Frank Sampedro
Encyclopedia
Frank "Poncho" Sampedro (born February 25, 1949) is an American guitarist and member of the rock and roll
band Crazy Horse
, known mainly for its longtime collaboration with singer-songwriter Neil Young
.
Born in West Virginia
and raised in Detroit, Sampedro moved to California
as soon as he was old enough to drive. Having spent the next few years playing in different bands, Sampedro joined Crazy Horse in 1975 to record Zuma, after being introduced to the band by Billy Talbot
in November 1974, exactly two years after the death of original Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten
.
With the addition of Sampedro on rhythm guitar, Crazy Horse developed a new, rigid sound (as opposed to the more free-form approach of the Whitten era) that served as a seminal influence in the development of grunge
and noise rock
while also enabling Neil Young to focus more on his lead playing. Although Crazy Horse did not work with Young for much of the 1980s, Sampedro remained an integral part of Young's circle throughout the epoch, playing on several solo albums (most notably Freedom) and tours; his proficiency in emerging computer technology allowed him to cultivate a second career with the Young organization that would blossom in the years thereafter. Crazy Horse last collaborated with Young on 2003's Greendale, which Sampedro did not play on for aesthetic reasons; however, he joined the band for their contemporaneous tour.
For many years, he worked as an engineer on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
under bandleader Kevin Eubanks
, running the ensemble's MIDI board. Sampedro retired from the program in 2010 to raise fruit (including bananas, mangoes, pineapples and papayas).
and the Gibson ES-335
, with a heavy set of strings (0.055' to 0.012' with a wound G string ).
As a member of Neil Young & Crazy Horse:
Contributions to other Neil Young albums:
Contributions to records by other artists:
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
, known mainly for its longtime collaboration with singer-songwriter Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
.
Born in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and raised in Detroit, Sampedro moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as soon as he was old enough to drive. Having spent the next few years playing in different bands, Sampedro joined Crazy Horse in 1975 to record Zuma, after being introduced to the band by Billy Talbot
Billy Talbot
Billy Talbot is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist of Crazy Horse.-Music career:Born in New York City, Talbot started his musical career singing on street corners at the age of 14. He moved to New Jersey with his family the next year, and by 17 he had moved to...
in November 1974, exactly two years after the death of original Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten
Danny Whitten
Daniel Ray Whitten was an American musician and songwriter best known for his work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and for the song "I Don't Want To Talk About It", a hit for Rita Coolidge, Rod Stewart and Everything but the Girl.- Biography :Whitten was born on May 8, 1943, in Columbus, Georgia....
.
With the addition of Sampedro on rhythm guitar, Crazy Horse developed a new, rigid sound (as opposed to the more free-form approach of the Whitten era) that served as a seminal influence in the development of grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
and noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
while also enabling Neil Young to focus more on his lead playing. Although Crazy Horse did not work with Young for much of the 1980s, Sampedro remained an integral part of Young's circle throughout the epoch, playing on several solo albums (most notably Freedom) and tours; his proficiency in emerging computer technology allowed him to cultivate a second career with the Young organization that would blossom in the years thereafter. Crazy Horse last collaborated with Young on 2003's Greendale, which Sampedro did not play on for aesthetic reasons; however, he joined the band for their contemporaneous tour.
For many years, he worked as an engineer on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
under bandleader Kevin Eubanks
Kevin Eubanks
Kevin Tyrone Eubanks is an American jazz guitarist and composer who was the leader of the Tonight Show Band with host Jay Leno from 1995 to 2010. He also led The Primetime Band on the short-lived The Jay Leno Show.- Personal background :Eubanks was born into a musical family...
, running the ensemble's MIDI board. Sampedro retired from the program in 2010 to raise fruit (including bananas, mangoes, pineapples and papayas).
Gear
Sampedro usually uses the Gibson Les PaulGibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
and the Gibson ES-335
Gibson ES-335
The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline arched-top semi-acoustic electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of its body...
, with a heavy set of strings (0.055' to 0.012' with a wound G string ).
Discography
As a member of Crazy Horse:- Crazy MoonCrazy Moon (Crazy Horse album)-Track listing:#"She's Hot" - 3:11#"Going Down Again" - 3:26#"Lost and Lonely Feelin'" - 3:10#"Dancin' Lady" - 3:23#"End Of The Line" - 3:10#"New Orleans" - 3:11...
(1978) - Gone Dead Train: The Best of Crazy Horse 1971-1989 (2005)
- Scratchy: The Complete Reprise RecordingsScratchy: The Complete Reprise RecordingsScratchy: The Complete Reprise Recordings is a 2005 compilation album released by the group Crazy Horse. It is a re-issue of the first two Crazy Horse albums, Crazy Horse and Loose, on Reprise Records, with bonus tracks and the first single by the pre-Crazy Horse group Danny & The Memories.-Disc...
