Don Spencer

Spencer started his successful broadcasting career in the United Kingdom. At the BBC he presented his own teenage pop show Gangway! for seven years. He co-hosted a radio program called Pop-In.^[3] He later appeared in TV comedies such as Face It with Ronnie Barker.

Spencer returned to Australia and appeared on TV's Bandstand, briefly featured in series Sons and Daughters and Return to Eden and in the 1974 film Barry McKenzie Holds His Own.^[10] In 1977, Spencer wrote his next single, "What's a Pommie?" The track was covered by fellow Australians Rolf Harris and Col Elliott.^[11]

Play School: Children's entertainer

Spencer is best known for his long tenure as a children's entertainer, as both a presenter and recording artist, he joined the Australia TV series Play School in 1968 and the United Kingdom version of the same title in 1972.^[6][12] He continued on both versions for 17 years,^[6] the only male presenter to appear on both versions. One of his well-known phrases was "old magazines", which he used to effect when describing items used to make something.^[12] During this period, he recorded and released albums, primarily through ABC Records over a 27-year period that helped to educate children, mostly about the many species of Australian animals, and they in turn have received awards for gold and platinum sales.^[12][13] He continued on the Australian version until 1992 with guest appearance's in 1999, 2016 (for the 50th anniversary) and 2024.^[6]

At the APRA Music Awards of 1995, Spencer's tracks "Have a Beaut Day" and "Stand Up" were nominated for Most Performed Children's Work; they were co-written by Spencer with Allan Caswell.^[14]

In 2002, Spencer established the Australian Children's Music Foundation (ACMF) as its inaugural CEO.^[15][16] In 2007, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Australia Day (26 January) for "service to children's music and television as a songwriter and performer, and through the establishment of the Australian Children's Music Foundation".^[17][18][19] In 2008, Spencer was awarded for Excellence in Community Support presented by Support Act Limited.^[20][21]

In December 2010, the ACMF sponsored a supergroup, Peacebeliever, which recorded a cover version of Plastic Ono Band's 1969 single "Give Peace a Chance" for their charity.^[22] Alongside Spencer, fellow vocalists include Katie Noonan, Blue King Brown, Tim Freedman, Newton Faulkner and Omara Portuondo.^[22] In July 2013, Spencer announced the ACMF's 11th annual National Kids Songwriting Competition, which is open to school-aged children from four to eighteen years old. Spencer said, "We want kids to unleash their creativity and engage with learning in a fun way ... Music can give kids really positive self expression and is a great tool for improving literacy levels".^[16]

As of 2023, Spencer continues to record and perform with his latest release a musical adaption, based on Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—".^[23]

Don Spencer married Julie Horsfall, a caterer from Yorkshire.^[24] They have two children: Dean and Danielle Spencer (born 16 May 1969).^[19] Dean is a musician, while Danielle is an actress and singer, who was married to actor Russell Crowe from 2003 to 2018.^[25]

Spencer resides in Darlinghurst, New South Wales.^[26]

• Bandstand – television series
• Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974)
• King's Men – television series (1976)
• Sons and Daughters – television series (1982)
• Return to Eden – television series (1986)
• A Country Practice – television series (1991)
• Play School – UK television series (1972–86)

Books written or co-written by Don Spencer:

• Spencer, Don; Caswell, Allen; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1985). Feathers Fur or Fins. Woolloomooloo: Chappell & Intersong Music, Australian Broadcasting Commission. ISBN 0-94710-688-X.^[34]
• Spencer, Don; Caswell, Allan; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1989). Don Spencer's Australian Animals. Sydney, NSW: ABC Enterprises for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ISBN 0-64212-841-3.^[35]
• Spencer, Don (1989). Don Spencer's More Songs from Feathers, Fur or Fins. Sydney, NSW: ABC Records.^[36]
• Spencer, Don (1990). Don Spencer's Let's Have Fun. North Sydney, NSW: Warner Chappell Music. ISBN 1-86362-023-0.^[37]
• Spencer, Don; Macken, Clare; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1993). Don Spencer's Thumbs Up! Australia. Illustrated by Felicity Meyer. Sydney, NSW: ABC Books. ISBN 0-7333-0231-9.^[38]
• Spencer, Don; Bryant, Nick (2000). 1001 Cool Jokes with Don Spencer. Illustrated by Glen Singleton. Dingley Village: Hinkler Books. ISBN 1-86515-182-3.^[39]
• Sharkey, Jane; Holland, Margaret; Spencer, Don (2005). Sing and Learn Times Tables. Dingley Village: Hinkler Books. ISBN 978-1-74121-930-2.^[40]
• Spencer, Don (2011). Don Spencer's Don't Call Me a Koala Bear and Other Aussie Songs. Illustrated by Michelle Pike. Scoresby: Five Mile Press. ISBN 978-1-74300-135-6.^[41]