Roger Hamilton Spotts

Roger served on the Board of directors at the Musicians Credit Union #47, Los Angeles, since1984, Musicians Union #47, 1970; Despite Los Angeles being his base, music has also allowed Roger and Betty to travel the world. Roger toured Asia and Betty performed extensively in South America, The Caribbean Islands and Africa, taking their young daughter with them. In addition to his work as a composer, Roger has also worked in all sorts of dance productions. Most notably, he has worked with Chester A. Whitmore, a well-known tap dancer, artistic director, and choreographer. Roger also had literary friends such as Nolan Davis, author of Six Black Horses and Ray Bradbury, who wrote the back flap for Nolan's book. Roger, Nolan, and Ray attended Mensa meetings together.

Since 1983, he has been on the board of directors for the Friends of Watts Towers Art Center, also in Los Angeles. Roger was a Member of the American Society of Composers. He was the recipient of The American composer, arranger.

Grantee National Endowment for Arts, 1976.

Roger's mother, Marian was voted "Woman of the Year" in Cincinnati, 1952. She was the president of a prominent Cincinnati Woman's Group. Roger's father was a beloved School Instructor. It was their hope that their son would follow in his father's footsteps and become an instructor. From a young age, Roger was an avid chess player who also enjoyed reading books. However, a love of music led him to follow his dreams of becoming the best jazz saxophone player in the world, which took him to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, however, he discovered that many other musicians had the same idea. Despite being a great saxophonist, Roger filled in the gaps between saxophone jobs by playing the piano. Soon, he also began using the piano to write and arrange music. While Los Angeles had many saxophone players, there were few who could also play the piano, arrange, write, and compose music. His specialty became writing for horn sections.

From 1951 to 1953, Roger served in the United States Army.

In 1951, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Music from Central State University and he was an instructor at the Fairfield High School in Alabama in 1953. Roger married Betty Mosley, who was also a professional pianist, singer, songwriter, dancer, and model. His only child was born, a daughter named Woni. Roger and Betty became the quintessential "Golden Couple" both were playing piano in the Los Angeles music scene. At home, they wrote songs together but because they both played piano, their performance paths rarely crossed. Betty received an award for volunteerism from the First Lady. She always joked that she only volunteered at Head Start Pre-School because she was an overprotective mother. During the '70s and '80s, Roger was an instructor at Grant's Music Center in Los Angeles.

Roger Hamilton Spotts is an American composer and arranger who has enjoyed a highly successful career that has spanned over five decades. He has collaborated with noted musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Count Basie, and Lionel Hampton, to name a few. For Roger, his 'work' was always a passion fueled by both a love of music and community. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 20, 1928, Roger's parents were college educated at Central State University.