The David Spero Collection spans the years 1968 to 2017, with the bulk of the materials dating from 2000 to 2014. The collection consists of four series: Artists, Subjects, Posters, and Upbeat digital files. Series I: Artists ranges from 1991-2017 and includes contracts, correspondence, invoices, budgets, royalty statements, clippings, legal documents, and tour information for several of Spero's clients, including Dickey Betts, Funk Brothers, Richie Furay, Survivor, and Cat Stevens. Series II: Subjects ranges from 1968-2014 and consists of materials on artists not under Spero's management, benefits and events organized and attended by Spero, correspondence, and materials relating to Spero's business ventures. Series III: Posters ranges from 1968 to 2005 and contains four posters for the Eagles, Funk Brothers, and Jimi Hendrix. Series IV: Upbeat Digital Files consists of six digital videos of performances from the Cleveland television program, The Upbeat Show, which include Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Jeff Kutash and the Upbeat Dancers, Jackie DeShannon, Bobbie Gentry, O.C. Smith, Chicago, John Denver, the Impressions, Occasions, Guess Who, Yardbirds, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, and the Fifth Dimension, during the 1970s. The collection provides insight into the career of a northeast Ohio based manager, primarily for musicians in the later stages of their careers.
Biography / Administrative History
David Spero is a music manager based in Cleveland, Ohio. Spero began his career in the music industry at the age of 13 as the cue card holder for the Cleveland music television show, The Upbeat Show, produced by his father Harold Spero. At 16, Spero moved into radio, working WXEN's graveyard shift. As a DJ at WMMS in the 1970s, Spero interviewed most of the rock stars who performed in Cleveland. In 1974, Spero moved away from radio, and into artist management with Cleveland local Michael Stanley. Other artists under the management of Spero during various points of their careers include Cat Stevens, Richie Furay, Dickey Betts, and Joe Walsh. Spero also served as the Vice President of Education and Programming at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from 2000 to 2003.
Notes
Citation: [Identification of Item], David Spero Collection, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Processing Information: Processed by Crystal Matjasic, Project Archivist. Completed December 19, 2018. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual. Collection processed through an Access to Historical Records grant from the NHPRC.
Acquisition Note: The David Spero Collection was received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., as gifts from Spero from 1998 to 2018.
Language Note: The collection is in English.
Access
Some of the materials in the collection are confidential and are, therefore, RESTRICTED. Access copies of these materials will have to be created prior to use. Consult the Library and Archives staff in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
