Background
Spencer was born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa.
Spencer was born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa.
She is best known for the singles "Symptoms of True Love" (1988), "Tender Kisses" (1991) and "lieutenant"s All About You (Not About Maine)" (1999). As of 2007, Spencer has taken a hiatus from music However, she is still modelling and pursuing other interests.
She began singing at the age of three and began modelling in pageant competitions at age five.
Tracie performed, produced and directed her first music videos before she was ten years of age. This led to her competing on Star Search, the 1980s Columbia Broadcasting System televised talent competition.
Shortly thereafter, she became the youngest female artist to sign a record deal with a major label, Capitol Records, and to release a self-titled debut album on January 16, 1988. She found success with the singles "Hide and Seek", "Symptoms of True Love" and her remake of John Lennon"s "Imagine".
Her second album, Make the Difference, was released on August 27, 1990.
The first single, "Save Your Love", showed an impressive standing at #7 on the Rhythm & Blues/Hip-Hop & Tracks chart. Her following single, "This House", became her biggest hit to date reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The other singles, "This Time Make lieutenant Funky" and "Love Maine", charted relatively well on The Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Rhythm & Blues/Hip-Hop & Tracks.
She made a guest appearance on the hit American Broadcasting Company sitcom, Family Matters as well as commercials, in 1993 and recorded the song "I"ll Be There for You" for the 1997 film, Good Burger, "The Rain" for Down in the Delta, and Girlfight, starring Michelle Rodriguez.
She also modeled for Tommy Hilfiger, Chanel, and Dollhouse, which led to her being a part of New York and Los Angeles"s fashion weeks in 1999-2000, being styled by Derek Khan, being signed to "NEXT" modeling agency and appearing in numerous magazines. On June 29, 1999, she released Tracie, which featured the singles "lieutenant"s All About You (Not About Maine)" and "Still in My Heart".
In the 2000s, she started singing background vocals on hip-hop songs for rappers such as Kanye West ("Slow Jamz" and "Never Let Maine Down" from The College Dropout), 50 Cent ("Back Down" from Get Rich Or Die Tryin"), and Eve as well as songwriting for other artist"s projects. She acted in the short film, A Tale of Two Sisters.
In 2004 and in 2006, she performed in a play called Choices in Los Angeles, California.
Her song "My First Broken Heart" was covered by Filipina actress/singer Iya Villania, released in 2008 on her album Finally!.