Spalding studied the violin privately in Manhattan, New York City and Florence, Italy, before later moving on to the conservatories in Paris and Bologna, graduating from the latter with honors at fourteen years old.

Following his debut at the Nouveau Théâtre in Paris on June 6, 1906, he played in the principal towns of France, Austria, Germany, Italy, and England.

Although the New-York Tribune accused him of "rasping, raucous, snarling, unmusical sounds," Walter Damrosch (who conducted the performance) announced him as "the first great instrumentalist this country has produced.

[4] During the war Spalding served in the United States Army Air Service (at one point as aide-de-camp to then-Congressman Fiorello La Guardia) and would eventually be awarded the Cross of the Crown of Italy.

He was posted to London, for six weeks, and then served in North Africa until he was ordered to Naples where he was attached to the Psychological Warfare Division of SHAEF.

[8] In 1944, Spalding gave a legendary concert to thousands of terrified refugees stranded in a cave near Naples during a bombing raid.

[9] Spalding wrote several musical compositions including a suite for orchestra, two violin concerti and a String Quartet in E Minor.

At the end of his life, Spalding again appeared on LP records, this time budget issues by small labels, but performing more substantial fare.

A recital of short pieces issued on the Halo label, with accompanist Jules Wolffers, captures Spalding's voice as he announces two of the works.