Spencer Day

Singer, songwriter, and pianist Spencer Day's effortless blend of classic jazz, pop, and soul, combined with his smooth, expressive delivery, has drawn comparisons to everyone from Harry Connick, Jr. to Jamie Cullum. With an appearance as a finalist on TV's Star Search under his belt, he made his recording debut with Introducing Spencer Day in 2004. He later broke onto the Billboard charts with 2009's Vagabond, which peaked at number seven on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, before he moved a notch higher up the chart with 2013's The Mystery of You. Day's sixth LP, 2022's Broadway by Day, included collaborations with Jane Monheit and Dave Koz. Born in Utah and raised in Arizona by his mother, who was an accomplished music teacher and lyric soprano, Day spent his formative years soaking in the works of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Joni Mitchell, and Paul Simon. In his mid-twenties, he competed on TV's Star Search in the Adult Singer category, eventually reaching the finals. Upon relocating to Los Angeles, Day released his debut album, Introducing Spencer Day, in 2004 on the High Fidelity label. The EP Movie of Your Life appeared in 2005 and was followed in 2009 by Vagabond, which marked his debut for the Concord Jazz label. It proved to be his commercial breakthrough, rising to number seven on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart and number 11 on the overall jazz chart. He had a number six contemporary jazz hit with the 2013 Concord date The Mystery of You, which found Day utilizing the same eclectic musical style but with a darker set of lyrics based on a failed romance. It went to number 13 on the broader Jazz Albums chart. His fourth long-player, 2014's independently released Day Break, went to number 11 and 20 on their respective charts. It featured his take on classic pop tunes from the 1960s alongside five original songs. He relied on crowd-sourced funding for Angel City featuring the Budman/Levy Orchestra, which eventually followed in 2018. Its lead single, "72 and Sunny," landed in the Top 30 of Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Day signed with Club 44 Records for his sixth album, Broadway by Day, which reimagined show tunes in styles ranging from swing to Latin. Jane Monheit and Dave Koz were among the guests on the set.
© Marcy Donelson & James Christopher Monger /TiVo