Coffee Sergeants' Spencer Berry Dies

UPDATE: Spencer Berry, age 44, died on Wednesday November 23. Cause of death is yet undetermined , but KT Gardner of the Nancy Fly Agency where Berry's wife Renee worked says, "he had suffered from epilepsy since childhood and they believe he suffered a seizure but the exact cause is still being determined."

Gardner also wrote: "Spencer had been in the Austin music scene since 1985 as a performer, songwriter, DJ, engineer, roadie, and all-round music scene aficionado. He made a lot of fine friends in different areas in the music, film, and theater industries and had loved every minute."

"Coming together in 1989, singer/guitarist Carey Bowman, keyboardist/guitarist Mike Barnett, bassist Spencer Berry and drummer Doug Spinks wasted no time in distinguishing themselves with an expert blend of jangly guitar pop, wide-ranging folk and trippy psychedelia. As strong onstage as in the studio, the band's music stands out from other Austin acts as much for its relaxing groove as for its use of Middle Eastern licks and tones. After a couple of self-released cassettes, the Sergeants released the excellent Moonlight Towers on now-defunct local label Dejadisc. It garnered them national airplay and allowed them to briefly tour. After a hiatus for the latter half of the '90s, the band has returned, self-releasing what may be their masterpiece: the tuneful, beautiful The Blessing House."

Spencer Berry grew up in Liberty Hill and the Austin area, and resided in South Austin with his family for the last twenty years. In addition to his tenure as bassist for the Coffee Sergeants, Berry also played with the Wiggles and drummed for BlueCat Bardo. Friends say that Bardo always told his wife Renee that he wanted folks to celebrate his life, not mourn the loss and remember all the good times and music. According to Gardner, "Spencer always said, 'If it isn’t fun, it isn’t worth it!"