By Blanca Gonzalez / STAFF WRITER

2:00 a.m. December 29, 2008

Steve Spencer may not have been Brazilian by birth, but in San Diego, his name was synonymous with Carnaval, Brazil's renowned festival marking the beginning of Lent.

The countless revelers who have enjoyed San Diego's annual Brazilian Carnaval have Mr. Spencer to thank for the chance to experience samba and other Brazilian rhythms.

Mr. Spencer credited the 1959 foreign film “Black Orpheus” with piquing his interest in Brazil. After a visit to the country several years later, he became even more enamored with the music and culture and made it his mission to bring the flavor of Brazil to San Diego.

Mr. Spencer started Brazilian Promotions in the late 1980s, and the organization evolved to promote and produce programs featuring a variety of musical genres including Latin, African, reggae, Cajun and blues.

Mr. Spencer died of pulmonary fibrosis Dec. 14 at Sharp Hospital in San Diego. He was 60.

Mr. Spencer often said that seeing “Black Orpheus” changed his life, enthralling him with the colorful sights and music of Brazil. A visit to Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval in 1987 inspired him to bring the experience to San Diego, he wrote in an entry on his Web site.

“It became my passion to bring some of that happiness, joy, and celebration of life to San Diego. In 1993, we promoted our first Carnaval in San Diego and have worked over the years to make San Diego's Carnaval the best Carnaval outside Brazil,” he wrote.

Mr. Spencer partnered with Christine Portella and the two brought several Brazilian artists to San Diego. They worked as entertainment coordinators for special events including San Diego Street Scene, Blue Sky Productions and Calle Diez Latin Music Festival.

“He had such a positive energy and was so passionate about Brazilian culture and music,” said Street Scene founder Rob Hagey.

Hagey said Mr. Spencer and Portella understood his vision for Street Scene when they started working with him in the mid-1990s. “Their passion and vision changed the whole vibe. We incorporated mariachis, belly dancers, Brazilian music . . . They were very influential in bringing artists like Olodum, Gilberto Gil and Renni Flores,” Hagey said.

Mr. Spencer was born Oct. 2, 1948, in San Diego to Betty Bonita Davis and Barney Spencer. He graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1966 and attended San Diego State University.

Longtime friend Victor Crawford has known Mr. Spencer since the two were growing up in southeastern San Diego. “He was highly intelligent. I taught him to play chess one summer, but when I came back from college the next year I couldn't beat him. He went way beyond me. He played in national tournaments,” Crawford said.

Mr. Spencer worked for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for nearly 30 years before retiring a few months ago because of illness.

Friend and colleague Gaspar Oliveira used to be Mr. Spencer's supervisor.

“Steve was a champion of civil rights. He was an outstanding employee, a very dedicated worker,” Oliveira said.

Mr. Spencer's interests included researching his genealogy and playing in a Brazilian band. In addition to Brazil, his travels took him to Kenya, Zanzibar, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Haiti.

Mr. Spencer is survived by a sister, Susan Christine Spencer of Scripps Ranch; two nephews, a grandnephew and longtime companion Frieda Brown of Kenya.

Services were held Dec. 22 at St. John Catholic Church in Lemon Grove.