Biography
Sam Myers was born on February 19, 1936, in Laurel, Mississippi. At age seven, he developed juvenile cataracts, leaving him legally blind for life despite corrective surgery; he learned Braille and could only make out shapes and shadows. Myers became interested in music as a schoolboy in Jackson, Mississippi, mastering trumpet and drums well enough to earn a scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. By night, he immersed himself in the vibrant South Side club scene, sitting in with legendary blues artists such as Jimmy Rogers, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Hound Dog Taylor, Robert Lockwood Jr., and Elmore James[2][4].
Myers began his professional career as a drummer for Elmore James, playing with him regularly from 1952 until James's death in 1963 and contributing to many historic Chess Records sessions. In 1956, Myers wrote and recorded his most famous single, "Sleeping in the Ground," which would later be covered by Blind Faith, Eric Clapton, and Robert Cray. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Myers performed extensively on the Chitlin' Circuit, fronted the Mississippi Delta Blues Band from 1979 to 1982, and toured internationally with Sylvia Embry and the Mississippi All-Stars Blues Band[2][4].
A major career resurgence came in 1986 when Myers joined Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets as their featured vocalist and harmonica player, a partnership that lasted until his death in 2006. Myers's powerful, soulful vocals and expressive blues harp became hallmarks of the band's sound, earning them W.C. Handy Awards and international acclaim. Myers's legacy lies in his authentic Delta blues style, his innovative harmonica work, and his role as a bridge between classic blues traditions and modern blues performance[2][1][3].
Fun Facts
- Sam Myers was legally blind from age seven due to juvenile cataracts, but this never hindered his musical career[2][4].
- His song "Sleeping in the Ground" became a blues standard, covered by major artists including Blind Faith and Eric Clapton[2][4].
- Myers was a featured artist on Bob Dylan's 'Theme Time Radio Hour' in an episode themed around sleep, highlighting his lasting impact[2].
- He toured Scandinavia as a solo artist with the Swedish band Bloosblasters shortly before his death[2].
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Elmore JAmes - Myers was James's regular drummer and collaborator, learning blues performance and recording techniques directly from him. (Chess Records sessions, live performances) [1952-1963]
- Muddy Waters - Influence through club performances and informal mentorship during Myers's early years in Chicago. (South Side Chicago club jams) [1950s]
Key Collaborators
- Anson Funderburgh - Band leader and guitarist; Myers was featured vocalist and harmonica player in Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets. (Albums: 'Sins', 'Rack 'Em Up', 'Change In My Pocket') [1986-2006]
- Sylvia Embry - Touring partner in the Mississippi All-Stars Blues Band. (Mississippi All-Stars Blues Band tours) [1970s-1980s]
- Mississippi Delta Blues Band - Fronted the band and recorded with them. (Mississippi Delta Blues Band recordings) [1979-1982]
Artists Influenced
- Eric Clapton - Covered Myers's song "Sleeping in the Ground," demonstrating Myers's influence on blues-rock musicians. ("Sleeping in the Ground" (Blind Faith, Eric Clapton solo)) [1969, later years]
- Robert Cray - Covered "Sleeping in the Ground," citing Myers's songwriting as influential. ("Sleeping in the Ground" covers) [1980s-2000s]
Source: Wikipedia
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Haunted Heart | 1993-03-09 | Album |
| Don't Go Near The Water | 1991-01-01 | Album |
| Feelin' Good Train | 1994-07-07 | Album |
| Politics, Religion And Her | 1996-01-01 | Album |
| Sammy Kershaw - The Definitive Collection | 2004-01-01 | Album |
| Labor Of Love | 1997-01-01 | Album |
| I Finally Found Someone | 2001-04-13 | Album |
| Better Than I Used to Be | 2010-08-31 | Album |
| My Very Special Guests (Legacy Edition) | 1979-01-01 | Album |
| Greatest Songs for Guilty Pleasures | 2012-01-17 | Album |
| All in the Same Boat | 2013-05-28 | Album |
| I Won't Back Down | 2015-06-09 | Album |
| Maybe Not Tonight | 1999-01-01 | Album |
| The Hits / Chapter One | 1995-01-01 | Album |
| Swamp Poppin' | 2017-09-08 | Album |
Top Tracks
- She Don't Know She's Beautiful (Haunted Heart)
- Queen Of My Double Wide Trailer (Haunted Heart)
- Third Rate Romance (Feelin' Good Train)
- Cadillac Style (Don't Go Near The Water)
- Vidalia (Politics, Religion And Her)
- She Don't Know She's Beautiful (Sammy Kershaw - The Definitive Collection)
- Yard Sale (Don't Go Near The Water)
- Love of My Life
- Don't Go Near The Water (Don't Go Near The Water)
- Love Of My Life (Labor Of Love)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Sammy Kershaw has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2025 | 14:09 | Sleeping in the Groundfrom ACE 45 | The Blues Breakdown |