Spencer Proffer
CEO, Music & Media Producer, Strategist
Spencer Proffer - Meteor 17’s VISION STATEMENT:
Producing premium streaming content utilizing music as an organic component to entertain and have positive, lasting impact across the globe.
Spencer is a highly regarded media producer and strategist with a long history of connecting with audiences. His productions and many he has been integrally involved with have garnered Academy, Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, Tony awards and nominations. As music producer and arranger, his work has sold millions of gold and platinum records.
Recently esteemed journalists and publications have referred to Spencer’s production of music documentary films as works of cinematic, immersive narratives w/ meaningful story telling.
“ Proffer films get under the skin and wash off the make up" .
Spencer has a career-long commitment to issues of civil and human rights, amongst other civic and charitable causes to which he gives time and resources. In 2024-2025 he is producing multiple enterprises with meaningful social responsibility, diversity and civil rights focus. Spencer believes it is important to have multiple voices and current re-imaginations of iconic songs, as part of his feature documentary films.
In addition to having his projects speak to the power and magic of songs which have transcended decades for their musical inspiration and influence, it is important that they show diversity in race and age, gender, sexual orientation, and economic background, amongst other factors when speaking of the music’s reach.
These considerations strengthen projects Proffer produces, ensuring that millions of people can see themselves represented on screen, and portrayed with dignity and respect. This approach shows that he take our values seriously. It will put M17 projects on not only the right side of history (ensuring a longer shelf life for the projects), but the right side of the present moment.
Spencer has been at the forefront of successful and inventive multimedia projects for years. Throughout an extensive entertainment career, he has consistently broken new ground with pioneering work on both creative and business fronts. As a marketing and media architect with an anchor in how music plays an organic role in various platforms, he has created and then implemented numerous initiatives on behalf of major television networks, advertising agencies, online, record, and motion picture companies. He also has a meaningful history of producing socially conscious events and enterprises which have both charitable as well as commercial components.
Proffer has spent his multi-decade career striving to make an impact in pop culture and education via music and media. He has been described as a trailblazing, renaissance disruptor and pioneer in the convergence integration of music anchored projects. Striving to make a difference by doing good and making money in the process, is at the heart of his ethos. Spencer continues to use his skills, reach and career to make a meaningful difference. He accomplishes that by producing for commercial purposes while having a positive, lasting impact for good, across the globe.
Next chapter objectives: Spencer continues to architect + produce world class, original content in film (music anchored cinematic, immersive documentaries), aligned w/ solid, strategic, worldwide partners and brands to get their message across. He has the chops and desire in utilizing music as an anchor/organic component.
Empathy - our culture and music are a bridge to connect people around the world like Anthony Bourdain did with food and his show.
Spencer wants each doc and each subject of his produced documentary films to speak to the important things that they can share with the world. He is all about putting positive energy out through the media he produces.
All icons and rights owners trust Spencer with the production of their stories and journey. Projects he undertakes plan to put understanding and positivity into the world.
The themes will not only be universal, but will undoubtedly be relevant and necessary in a time of social crisis than in periods of (extremely relative) harmony. Spencer so wants each of his documentaries to have elements (more than generic approaches) that feel special now because they speak to this moment now in history.
Meteor 17 has established offices in South Africa {http://www.meteor17.com/cinevation-sa}. His company is in deep negotiations for output arrangements in So Korea, India, The Philippines and The Dominican Republic. The goal and plan is for Spencer to continue to bridge borders via production of music anchored, worldwide media.
One example of a project, very important to Spencer's ethos, is the forthcoming VOICES OF HOPE & CHANGE: a Nelson Mandela & Martin Luther King anchored documentary and concert.. http://www.meteor17.com/voices. The feature doc, will be a powerful, informative and inspiring work which will explore the nexus of the impact which the Civil Rights Movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and African American churches had, paralleling with the anti- apartheid journey experienced by Nelson Mandela in South Africa.
One of the branches in his company’s media tree, is a theater event division led by former top executives from AMC, Regal and Cinemark’s event division, Fathom. Most M17 projects are slated to premieres on theater screens around the world to drive eyeballs to the downstream commerce of each project produced.
