Sam The Sham and The Pharoahs

Biography

Domingo 'Sam' Samudio, born on February 28 or March 6, 1937, in Dallas, Texas, began his musical journey early, making his singing debut in second grade on a live radio broadcast and later forming a high school band with Trini Lopez. After serving in the navy and studying voice and music history at Arlington State College (now University of Texas at Arlington), he formed his first band, The Pharaohs, in Dallas in 1961, inspired by the Egyptian costumes from Yul Brynner's portrayal in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments. The original lineup included Carl Miedke, Russell Fowler, Omar 'Big Man' Lopez, and Vincent Lopez, but after a unsuccessful single in 1962, the group disbanded. Samudio joined Andy and the Nightriders in Louisiana in 1963, adopting the stage name 'Sam the Sham' from a joke about his vocal style, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, where the band evolved into Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs with members David A. Martin (bass), Jerry Patterson (drums), Ray Stinnett (guitar), and saxophonist Butch Gibson.

The band's breakthrough came in late 1964 with their self-financed recording of 'Wooly Bully' on the XL label in Memphis, which MGM Records picked up, propelling it to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 and selling three million copies amid the British Invasion. Known for their Tex-Mex, blues, rock 'n' roll sound, campy Egyptian-themed attire, and hits like 'Lil' Red Riding Hood' (No. 2 in 1966) recorded with a new lineup from Tony Gee & The Gypsies (Tony 'Butch' Gerace, Frankie Carabetta, Billy Bennett, Andy Kuha), the group achieved worldwide success. Internal disputes led to lineup changes, evolving into The Sam the Sham Revue by 1967 and Samudio's solo album Sam, Hard and Heavy in 1970 featuring Duane Allman, the Dixie Flyers, and Memphis Horns. He continued with new bands into the 1970s, collaborating on the 1982 film The Border soundtrack with Ry Cooder and Freddy Fender.

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs' legacy endures through their novelty rock anthems that blended garage rock, R&B, and Tex-Mex flair, influencing party rock and leaving an indelible mark on 1960s pop culture with their theatrical performances and chart-topping singles.

Fun Facts

• Sam the Sham got his nickname from a joke at The Congo Club in Louisiana about his self-perceived lack of vocal ability, turning it into a flamboyant stage persona.
• The band name and Egyptian costumes were directly inspired by Yul Brynner's pharaoh in The Ten Commandments, leading to their campy, theatrical live shows.
• 'Wooly Bully' was initially self-pressed and sold at gigs before MGM turned it into a massive hit, defying the British Invasion dominance.
• After 'Wooly Bully,' Sam recruited an entirely new Pharaohs lineup from Tony Gee & The Gypsys playing in New York City's Metropole Cafe.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Yul Brynner - Stylistic inspiration for band name and Egyptian costumes (Film The Ten Commandments (1956))

Key Collaborators

• David A. Martin - Bassist in core Memphis lineup ('Wooly Bully' (1965)) [1963-1965]
• Jerry Patterson - Drummer in core lineup ('Wooly Bully' (1965)) [1963-1965]
• Ray Stinnett - Guitarist in core lineup ('Wooly Bully' (1965)) [1963-1965]
• Butch Gibson - Saxophonist in core lineup (Early hits including 'Wooly Bully') [1963-1965]
• Tony 'Butch' Gerace - Bass/vocals in New York lineup as new Pharaohs ('Lil' Red Riding Hood' (1966))
• Frankie Carabetta - Sax/keys/vocals in new Pharaohs ('Lil' Red Riding Hood' (1966))
• Duane Allman - Guitarist on solo album (Sam, Hard and Heavy (1970))
• Ry Cooder - Collaborator on film soundtrack (The Border soundtrack (1982)) [Early 1980s]
• Freddy Fender - Collaborator on film soundtrack (The Border soundtrack (1982)) [Early 1980s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia