Syracuse, N.Y. ― Mike Spengler, a noted trumpet player who performed with Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, died on Friday due to acute kidney failure.
Spengler also was a member of Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul as well as the Miami Horns.
Spengler, who was born in Paterson, N.J., and lived in Englewood, N.J., attended Syracuse University for several years in the early to mid-1970s.
At Syracuse, Spengler played in several ensembles, the school’s marching band and, in 1975, the first pep band.
“That was the Final Four year in 1975,’’ Spengler recalled in a 2020 interview with syracuse.com. “Rudy Hackett and a bunch of short guys who could shoot it. I remember playing in the pep band at a couple games at Manley Field House.’’
While in Syracuse, Spengler also performed with the Bobby Hamilton Quintet; his first real jazz gig. He left SU just short of his degree “to go start doing it for real.’’
Spengler made a name for himself as a top trumpet player. He got his first big break when he was hired to play trumpet with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on the “Love is a Sacrifice’’ tour. He toured with the group for two years before Diana Ross hired the entire horn section to tour with her.
His stint with Ross included the 1983 concert in New York’s Central Park in front of an estimated crowd of 450,000.
In 1987, Spengler was asked to join Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on the “Tunnel of Love’’ tour. The European part of the tour included a famous performance in East Berlin on July 19, 1988; one year before the Berlin Wall came down.
Spengler remembered the East Berlin concert in a 2020 story for syracuse.com.
“It didn’t really feel too different from a standard Bruce concert,’’ Spengler said. “He throws so much energy into whatever concert he’s doing. He shows so much energy and commitment (that) you as a band member, can’t help but try to match it in your own way.’’
Spengler’s memories of the Springsteen concert in East Germany were included in Erik Kirschbaum’s book “Rocking the Wall: The Berlin Concert that Changed the World.’’
Spengler shared his love of music with the students that he taught at the Montclair Music Studio and in private lessons.
In recent weeks, Spengler had shared updates on his health issues and his ongoing dialysis treatments on his Facebook page. In one recent post, he talked about giving lessons via Zoom and hoped to return to in-person instruction soon.
Spengler also sprinkled his Facebook page with posts entitled “Morning Coffee with ….,’’ which featured the link to a musical selection. His last post was on Christmas Eve day and the entry was Arthur Honegger: Une Cantate de Noël.
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