Lew Spence

Composer Lew Spence remains best remembered for his long-running collaboration with husband-and-wife lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman, an association that yielded Frank Sinatra's classic "Nice 'n' Easy." Born Lewis Sifka in Cedarhurst, NY, on June 29, 1920, he battled asthma throughout adolescence, ultimately relocating to Arizona in an effort to improve his health. There he played piano in local mining-town nightspots, and upon returning to New York City in the late '40s, he toured the supper club circuit, including extended residencies at the St. Regis Hotel and the Maisonette Room. In 1951 Spence settled in Beverly Hills, appearing at the Little Club while launching his songwriting career in tandem with lyricist Bob Russell. In time, Spence began collaborating with lyricists Alan Bergman and Marilyn Keith, introducing them in 1956. Romance blossomed, and as Bergman prepared to propose marriage, he and Spence collaborated on "That Face," which the lyricist offered to Keith as an engagement gift. They wed in 1958, the same year Fred Astaire recorded the song for his Emmy Award-winning NBC television special An Evening with Fred Astaire. Spence reunited with the Bergmans to author "Nice 'n' Easy," the title cut of Sinatra's acclaimed 1960 LP. The tune earned Grammy Award nominations in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories, and Sinatra also recorded the team's "Sleep Warm" and "Ol' MacDonald." Other notable Spence compositions include "So Long, My Love" and "I've Never Left Your Arms" -- Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, and Nat King Cole all recorded his songs, and on the encouragement of Broadway composer Lehman Engel, he later crafted his own lyrics as well. Spence died at his Los Angeles home on January 9, 2008. ~ Jason Ankeny