M D Spenser

Born on May 1, 1953, M. D. Spenser is an American author and radio personality currently residing in Godalming, UK. He is widely recognized for hosting "The Big Fat Wide Americana Hour," an internet radio program that showcases a broad spectrum of American music genres, including country, folk, blues, soul, and jazz, spanning from the 1940s to the present day. Spenser's distinctive radio style involves sharing interesting historical facts about the featured musicians and exploring the interconnectedness of various American music styles, highlighting how their cross-cultural influences, stemming from African and Irish roots, have contributed to a global musical richness.

Beyond his radio work, Spenser has authored the "Shivers" series, a collection of 36 books targeted at readers aged 8 to 14. Published by Paradise Press between 1996 and 1998, these books achieved significant sales, reaching millions of copies across the United States and the British Commonwealth. He also penned the six-book "Humano Morphs" series. Some of the "Shivers" titles were later re-released as e-books in 2011. Spenser is currently engaged in writing a novel set in contemporary London titled "Some Say In Ice," and has a humorous memoir about his journalism career in the works, named "Occasionally Accurate." He also authored a book on running under a different name.

M. D. Spenser's prominent role as the host of "The Big Fat Wide Americana Hour" defines a significant aspect of his public persona. This internet radio show is characterized by its eclectic programming, deliberately blending diverse American musical styles such as country, folk, blues, soul, and jazz within a single broadcast. The program's temporal scope is equally broad, featuring music from the 1940s up to contemporary releases. Spenser's hosting style is notable for its inclusion of historical anecdotes concerning the musicians discussed, adding a layer of depth to the musical selections. He also endeavors to illustrate the relationships between different genres, positing that the cross-pollination of musical traditions, with origins in places as varied as Africa and Ireland, has fostered a cultural richness that has propelled American music onto the global stage.

M. D. Spenser has established himself as a prolific author, particularly recognized for the "Shivers" series, a collection of 36 books designed for young readers aged 8 to 14. These books, published by Paradise Press from 1996 to 1998, achieved substantial commercial success, selling millions of copies in the United States and throughout the British Commonwealth. In addition to the "Shivers" series, Spenser is also the author of the six-book "Humano Morphs" series. Three titles from the "Shivers" series were reissued as e-books in 2011. Currently, Spenser is working on a novel set in modern London, titled "Some Say In Ice." He has also contributed a book about running under an alias and is developing a humorous memoir detailing his experiences as an international journalist, tentatively titled "Occasionally Accurate."