(2005)
As a member of Neil Young & Crazy Horse:
- ZumaZuma (album)Zuma is the seventh studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his second with Crazy Horse, released in 1975. Some believe the album was named after Zuma Beach in Malibu; however, it seems more logical that the title comes from Montezuma, as he is featured prominently in the song Cortez The...
(1975) - Rust Never SleepsRust Never SleepsRust Never Sleeps is an album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse released in 1979. The bulk of the album was recorded live at San Francisco's Cow Palace, with overdubs added. Audience noise is removed as much as possible, although it is clearly audible at certain points, most noticeably on the opening...
(1979) - Live RustLive RustLive Rust is a live album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, recorded during his fall 1978 Rust Never Sleeps tour. The show at the Cow Palace, San Francisco was filmed and was the performance used in the concert film, Rust Never Sleeps; however, the album Live Rust was composed of performances...
(live, 1979) - Re·ac·torRe-ac-torRe-ac-tor is the eleventh studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, and his third with Crazy Horse, released in 1981. The album married the electric guitar crunch of the late '70s Crazy Horse sound with early '80s new wave rhythms...
(1981) - LifeLife (1987 album)Life is the sixteenth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his fourth with Crazy Horse, Young's first with his erstwhile backing band since 1981's Re-ac-tor, and Young's last release on the Geffen label....
(1987) - Ragged GloryRagged GloryRagged Glory is the twentieth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his fifth with Crazy Horse, released in 1990.The album revisits the hard rock style previously explored on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and Zuma...
(1990) - ArcArc (album)Arc is a composition of feedback, guitar noise, and vocal fragments that was realized from various shows on the 1991 Neil Young and Crazy Horse US tour, which was originally released with Weld in a special-edition 3-CD set called Arc-Weld...
/WeldWeld (album)Weld is a live album and concert video by Neil Young & Crazy Horse released in 1991, comprising performances recorded on the tour to promote the Ragged Glory album...
(live, 1991) - Sleeps With AngelsSleeps with AngelsSleeps With Angels is the twenty-second studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his sixth with Crazy Horse, released on the Warner Bros. Records/Reprise label....
(1994) - Broken ArrowBroken Arrow (album)Broken Arrow is the twenty-fourth studio album by Neil Young, and his seventh with Crazy Horse. The first three songs are in the form of long, structured jams...
(1996) - Year of the HorseYear of the HorseYear of the Horse is a 1997 documentary directed by Jim Jarmusch following Neil Young and Crazy Horse on their 1996 tour.-Eponymous album:Year of the Horse is also a live album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse released in 1997...
(live, 1997)
Contributions to other Neil Young albums:
- American Stars 'N Bars (1977)
- Comes A TimeComes a TimeComes a Time is the ninth album by Neil Young, and a return to the country/folk rock sound of Harvest . Many of the tracks include harmony vocals from Nicolette Larson. Originally, it had started out as a solo record, but when Young played it for Reprise executives they asked him if he wouldn't...
(1977) - TransTrans (album)Trans is the twelfth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1982. Recorded partially and released during his notorious Geffen era in the 1980s, Trans baffled many Neil Young fans. Some suggested that the album could be a satirical message that Young was trying to send about the...
(1982) - This Note's For YouThis Note's for YouThis Note's for You is the seventeenth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1988. It was originally credited to Young and the Bluenotes. Most of the album's concept centered around the commercialism of rock and roll, and tours in particular...
(1988) - FreedomFreedom (Neil Young album)Freedom has received mainly positive reviews. Allmusic's William Ruhlmann rated the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, explaining that it "was the album Neil Young fans knew he was capable of making, but feared he would never make again." He also stated that "there were tracks that harked...
(1989) - Are You Passionate?Are You Passionate?Are You Passionate? is the twenty-sixth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, the only album to feature Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and his eighth with Crazy Horse, released in 2002. It represents Young's foray into soul music, not sounding like anything he had previously released...
(2002) - Chrome Dreams IIChrome Dreams IIChrome Dreams II is the thirty-first studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young. The album was released on October 23, 2007. The album is a sequel to Chrome Dreams, a legendary Neil Young album from 1977 that had originally been scheduled for release but was shelved in favor of American Stars 'N...
(2007)
Contributions to records by other artists:
- Glimmer, Kevin Salem's second solo album from 1996 (guitar);
- Harlem, a Shawn AmosShawn AmosShawn Ellis Amos is an American songwriter, singer, record producer, web personality and content creator, and pop culture commentator....
album released in 2000 (guitar).