaborated with musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton. From 1951 to 1953, Spotts served in the United States Army. In 1951, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Music from Central State University and was an instructor at the Fairfield High School in Alabama in 1953. In 1959, Spotts married Betty Mosley, a professional pianist, singer, songwriter, dancer, and model. In 1964, their only child Woni Spotts was born. Spotts was a member of the American Society of Composers and a recipient of The American National Endowment for Arts, in 1976. Spotts served on the Board of Directors at the Musicians Credit Union #47, Los Angeles, since 1984, Musicians Union #47, 1970. Spotts acted as music director for Zola Taylor's Platters and performed live with Roger Hamilton Spotts Big Band. In addition to his work as a composer, Spotts worked with dance productions, including projects with Chester A. Whitmore, a tap dancer, artistic director, and choreographer. During the '70s and '80s, Spotts was an instructor at Grant's Music Center in Los Angeles. In the 1980s, he was on the board of directors for the Friends of Watts Towers Art Center in Los Angeles. Though a jazz loyalist, Spotts experimented with electronic instruments, throbbing electric basses, mini moogs, and wah-wah pedals. Spotts' friendship with Papa John Creach led him to collaborate with psychedelic rock bands. Spotts worked with Grace Slick and on Flight Log with Jefferson Airplane, Crosby and Stills. He composed classical music with a mentor and friend, Lyn Murray, a fellow screenwriter, and composer. Spotts and Lyn Murray collaborated on Bob Hope - America is 200 Years Old...And There's Still Hope!


APPEARANCES +


Lee Morgan
Eight Classic Albums
2018, 4xCD, RM + Box, Comp, Enlightenment (3), ,
Hard Bop
Shuggie Otis
Original Album Classics
2011, CD, Album, RE + CD, Album, RE + CD, Album, RE + Bo, Epic, Legacy, ,
Soul/Psychedelic/Blues Rock
Jefferson Airplane
Early Flight / Thirty Seconds Over Winterland
2010, CD, ,
Psychedelic Rock
Jefferson Airplane
Flight Box
2008, 3xCD + Box, Comp, Charly Records, ,
Blues Rock/Acid Rock/Psychedelic Rock
Jefferson Airplane
Last Flight
2007, 2x CD, ,
Psychedelic Rock
Jefferson Airplane
The Essential Jefferson Airplane
2005, 2x CD, ,
Psychedelic Rock
Shuggie Otis
Here Comes Shuggie Otis / Freedom Flight
2003, CD, Comp, RM, Raven Records
Various
The Mood Mosaic 8 "The New Shapes Of Sound" It's A Hip Thang...
1999
Various
Volunteer Jam Classic Live Performances Volume One
1999, CD, ,
Southern Rock/Blues Rock/Country Blues/Country Rock
Various
Johnny Otis Presents the Best of Rhythm & Blues: Barrel House Blues
1998
Jefferson Airplane
Journey...The Best Of
1996, ,
Psychedelic Rock/Classic Rock
Tramaine Hawkins
Exclusive Gospel 12"
1988, 12", EP, Promo, Sparrow Records, ,
Gospel/Contemporary R&B
Tramaine Hawkins
The Joy That Floods My Soul
1988, CD, ,
Gospel/Soul
Los Milos
Rock And Roll En Español
1984, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Tommy Jones*
Bow Legs
1980, LP, M and M, ,
Soul-Jazz/Bossa Nova/Latin Jazz/Bop
The Charlie Daniels Band
Volunteer Jam VI
1980
Jefferson Airplane
The Best Of
1978, ,
Psychedelic Rock/Classic Rock
Jefferson Airplane
Flight Log
1977, 2x Vinyl Gatefold., ,
Folk Rock/Rock & Roll/Psychedelic Rock
Bob Hope
America Is 200 Years Old... And There's Still Hope!
1976
Joe Turner*
Great Rhythm & Blues Vol. 4
1975
Billy Brooks
Windows Of The Mind
1974, ,
Soul-Jazz/Fusion/Jazz-Funk/Latin Jazz
Papa John Creach & Zulu
Playing My Fiddle For You
1974
Charles Brown
Great Rhythm & Blues Oldies Volume 2 - Charles Brown
1974, Vinyl, ,
Piano Blues/Rhythm & Blues
Louis Jordan
Great Rhythm & Blues Oldies Volume 1
1974
Jefferson Airplane
Thirty Seconds Over Winterland
1973
Pee Wee Crayton
Great Rhythm & Blues Oldies (Volume 5)
1973
Ice Water Slim & The Fourth Floor
I Don't Understand It
1973
Johnny Otis
Great Rhythm & Blues Oldies Volume 3 - Johnny Otis
1973, Vinyl, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Vera Hamilton
But I Ain't No More (G.S.T.S.K.D.T.S.)
1972
Jefferson Airplane
Long John Silver / Milk Train
1972
The Otisettes Featured With The Johnny Otis Show
Everything You Said Came True
1972
Papa John Creach
Filthy!
1972, ,
Jazz-Rock/Rhythm & Blues
Jefferson Airplane
Long John Silver
1972, Vinyl Indianapolis Pressing, Gimmick Sleeve, ,
Psychedelic Rock/Folk Rock
Marie Adams And The Three Tons Of Joy*
Whispers
1972
Various
Epic Pop Music Festival
1971, LP, Comp, Epic, ,
Jazz-Rock/Soul
Azitis
From This Place
1971, 7", Elco, Elco
Azitis
Help
1971
The Johnny Otis Show
The Johnny Otis Show Live At Monterey!
1971
Mary Love
Born To Live With Heartache / There's Someone For Me
1971, Vinyl, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul/Funk
Papa John Creach
Papa John Creach
1971, ,
Blues Rock/Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues/Soul-Jazz
Tony Clarke
Ghetto Man
1970, 7", Styrene, Chicory Records
Guitar Slim Green* With Johnny* And Shuggie Otis
Stone Down Blues
1970, Vinyl, ,
Texas Blues
Johnny K. Wiley
Let The Good Thing Go
1970
Sugarcane Harris*
Sugarcane
1970, ,
Blues Rock/Jazz-Rock
Shuggie Otis
Hurricane / Jennie Lee
1970
Shuggie Otis
Here Comes Shuggie Otis
1970, Vinyl Pitman Press, ,
Soul/Psychedelic/Blues Rock
Visions Of A New 'Our
I Won't Be So Brave Tomorrow / Everything I Am
1969
Al Grey
Shades Of Grey
1965,
Oscar McLollie
King Of The Fools / Scold Me
1957, 7", Single, Class
Al Grey, Billy Mitchell, Lee Morgan, Charlie Persip, Paul West, Billy Root, Wynton Kelly
Dizzy Atmosphere
1957
Biggie Ratt
Am I Right / Git’n Warmer
7", Single, Watts U.S.A. Records
James Dorsey (5) and the Roger Hamilton Spotts Orchestra
Hard Working Man
CD, Album, RoHa Records (2)
Various
Legends Of Old-Time Music - Fifty Years Of County Records
2015, 4xCD, Comp + Box, County Records, County Records
Various
Mojo Jazz Presents Family Affair Chapter Six
2015
Jefferson Airplane
Long John Silver
2001, CD, ,
Blues Rock/Psychedelic Rock