(September 2026) Detroit was undoubtedly the center of the soul music universe in the 1960s, with Philadelphia assuming that role in the ’70s. But in the early 1980s there was no place hotter in the soul music world than the City of Angels, where Dick Griffey’s SOLAR Records took over the charts with a roster of now legendary artists ranging from The Whispers to Shalamar to Midnight Star. Today, one of the unsung architects of that amazing run has died.
Singer, songwriter and musician Kevin Spencer, a founding member of the SOLAR Records group Dynasty and an important contributor to the label’s celebrated sound, has passed. Spencer had been reportedly battling cancer. The bad news was reported by Spencer’s longtime friend and former co-writer Ricky “Freeze” Smith of Morris Day and the Time.
Carrie Lucas-Griffey, SOLAR singer and part of the management team, issued a statement, which read in part: “Kevin was a multi-talented musician and songwriter, who played keyboards, bass, and a lead singer who often lent his many talents, by singing background, on the albums of other legendary groups on our SOLAR RECORDS Label. Solar Records was a Boutique Label and Dick Griffey personally hand-picked each and every Artist and genuinely regarded them as family… I, along with my family, and our entire staff at SOLAR RECORDS, send our deepest sympathy, respect, love and prayers to the Spencer family.”
Spencer was part of Dynasty’s original lineup with singers Nidra Beard (d. 2023) and Linda Carriere, working closely with producer Leon Sylvers III and SOLAR founder Dick Griffey. A vocalist, keyboardist and bassist, Spencer helped Dynasty establish itself with such favorites as “I Don’t Want to Be a Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself),” “I’ve Just Begun to Love You” and “Adventures in the Land of Music.”
Spencer’s influence extended well beyond Dynasty. He was a songwriter and studio musician on recordings by several members of the SOLAR family, most notably co-writing Shalamar’s early hit “Take That to the Bank” with Leon Sylvers III. He also contributed to recordings by The Whispers, Shalamar, and other artists during the label’s peak years. As Shalamar lead singer Howard Hewett posted on Facebook, “His (Kevin’s) contribution to building the SOLAR Dynasty in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s was invaluable!!”
And Spencer remained connected to Dynasty decades later. In 2021 we featured the group’s reunion single “I Can Tell,” which brought Spencer back together with fellow original members for the group’s first new recordings in many years. A year earlier, we had also covered Dynasty’s comeback song “Escape,” with Spencer again participating in the reunited group.
While Kevin Spencer was never as widely known as some of the stars whose records he helped create, his singing, musicianship and songwriting were part of the fabric of the classic SOLAR sound. We extend our condolences to his family, friends and the entire SOLAR family.