This is a fresh media model where Spencer and his Meteor 17 company premiere their own proprietary content initiatives (owned and developed by M17 and their partners) as well as content of behalf of major music and media icons.
Spencer helped to architect the Fathom Events model over 19 years ago and served as a consultant, producer and strategist to Fathom for all this time.
In August, 2018, Proffer, produced a highly acclaimed theatrical event: The iconic ‘68 Elvis NBC Comeback Special, originally directed and produced by Steve Binder. It exhibited on 2382 theater screens in 32 countries around the world. The project grossed $ 2.35M over two days and is considered one of the most successful music events in big screen history.
Rolling Stone Magazine did an extensive interview with Elvis Comeback director/producer, Steve Binder. which proceeded the Fathom exhibition. This interview embedded 3 minutes of the mini documentary Spencer produced with Priscilla Presley and Steve Binder re-visiting the NBC Sound Stages where the original special was filmed and interviewing one another very poignantly. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/revisiting-elvis-presleys-68-comeback-special-with-its-director-706220/
On November 25, 2018, The L.A. Times did an interview with Binder which beautifully summarized the Comeback Special and a timeless film that Spencer and Steve will teamed on, connected to the original NBC Special. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-elvis-presley-1968-comeback-special-50th-anniversary-20181121-story.html.
In 2024-2025, Spencer is overseeing a portfolio of Meteor 17 projects including:
(a) STAND BY ME: A cinematic, immersive narrative documentary on the timeless classic STAND BY ME. More than a simple hit song, “Stand By Me,” by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and Ben E. King, has transcended the notion of a “standard”—it’s been recorded more than 1,000 times and has made more appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart than any other song. Spencer Proffer has been selected to produce. He selected Emmy®-and Grammy®-nominated director Kevin Swain — who has directed music videos and other projects for and with Mary J. Blige, Wynton Marsalis, Queen Latifah — to bring the story of the song to the screen. As part of the film, renowned musician Steve Jordan — who has worked with music legends including John Mayer and Stones guitarist Keith Richards — will produce a new version of the song.
We plan to premiere the completed film at the United Nations and then screen it at the Kennedy Center in 2025. The song and its’ spirit highlights how all people and countries had stood next to one another for decades and continue to forever.
(b) DEFYING GRAVITY: FROM PIPPIN TO WICKED: 3 time Academy Award, Tony & Grammy winning composer Stephen Schwartz, has blessed a partnership w/ Spencer. Multiple Tony winner Corey Brunish (Beautiful, The Carole King Musical) and West End impresario, Russell Miller (Guys & Dolls), will serve as Consulting Producers while Proffer produces the definitive doc on Schwartz’ work. The film will be grounded upon the songwriting journey of one of the great composers of the 20th & 21st century. https://www.meteor17.com/stephen-schwartz
(c) ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM. The Pioneers of Nashville- Felice & Boudleux Bryant
Spencer Proffer has partnered with former president of BMI Del Bryant, to produce the authorized documentary on the latter’s parents - the legendary songwriting duo Felice and Boudleux Bryant. Considered two of the most influential and prolific songwriters in the history of pop music, the documentary will be a celebration of the songs and artists who recorded and were inspired by the Bryants’ work.
During their incredible career, the Bryants earned 59 BMI country, pop, and R&B music awards, and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Their compositions were recorded by many of the greatest artists of all time including the Everly Brothers, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, Roy Orbison, The Grateful Dead, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Buddy Holly, Emmy Lou Harris, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan and Dean Martin.
The documentary, coming to the world in 2025, will shine a light on the Everly Brothers, whose career was anchored by many Bryants’ compositions including #1 songs such as “All I Have to Do Is Dream”, “Bye Bye Love”, and “Wake Up Little Susie”. Ranked as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, “All I Have to Do Is Dream” was also named one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2004.
