After graduating from San Francisco State University Spires, was cast in the beat poetry stage play, Arthur Sheridan’s “The San Francisco Story, starring legendary jazz saxophonist John Handy. After starring in a number of Bay Area plays Spires and then partner and fellow S.F.S.U graduate Donald Lacy, rallied a hand-full of fellow actors and formed what Spires calls “one of the leading independent theatre companies in the Bay Area at that time.” They called this clique Full Circle Theatre Collective. “We were already trained actors, writers, directors and spoken word artists," Spires asserts. "Our people’s stories needed to be told and we wanted to find ways to do the telling.”

Three theatre seasons and 15 primarily original and critically acclaimed productions later, that he either wrote, produced, starred in, directed or all of the above, Spires was an experienced, all-around theatre artist. “We felt like we could do it all and set out to prove it!” Spires reflects. “We didn’t let money, environment or circumstances stop us from producing. In those days the show was everything. We lived to perform.” But by 1986 Spires was searching for another art form to explore. Again, it was time to try something different.

It’s February 1987. The place is San Francisco’s Burial Clay Theatre. The Bay Area Black Comedy Competition is born. This groundbreaking showcase was destined to change the comedy business forever and that’s exactly what it did. Since it’s inception, The BABCCF has helped launch the careers of many of today’s most visible urban comedians and most notable film and television stars including: Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, Rush Hour’s Chris Tucker, the Friday films Don D.C. Curry and Mike Epps, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper’s Mark Curry, HBO’s D. L. Hughley, MTV’s Nick Cannon, “Queen of Comedy” Laura Hayes, BET’s Arnez J., touring phenom Katt Williams, Sheryl Underwood and others. I

n it’s over 20 year history, the Competition has encouraged the Hollywood industry, club owners and promoters nationally and worldwide, to recognize the genius of our artists and give comedy-lovers what they want. “Historically, audiences across the board have always loved our comedians. In the mid-eighties, when we started, only a rare few ever got the opportunity to showcase their talents at “A” comedy clubs. Even fewer got paid bookings. Nearly 23 years and over 20 congressional, state and mayoral commendations, citations, proclamations and resolutions (including the Oakland, Ca Key To The City at age 30) later Spires remains at the vanguard of that movement that he was key in ushering in. I

n 1991, after several years of learning the business of comedy (including a brief stint performing stand up) Spires packed up the company and moved to Los Angeles. Along with management clients like D. L Hughley and Laura Hayes, he also brought the success and national notoriety of the Competition. Those “calling cards” gave him an edge in this newly forming area of the business. Spires quickly became known as one of the few professionals in the country knowledgeable in this new brand of African American stand up. He consulted Def Comedy Jam for its first three seasons. By the second season of Def Jam, Spires was recruited by BET. He became an executive talent consultant at the inception of its long running Comic View. Spires booked his then client D. L. Hughley, as the original host. Spires would consult Comic View for six seasons. He returned to BET along with wife Rhonda, as producer for the 2000/2001 season.

During his years with Comic View, Spires was instrumental in its development and in bringing many of its talents to the show, including Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Sommore, Laura Hayes, Don “DC” Curry and others. He was manager and consultant to many of the comedians who regularly appeared on national television during that period. It was that time and climate that spawned the birth of later tours such as the Def Comedy tours, Kings Of Comedy tours and others. The business of Black Comedy had come into its own. Careers, including Spires,’ were being built on both sides of the camera.

To date, Spires has steadily pushed the envelope on his talents, his skills and his professional experiences and skill sets. His latest feature film “TEARS OF A CLOWN,” which he wrote and directed. Spires produced “Tears Of A Clown” along with his wife Rhonda. He also co-starred in the film along with management client Don “D.C.” Curry and screen veteran William L. Johnson. “Tears” is a dramatic comedy about the rise, fall and redemption of a Black stand up comedian. Nominated for Best feature film at the 2006 Pan African Film Festival and an Official Selection in the 2007 Oakland International Film Festival, Tears Of A Clown is being released in 2008. Spires’ first feature film, “TWO DEGREES,” (Artisan Entertainment) which Spires also wrote, produced, directed and co-starred in (with Curry and Johnson), was executive produced by Spires' wife Rhonda L. Spires and long-time management client Don “DC” Curry. In 2002 The Spires' produced their first TV special, UPN Network’s “McDonald’s Presents The Bay Area Black Comedy Competition.” Additionally, along with wife Rhonda and D.C. Curry, Spires produced the DVD comedy special and CD, “DON “D.C.“ CURRY: NERVOUS BREAKDOWN LIVE.”

In 2003, in conjunction with The Bay Area Black Comedy Competition & Festival and LA Jones and Associates, Spires established the InSpired Artist Awards to celebrate the achievement of individuals and organizations that demonstrate excellence in their chosen field of endeavor and thereby providing positive images of the African American experience. Since its inception, the awards have honored over 40 distinguished individuals and organization in our community.

In 2005 and 2006 Spires’ Full Circle Entertainment, in association with R.A.S. Productions, launched the theatre production of “ALI: THE MAN, THE, MYTH, THE PEOPLES CHAMPION,” the critically acclaimed and award winning/NAACP Image Award nominated one man stage play, starring actor/comedian Vincent Cook, written by Cook and Spires and directed by Spires. The show currently tours colleges and universities all across the country.

Spires was honored in July 2007 at BLACK EXPO/SEEDS’ Twelfth Annual African America Excellence In Business Awards & Scholarship Gala as one of the 101+ Black Men Making a Difference In Our Community. He is also a member of the 100 Black Men Of The Bay Area and Cal-Pac.

In 2008, as part of their continuing effort to give back to their community, Spires and wife Rhonda formed Full Vision Arts Foundation as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization committed to helping at-risk youth reach their full potential via the creation, production and promotion of artistic endeavors and by developing artists that reflect the many faces of the African American experience and the cultural diversity of our community.

Currently, Spires is a featured columnist for the historic Oakland Post Newspaper. He is also a columnist for the Humor Mill, a comedy and entertainment industry Magazine. As “The Comedy Doctor,” he sheds light and insight to a circulation of over 700,000 subscribers, including comedians, actors, and other readers, on the often obscure business of comedy. A published poet for over three decades, Spires poetry can be experienced in his poetry blog at: www.MySpace.com/Phruishun. His poetry, his comedy Doctor Column and much of Spires’ writings will be available for viewing on his website: http://www.TonySpires.com. An avid music-lover and part-time musician, Spires is also the featured conga drummer and percussionist of several Los Angeles-area funk and soul bands.