Dani Spencer

b. Daniel Spencer, c.1965, Franklin Town, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Spencer migrated to New York with his family before relocating to Oakland, California. As a youth U-Roy, Brigadier Jerry, U. Brown and General Echo influenced him. His early experience of dancehall came on US-based sound systems, including King Tafari, Armageddon and the Tippa Tone Sound. In 1982 he began recording for local producer Dalton Wilson, although little surfaced from these sessions. In 1989 Spencer voiced several tracks with producer and Twinkle Brothers’ vocalist Ralston Grant. He was enrolled to provide his DJ skills alongside Della Grant on sessions that surfaced through the Twinkle label. Notable releases included ‘Dancehall Jam’ and ‘Black Rose’, both of which enjoyed a tumultuous response in England, Jamaica and the USA. In 1992 Spencer returned to Jamaica to perform at the opening Beach Party of the Reggae Sunsplash Festival. Other notable performances in the same year included supporting the Mighty Diamonds and Inner Circle at the annual Reggae On The River Festival, held on a remote plain in Piercy, California. In 1993 the DJ released the self-produced ‘Rodney King’, a comment on the well-documented incident in Los Angeles. In 1995 he reunited with the Twinkle Brothers when he embarked on a tour with the group. Spencer also diversified into hip-hop when he embarked on collaborations with Boogie Down Productions. His involvement with the group resulted in an appearance at the Hip-Hop Explosion in California’s Mattel Community Centre. Other acts on the bill included the ragga -influenced Spearhead and the Fugees. Restoring his roots credibility he performed at various US venues including the Bob Marley Day Showcase alongside Burning Spear, Shaggy, Israel Vibration and Buju Banton. The DJ also returned to the Reggae On The River festival, re-uniting with the Twinkle Brothers and Della Grant alongside Luciano, Ijahman Levi and Judy Mowatt. In 1998 Spencer released his debut Time Keeper Fe Real, the title-track featuring an appearance from Constantine Walker. Other notable tracks included a cover version of the Impressions’ hit ‘People Get Ready’, ‘What A Shame’, ‘Dis Little Girl’, ‘Ever Ready’, ‘Shame’ and ‘I Want A Love’ (featuring Wendy Shaw).