Joe Sample

Biography

Joseph Leslie Sample was born on February 1, 1939, in Houston, Texas, where he grew up in a fertile musical Creole neighborhood enriched by zydeco and the sounds of Louis Armstrong. He began playing piano at age five and quickly absorbed the diverse musical traditions surrounding him—jazz, gospel, blues, Latin, and classical forms. During his high school years in the 1950s, Sample formed the Swingsters with saxophonist Wilton Felder and drummer Nesbert "Stix" Hooper. While studying at Texas Southern University, he met trombonist Wayne Henderson, and together these musicians evolved their group through the Modern Jazz Sextet before officially establishing the Jazz Crusaders in 1960, modeling themselves after Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. The group relocated to Los Angeles and quickly gained prominence, releasing their first recording "Freedom Sounds" in 1961 and establishing themselves as innovators in hard bop with their distinctive front-line combination of saxophone and trombone, complemented by Sample's funky, rhythmically appealing acoustic piano playing.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Sample became one of the electric keyboard's pioneers, transitioning from acoustic to electric piano as the Jazz Crusaders evolved into simply The Crusaders and embraced jazz-funk fusion. The group achieved commercial success with the hit single "Street Life" and its accompanying 1979 album. Simultaneously, Sample pursued a prolific solo career beginning with his 1969 debut "Fancy Dance" and became one of Los Angeles's most sought-after studio musicians, appearing on recordings by an impressive array of artists including Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Anita Baker, and many others. He remained with The Crusaders until their final album in 1991, with a reunion album appearing in 2003 titled "Rural Renewal."

Sample's legacy as a jazz innovator spans more than four decades, establishing him as a critical bridge between hard bop traditions and contemporary jazz fusion. His ability to synthesize gospel, blues, jazz, Latin, and classical elements created a distinctive sound that influenced generations of jazz musicians. He passed away on September 12, 2014, at age 75, leaving behind a catalog of work that demonstrates his versatility as a keyboardist, composer, and bandleader who helped shape the sound of modern jazz.

Fun Facts

• Sample started playing piano at just five years old and grew up in a musically rich Creole neighborhood in Houston where he was exposed to zydeco and the sounds of jazz legends like Louis Armstrong.
• He was one of the earliest pioneers of the electric keyboard in jazz, beginning to use electric piano in the early 1960s when the instrument was still relatively new, helping to define the sound of jazz fusion.
• Sample's father fought in World War I and shared stories with his son about hearing jazz in Europe, which influenced Sample's understanding of jazz history and its global significance.
• Despite studying at Texas Southern University for three years, Sample never completed his degree, instead choosing to pursue his music career full-time with The Jazz Crusaders, a decision that proved remarkably successful.

Associated Acts

• The Crusaders - piano (1960–1971)
• Harold Land Quintet - piano
• Joe Sample and the Soul Committee - original
• Legends - piano
• The Crusaders - keyboard, original, piano

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Louis Armstrong - Early musical influence from growing up in Houston's Creole neighborhood where Armstrong's music was prominent (General stylistic influence on jazz development) [1940s-1950s]
• Art Blakey - The Jazz Crusaders modeled themselves after Blakey's Jazz Messengers as a primary stylistic influence (Jazz Messengers recordings served as inspiration for The Jazz Crusaders' formation) [1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Wilton Felder - Co-founding member of The Jazz Crusaders, saxophonist and longtime bandmate (The Jazz Crusaders/The Crusaders albums (1960-1991, 2003)) [1950s-2003]
• Nesbert "Stix" Hooper - Co-founding member of The Jazz Crusaders, drummer and longtime bandmate (The Jazz Crusaders/The Crusaders albums (1960-1991, 2003)) [1950s-2003]
• Wayne Henderson - Co-founding member of The Jazz Crusaders, trombonist and longtime bandmate (The Jazz Crusaders/The Crusaders albums (1960-1991, 2003)) [1960-2003]
• Miles Davis - Guest appearances on Miles Davis recordings as a studio musician (Multiple Miles Davis recordings) [1970s-1980s]
• Joni Mitchell - Studio musician and collaborator on multiple recordings (Various Joni Mitchell albums) [1970s-1980s]
• David T. Walker - R&B guitarist collaborator (Swing Street Café (1981)) [1981]
• Steely Dan - Guest appearances on Steely Dan recordings (Multiple Steely Dan albums) [1970s-1980s]
• B.B. King - Guest appearances on B.B. King recordings (Multiple B.B. King albums) [1970s-1980s]
• George Benson - Guest appearances on George Benson recordings (Multiple George Benson albums) [1970s-1980s]
• Eric Clapton - Guest appearances on Eric Clapton recordings (Multiple Eric Clapton albums) [1970s-1980s]
• Anita Baker - Guest appearances on Anita Baker recordings (Multiple Anita Baker albums) [1980s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. One Day I Fly Away (Creole Love Call)
2. Everybody's Talking (Feeling Good)
3. Stone Groove (Pure)
4. In All My Wildest Dreams (Rainbow Seeker)
5. Rio De Janeiro Blue (Feeling Good)
6. U Turn (Spellbound)
7. Night Flight (Sample This)
8. Leading Me Back to You (Spellbound)
9. When I Need You (Feeling Good)
10. Seven Years of Good Luck (Spellbound)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #contemporary-jazz, #jazz