DAVID SPERO was destined to be part of Rock n Roll’s history!
Starting at age 13, he worked on his father Herman’s Upbeat TV show holding cue cards and later serving as ‘Talent Coordinator’. Upbeat was seen in over 100 cities between 1964 and 1971. He has since produced four Upbeat Live shows on Cleveland television garnering 3 Emmy nominations.
A radio career started in 1968 at WXEN-FM in Cleveland. Stints at WNCR, WMMS, M105 and WNCX helped establish him as a top disc jockey in the then new and emerging field of FM radio.
Hanging around with recording stars evolved into a career in artist management. David Spero Management was formed in 1973 steering the career of local icon Michael Stanley and producer Bill Szymczyk (Eagles, Who, Bob Seger etc).
David took a thirteen year break from Rock and Roll when he accepted a job as Managing Director/Midwest for Columbia/Tri Star Pictures. He coordinated the regional releases of such pictures as ‘Ghostbusters’, ‘The Natural’, ‘Tootsie’, and ‘Gandhi’ during his tenure.
But Rock and Roll came calling again in 1990 when Eagle Joe Walsh asked Spero to manage his career. He added other artists such as Harry Nilsson, Vanilla Ice, Eric Carmen and Ian Hunter. Spero produced ‘The Joe Walsh/Glenn Frey Tour’ which was the precursor to ‘The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over Tour’.
The rigors of touring took their toll and in 2000, Spero ‘retired’ and accepted the position of Vice President of Programming and Education at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In this position, Spero produced the successful MTV show “Live At The Rock Hall” which aired for two seasons and featured such artists as Linkin Park, John Meyer, Godsmack, Avril Lavigne and Alicia Keyes.
But again, antsy for that Rock and Roll lifestyle, David Spero Management was back in business in 2003 representing the careers of Billy Bob Thornton, Hall of Famer Dickey Betts, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Survivor, Nelson, Don Felder, JD Souther and The Funk Brothers. After adding Richie Furay as a client, Spero helped put together the Buffalo Springfield reunion tour. A young, up and coming band The Empty Pockets fill out the current roster.
David, 62, is a former member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Board of Directors and was recently inducted into the Ohio Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He lives in South Euclid Ohio with his wife, Ellen, of 36 years. They have a son Adam who is a graduate of John Carroll University.
1. Favorite place to stop and just decompress after a hard day?
Nothing better than Jacobs Field (Always will be Jacobs Field to me), my son, Adam, was a batboy during the glory days! Watching him through two World Series and multiple playoff games as well as the All Star Game is a thrill I’ll never forget. Second only to my couch.
2. You’re with a group of friends on a Saturday night and no one can agree on where to go, you take control and suggest?
Any Zack Bruell restaurant we can get into.
3. A friend who’s never been to Cleveland comes to town and wants to see the sights, what’s the first place you want to show them?
Obviously the Rock Hall.
4. What event, development, idea, trend, etc. that should come to fruition in the next 12 months excites you the most?
The Public Square build-out.
5. Best place to see live music and why?
Just saw a show at the Rockcino and was very impressed, but Cain Park tops my list. I saw Brian Wilson doing Pet Sounds at Cain Park. WOW! The music, the vibe, the environment on a perfect Cleveland summer night. Doesn’t get better than that!
6. What about Cleveland is not getting enough press, is underrated?
Everything. Until we stop putting ourselves down, no one else will either. Sometimes it seems we all think we are losers…from sports to weather to political jokes. We have so much more than that to offer….
7. If you could have dinner here in Cleveland with any historical figure, who would it be, where would you go and what would you order?
Thomas Jefferson. I’d ask him why they didn’t put term limits in for the congress and the senate while we ate a vegetarian meal at Cowell & Hubbard.
8. You have just been anointed King of Cleveland with an unlimited budget and all encompassing powers, but you only have one day to rule, what do you do? What do you change, build, tear down, re-envision?
Tear down Brown’s Stadium, move it anywhere but on the lake, and build a beautiful park ala Chicago on Lake Michigan. Put in some restaurants, bike and walking paths. It would be nice to enjoy a meal while overlooking the lake.
On Tap Cleveland 