Taphy

“I'’ve been singing since I was about six years old, "” Philadelphia'’s Taphy Spencer explains. You might say she was first discovered by the keen ear of a kids’ choir director. “I was belting out, so she gave me a lead song,” Spencer recalls. And she'’s been “belting out” heartfeltsongs ever since. On that fateful day, this pre-teen vocalist treated her church congregation to " Never Turn Back No More."”  “It was so natural,” she says now. “I was not nervous at all.”

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     Spencer, one of six siblings, was almost certainly destined for greatness. After all, she
was given a Biblical name associated with the wisest man who ever lived. “My birth name is
Taphath, which is a Biblical name. Taphath was King Solomon’s daughter. The name Taphath
means ‘a droplet.’ My middle name, Ann, means ‘full of grace.’ Taphath Ann means, ‘A droplet
full of grace,’ and Taphy’s short for Taphath.”



     This rising star has been known to grace her audiences with memorable ballads, including
standards, like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and more contemporary fare, such as Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky,” her signature song. “I love ballads because I think they paint a vivid picture of emotions, she says. “They give any artist the opportunity to showcase their vocals.” She’s been compared to Whitney Houston, but her style also includes the feeling of Mary J. Blige with the execution and vocal arrangement of Brandy. Spencer, a true singer’s singer, has a broad array of influences and no musical limitations. You can find elements of rock, gospel, hip-hop and jazz throughout her cd (she even raps on one of her songs). “What appeals to me is quality music,” she states categorically. “If it’'s of good quality, then I love it!”

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In June of 2008, Spencer was casted as Mrs. Newman in a play entitled, Jewel, where she won an
award for best vocalist.  Spencer has recorded and executive produced her debut EP, Dreamer as an independent internet release in September 2010. With it, she has mined emotional ground familiar to all of us.  “There is a lot of storytelling,” she explains, “that tells stories about things most people haveencountered or dealt with in their lifetime.” Spencer writes all her own songs with her prolific brother, Ezra and childhood friend, Aadil, received production assistance from Bub Da Producer, Stephen Marquis Ellis, Reuben and Corey Owns, Eugene Roberts, drummer Brian Frasier Moore, Rick Friedrich (and others) on this stellar new release.

 

Ever since Spencer was but a wee droplet of grace, she’s been singing powerfully meaningful songs. And while she’s thankful for that childhood kids’ choir director that first recognized her talent, she owes an even greater debt of gratitude to her mother, who has been behind her all the way. “My mother was my number one fan, and helped prepare me for audiences by encouraging me and having me sit at the foot of her bed and sing until I got comfortable,” Spencer fondly recalls. “She always told me that I could do anything I put my
mind to.” With the priceless encouragement only a mother'’s love can bring, plus natural talent,
it’s no surprise that Taphy Spencer will

“Never Turn Back No More.”



Taphy Spencer