Sam Spence, American composer, Died at 88

  Music, Writers

Samuel Lloyd Spence was born on March 29, 1927, and died on February 6, 2016.

He was an American soundtrack composer.

He was best known for his work with NFL Films.

Sam work has also been on the EA Sports Madden NFL football video games and countless football-related commercials.

As a music instructor, he served at the University of Southern California, he was living and working in Munich, Spence was working in 1966 to score the mini-documentaries that conveyed National Football League highlights and personalities to fans in the network-television era.

His music cues combined with the baritone voice of John Facenda to remarkable artistic effect, created the now trademark style of sports highlights videos of the NFL.

Himself along with Steve Sabol and the NFL Films crew can arguably be credited with a vital role in making American football the most popular professional sport in the U.S.

Originally, Mahlon Merrick was asked to provide scores for NFL Films.

A close friend of Spence, Merrick asked Spence to help in the recording sessions.

Whilst spending time in Germany, Mr.Spence wrote several TV soundtracks with Hani Chamseddine, e.g., for the Francis Durbridge thriller “Wie ein Blitz”.

In 1990, following his retirement, Sam returned to Munich.

Sam gained unexpected fame in 1998 with the success of a CD compilation called The Power and the Glory: The Original Music & Voices Of NFL Films.

He died at a Lewisville, Texas nursing center on February 6, 2016.

Sam Spence passed away at 88 yrs old.