R.I.P. SPENCER GATES
When I first started writing my music column for the SUNY New Paltz school paper, The Oracle, I was lucky to get any publicist on the telephone. All I got was voicemail and hang-ups after my futile requests for product to review in “I Hate Music” (1995-1998). Spencer Gates, who I believe was working for Matador at the time, was one of the first publicists who took my phone call and sent me music. And when I started working at CMJ, she always kept me in her loop during her brief stint at Atlantic and when she ran her own PR boutique, Lady Talkalot (I still treasure those rare Os Mutantes reissues that she sent me back in 1999). Hearing of her passing following her valiant battle with breast cancer really brought a tear to my eye today, and I would like to extend my condolences to her friends and family who are no doubt deeply affected by this great loss. Spencer Gates was one of the best publicists in this business, the measuring stick by which all of these cocky young media types should be held up to by their pointy little toes. -Ed.
The following obit is from the Bostonist. Rest in peace, Spencer. You will be greatly missed.
Ann Spencer Gates, of Cambridge, died peacefully at home on July 6, 2008, after a courageous two-year battle with breast cancer. She was a fixture in the Boston music scene, co-hosting “The Mystery Girls” on WMBR for several years. The show welcomed bands like Mission of Burma, Lemonheads, Nervous Eaters, Sorry, and Moving Targets, often alternating punk, country, and other unexpected genres. Gates left Boston and lived in New York, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles, working with artists such as Liz Phair, Pavement, Cat Power, Bettie Serveert, The Fall, Mark Eitzel, and Yo La Tengo. She returned to Boston in 2005 and was embraced by old friends and new.
According to Tom Johnston, manager of Buffalo Tom and Bettie Serveert, “Spencer was one of the greatest, most dazzling people I ever had privilege to get to know. She had great taste, a wicked sense of humor, and was so extroverted that many of the friends I have today, I credit directly to her and her charm and gift of gab.” Donations in Spencer’s memory can be made to Zumix, 202 Maverick St., E. Boston, MA 02128 or Future Chefs, c/o Third Sector New England, 89 South St., Suite 700, Boston, MA 02111-2680. Services will be held at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge on Wednesday, July 9, at 11 am. All are welcome.
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