The plans are to feature timeless performer participations along with their contemporaries, such as Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, Graham Nash, Barry Gibb, Tim Rice, Keith Richards, Fleet Foxes, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Norah Jones. These prolific singer/songwriters will share their own personal thoughts and feelings on how Bryant songs, featuring magical harmonies, shaped the very essence of music culture. Audiences will also experience several Bryant classics through new performances and will learn how this wife and husband team helped to shape the face of modern music for decades.
(d) POWER OF SONG: Episodic streaming/ SVOD series
The Power of Song is a franchise series which tell the inspirational stories behind both the creation and the impact of, some of the most iconic platinum selling songs that have defined generations.
(e) OUR HOUSE: The illustrated book from music icon, Graham Nash (with a dedication from Carole King) on Nash’s timeless hit. {http://www.meteor17.com/our-house} Published and released in 2020. Stanley Hainsworth’s TETHERINC.COM, has created a reading app to go along with the book as an adjunct for children to be able to read, along with the lyrics to the classic song.
The illustrations from the book and the theme of the beloved song, invokes a happy home via the lyrics. “I’ll light the fire”, “ and you put the flowers in the vase”.….. beauty and comfort -- a safe, warm place to be yourself and be with the ones you love.
(f) TIM STOREY: GETTING IT RIGHT. http://www.meteor17.com/tim-storey-getting-it-right
A 90 minute Special which will feature motivational speaker, author and highly celebrated life coach Tim Storey
(http://www.timstorey.com), showing how he helped top celebrities who were broken, “Get It Right” (e.g., Tiger Woods, Steve Harvey and Robert Downey Jr.).
The show will combine performances from top, major contemporary music artists targeted such as Alicia Keys and Usher, singing the themes of “Getting It Right” and “What The World Needs Now Is Love”, produced by American Idol’s Randy Jackson.
Diane Hudson, former executive producer of the Oprah Winfrey Show, will produce the event alongside Proffer.
(g) I HOPE YOU DANCE Feature film: Script by Ron Bass
http://www.meteor17.com/i-hope-you-dance-feature
Spencer Is particularly proud of worldwide release of the John Coltrane Feature Documentary {narrated by Denzel Washington}, soundtrack album (with vinyl) and blu ray DVD (via Universal Music Enterprises), Chasing Trane. https://vimeopro.com/meteor17productions/chasing-trane-trailer https://www.netflix.com/title/80147403
The film made its debut at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival and its international premiere at The Toronto Film Festival, to great acclaim. It features commentary and appreciations from such diverse Coltrane lifelong fans such as Denzel Washington (who renders the narrative voice of Coltrane), to President Bill Clinton, Carlos Santana, Common, Wynton Marsalis, John Densmore (Doors) and many of the living, esteemed musicians that performed with Coltrane such as Sonny Rollins & McCoy Tyner amongst others. Chasing Trane is the first authorized film undertaken with the full participation of the estate and all of the relevant record companies (Universal, Rhino-Warner Brothers and Concord Music Group.
Chasing Trane had it South African premiere on that country’s iconic Blue Train (the name of an acclaimed Coltrane recording). http://www.meteor17.com/blue-train-coltrane-so-africa.
4 Minute sizzle : https://vimeopro.com/meteor17productions/trane-tracks-sizzle-reel.
One of Spencer's most special career moments came In 2013 when then Governor Robert Bentley of the State of Alabama, proclaimed Proffer an honorary citizen of that State due to his continuing commitment to children's education and the building of fraternal skills via Huntsville's Space Camp and Aviation Challenge. His son Morgan attended there for 7 consecutive summers.
Proffer provided twenty five scholarships to kids across North America to further science and space education while producing the SET Award winning movie, Space Warriors, in partnership with Walden Media, at that time.
Here are a few links to get a better sense of Spencer, his background and ethos:
Proffer's progressive thinking and results are highlighted in the Wall Street Journal article on the Citizens Of The World enterprise which he architected and produced. Spencer accomplished the goal of uniting the world through music with his co-writing and production of the title song, performed in 5 languages. This initiative brought together artists from multiple continents who have collectively sold 73 Million albums.
The execution of this vision was considered a major socio cultural accomplishment by many in the media including the WSJ and its readers. The article featured the video Spencer produced, embedded in the story.
