Sam Spence
Samuel Lloyd Spence is an American soundtrack composer best known for his work with NFL Films.
Biography
A former USC music instructor living and working in Munich, Spence was hired in 1966 to score the hyperromanticized mini-documentaries that conveyed NFL highlights and personalities to fans in the network-television era. Spence's bombastic music cues combined with the baritone voice of John Facenda to remarkable artistic effect, and he can arguably be credited with a significant role in making American football the top professional sport in the U.S.
In Germany Sam Spence wrote several TV soundtracks, e.g. for the Francis Durbridge thriller "Wie ein Blitz". After his retirement in 1990 he returned to Munich. He achieved unexpected fame in 1998 with the success of a CD compilation entitled The Power And The Glory: The Original Music & Voices Of NFL Films.
CD
2007: Sam Spence - Our Man in Munich (2) (Allscore - Indigo)
Remake
In 2005, Spence's music was remade by the hip hop music group Da Riffs, which can be found in the soundtrack of the game Madden NFL 06. Along with the urban remakes, the original songs still play in the game's soundtrack. His music was also included in Madden NFL 07 and Madden NFL 08, being remixed again by Da Riffs.
Controversy
One of the hallmarks of Spence's music is its intangible familiarity. Many have pointed out the similarity of his more successful themes to several contemporary film scores; some have accused them of "get[ting] too close to their obvious film inspiration."[1] Such compositions have been described by some film score enthusiasts as fair and distinct "cool homage[s],"[1][2] while others have labeled them as "barely disguised"[1] "knock-offs."[2]
References
- ^ a b c Lukas Kendall, "CD Review: NFL Films: The Power and the Glory," Film Score Monthly, Nov 1998.
- ^ a b Jeff Bond, "CD Review: Autumn Thunder: 40 Years of NFL Films Music," Film Score Monthly, Jul 2005.