Bud Spangler, born in Norwalk, Ohio December 7, 1938, is likely most well known as a radio broadcaster and producer of recordings and live concerts. In addition he has always been a fine jazz drummer going back to his roots in Detroit. He started drumming in Wyandotte, Michigan in the late 50's, playing his first gigs with saxophonist Dick Lozon, and went on to attend Michigan State University, initially broadcasting at WKAR-FM and playing local gigs. One of his early connections during the mid-60s was with the saxophonist Benny Poole, a veteran of the Southeastern Michigan scene, fronting organ combos and more r & b, bluesy and funk oriented bands. Through the Stan Kenton Summer Jazz Workshops at M.S.U., he met heavyweight New Yorkers like trumpeter Marvin Stamm and saxophonist Charlie Mariano, who he used on limited gigs around town and over to Saugatuck, a resort town on the west side of the state. He also hooked up with a young Paul Motian, who would assist Spangler with subsequent engagements in Detroit and Cleveland accompanying Mose Allison. He was heard on the airwaves of WDET-FM, doing the show "Jazz Today" in the 1960s, and briefly at WJCT-FM in Jacksonville, Florida. But as a prominent performer on the Detroit scene, he was involved with the cooperative collective The Tribe, which featured trombonist Phil Ranelin, tenor saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist Wendell Harrison, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, keyboardist Harold McKinney and bassist Rod Hicks. Spangler also collaborated with saxophonist Larry Nozero, organist Lyman Woodard, guitarist Ron English, pianist/saxophonist Teddy Harris, Jr., and fellow drummer Leonard King among many others. Spangler's most renowned association was with pianist Kenn Cox's Contemporary Jazz Quintet, as a dual drummer alongside Danny Spencer. He played with the group throughout the '70s before moving to Northern California. Other leaders he has performed with include trumpeter Eddie Henderson, organist Gene Ludwig, pianist Jessica Williams, saxophonist Archie Shepp and a lone gig with Stan Getz. He has co-led the modern jazz ensemble Interplay featuring trumpeter Tom Peron for many years around the San Francisco Bay area. Spangler continued his radio career at KJAZ-FM in San Francisco, and KCSM-FM in San Mateo where he hosted a regular Sunday night live show "Sunday Night Suites" for two decades. He has also been artistic advisor for Jazz At Filoli in Woodside, California. It is in the studio where he has garnered great acclaim, producing Grammy nominated recordings for Taylor Eigsti, Mark Levine, Cedar Walton, Mimi Fox, and Ed Reed, and has recorded such notables as Charles Brown, Joe Henderson, Charlie Rouse, Kitty Margolis, Calvin Keys and Joe Gilman. Bud Spangler's nephew is the fine blues and jazz drummer and producer, Detroiter R.J. Spangler. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