Here is a snippet from the PBS aired documentary Special on this venture, via You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hs_P4yGUUg
Proffer, together with long time collaborator and Emmy award winning composer Larry Brown, won the Grand Prize Gold Medal at the 7th Annual Park City Film Music Festival for their his production, songwriting, scoring and music supervision work on the acclaimed documentary film, narrated by Dr. Maya Angelou entitled "As Seen Through These Eyes." It was financed by and premiered on The Sundance Channel: http://www.meteor17.com/as-seen-through-these-eyes/. ASTTE is a never before seen window into the surviving art and artists of the Holocaust. This film is more than a Holocaust study; it offers an incredible look at the survival mechanism of humankind and the profound need to communicate at any cost.
As a Music Director/ Supervisor, Spencer has handled 137 films/television projects in a proactive, hands-on capacity for most of the key motion picture studios and major broadcast television networks in the world (see IMDB for a detailed listing of his film and television music work).
In addition to implementing the creative elements, Spencer negotiated all talent, licensing and soundtrack elements on behalf of the respective studio, network or production company. Over 37 of these were nominated or won major industry awards, and includes projects with CBS, NBC, ABC, MTV, VH-1, Showtime Networks, TNT, USA Networks, Paramount, Touchstone, Lions Gate, 20th Century Fox and New Line Cinema. Additionally, he oversaw Showtime’s music interests on all levels for seven years, off campus as a business partner. He also oversaw music on select media projects for two other Viacom companies, MTV and VH1.
Proffer has served as a producer and/or an executive producer on thirty-four financed and distributed films.
A few highlights: Spencer served as a Producer & Cast Album Producer of the 4 time Tony nominated Broadway hit, "It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues“; the 2 time Emmy nominated television special, "Robbie Robertson, Coming Home", CBS mini-series “Shake Rattle and Roll” and HBO’s award-winning multi-cultural series “Happily Ever After,” as music producer/director, songwriter. He was also a Co-Executive Producer of “Gods and Monsters” which won Academy, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit and other major awards.
Spencer’s music career and credits are equally formidable, having produced and overseen projects involving: Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Beyonce and Destiny’s Child, Darius Rucker/Hootie & The Blowfish, KISS, Green Day, Godsmack, Aerosmith, Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton, Keith Urban, Britney Spears, 3 Doors Down, BB King, Heart, Cheap Trick, Jeff Beck, Brian May of Queen, Ritchie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Graham Nash, Alanis Morissette, Beach Boys, Quiet Riot and N’Sync to name a few. Amongst the 202 albums which Spencer has produced throughout his career, he helmed Tina Turner’s Acid Queen album from her role in The Who’s “Tommy” while serving as worldwide chief of A&R at United Artists as well as Quiet Riot’s “Metal Health”, the first debut hard rock album to reach #1 on the Billboard charts, selling over 7.5 million copies at that time.
As an early pioneer of laser light shows, Spencer also produced and mixed the million selling, #1 rock album, Billy Thorpe’s Children Of The Sun (which he also co-wrote). It was developed into computer-animated laser choreography and the visual enterprise was exhibited in planetariums across North America, which he also produced.
Spencer graduated law school from Loyola University School of Law at the age of 23 with honors. While playing guitar in his then band and doing West Coast touring, he earned a 3rd year scholarship from the Ahmanson Bank. He went on to become the youngest individual to pass the California Bar Exam at that time. His B.A. in Political Science (received at 20 years of age), is from U.C.L.A.
Spencer has taught numerous courses at U.C.L.A, USC and Syracuse University. In 2022, he was named a Visiting Professor at Nashville’s Belmont University. He co-helmed a semester long class in 2023 with Professor Ronald Stroop, wherein Proffer shared his creative journey as a successful producer, songwriter and entrepreneur. Spencer was asked back in 2024 and 2025 to repeat.
He served on the Dean’s Council at the American University School of Communication in Washington, DC.
Spencer Proffer is happily married to Judith and has two sons, Morgan and Sterling of whom he is immensely proud.
For additional Proffer history, please visit the website of his previous company, www.morlingmanor.com