Sam the Sham
Encyclopedia
Sam the Sham is the stage name
of the American
rock and roll
singer Domingo “Sam” Samudio (born 6 March 1937, Dallas, Texas
). Sam the Sham was known for his camp
robe and turban
and hauling his equipment in a 1952 Packard
hearse
with maroon velvet curtains. As the front man for The Pharaohs, he sang on several Top 40 hits in the mid-1960s, notably "Wooly Bully
" and "Li'l Red Riding Hood
".
descent, made his singing debut in second grade, representing his school in a radio broadcast. Later, he took up guitar
and formed a group with friends, one of whom was Trini Lopez
. After graduating from high school, Samudio joined the Navy
, where he was known as "Big Sam." He lived in Panama
for six years, until his discharge.
Back in the States, Samudio enrolled in college, "I was studying classical in the daytime and playing rock and roll at night" he recalled. "That lasted about two years, before I dropped out and became a carny
."
In Dallas in 1961, Sam formed "The Pharaohs," the name inspired from the costumes in Yul Brynner
's portrayal as pharaoh in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments
. The other members were Carl Medke, Russell Fowler, Omar "Big Man” Lopez and Vincent Lopez (no relation to Omar). In 1962 the group made a record that did not sell. The Pharaohs disbanded in 1962.
In May 1963, Vincent Lopez was playing for Andy and The Nightriders in Louisiana
. When their organist
quit, Sam joined. Andy and The Nightriders was Andy Anderson, David A. Martin
, Vincent Lopez and Sam. The Nightriders became house band at The Congo Club. It was here that Sam became "The Sham".
In June 1963, The Nightriders headed for Memphis, Tennessee
and became house band at The Diplomat. In late summer 1963, Andy Anderson and Vincent Lopez left to return to Texas. Sam and David A. Martin replaced them with Jerry Patterson and Ray Stinnett and changed the name to "Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs." Shortly thereafter, the band added saxophonist
Butch Gibson.
in Memphis. There, they recorded their first and biggest hit, "Wooly Bully", selling 3 million copies and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard charts
on 5 June 1965 at a time when American pop music charts were dominated by the British Invasion
. It was awarded a gold disc
.
Although "Wooly Bully" never reached #1, it lingered on the Billboard Hot 100
for 18 weeks, 14 of which were in the Top 40. It became the first Billboard "Number One Record of the Year" not to have topped a weekly Hot 100 and remained the only one for 35 years until Faith Hill
's "Breathe
" and Lifehouse
's "Hanging by a Moment
" in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
, Leonard Stogel, discovered Tony Gee & The Gypsys at the Metropole Cafe in Times Square, New York City
. The band were Tony "Butch" Gerace (bass guitar
and vocals
) Frankie Carabetta (keyboards
, saxophone and vocals
) Billy Bennett (drums and percussion) and Andy Kuha (guitar
and vocals
). It was this new set of Pharaohs that recorded "Li'l Red Riding Hood
". On the Hot 100, "Lil' Red Riding Hood" began its two-week peak at #2 the week of August 6, 1966, just as another fairy tale title, "The Pied Piper
" by Crispian St. Peters
, was ending its three-week peak at #4. The track did even better by Cash Box Magazine
's reckoning, reaching #1 the same week. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
.
A series of mostly novelty
tunes followed, all on the MGM
label, and kept the group on the charts into 1967. Titles included "The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin", "How Do You Catch A Girl", "I Couldn't Spell !!*@!" and "Oh That's Good, No That's Bad".
between Israel and Egypt, Sam changed to Sam the Sham Revue
. In 1970, Samudio went on his own and issued an Atlantic
album called Sam, Hard and Heavy that won the Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
in 1972. The album featured Duane Allman
on guitar, the Dixie Flyers and the Memphis Horns. He formed a new band in 1974. The early '80s found Sam working with Ry Cooder
and Freddy Fender
on the soundtrack
for the Jack Nicholson
film The Border.
On August 28, 1959 in Dallas, Texas he married Louise Smith. They had one son named Dimitrius Samudio, who was born on May 28, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. They divorced on May 16, 1968 in Dallas, Texas.
Today, Sam is a motivational speaker
and poet
, and still makes occasional concert appearances.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and roll
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...
singer Domingo “Sam” Samudio (born 6 March 1937, Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
). Sam the Sham was known for his camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
robe and turban
Turban
In English, Turban refers to several types of headwear popularly worn in the Middle East, North Africa, Punjab, Jamaica and Southwest Asia. A commonly used synonym is Pagri, the Indian word for turban.-Styles:...
and hauling his equipment in a 1952 Packard
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
hearse
Hearse
A hearse is a funerary vehicle used to carry a coffin from a church or funeral home to a cemetery. In the funeral trade, hearses are often called funeral coaches.-History:...
with maroon velvet curtains. As the front man for The Pharaohs, he sang on several Top 40 hits in the mid-1960s, notably "Wooly Bully
Wooly Bully
"Wooly Bully" is a popular song originally recorded by novelty rock 'n' roll band Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in 1965. Based on a standard 12-bar blues progression, it was written by the band's leader, Domingo "Sam" Samudio. It was released as a single on the Memphis-based Pen label and...
" and "Li'l Red Riding Hood
Li'l Red Riding Hood
"Li'l Red Riding Hood" was a 1966 song by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. It was the group's second top-10 hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966...
".
Early career
Samudio, who is of Mexican AmericanMexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
descent, made his singing debut in second grade, representing his school in a radio broadcast. Later, he took up guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and formed a group with friends, one of whom was Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez is an American singer, guitarist and actor.-Career:Lopez was born in Dallas, Texas, on Ashland Street in the Little Mexico neighborhood. He began his entertainment career in Dallas playing at the Vegas Club, a nightclub owned by Jack Ruby...
. After graduating from high school, Samudio joined the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, where he was known as "Big Sam." He lived in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
for six years, until his discharge.
Back in the States, Samudio enrolled in college, "I was studying classical in the daytime and playing rock and roll at night" he recalled. "That lasted about two years, before I dropped out and became a carny
Carny
Carny or carnie is a slang term used in North America and, along with showie, in Australia for a carnival employee, as well as the language they employ...
."
In Dallas in 1961, Sam formed "The Pharaohs," the name inspired from the costumes in Yul Brynner
Yul Brynner
Yul Brynner was a Russian-born actor of stage and film. He was best known for his portrayal of Mongkut, king of Siam, in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for the film version; he also played the role more than 4,500 times on...
's portrayal as pharaoh in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments (1956 film)
The Ten Commandments is a 1956 American epic film that dramatized the biblical story of the Exodus, in which the Hebrew-born Moses, an adopted Egyptian prince, becomes the deliverer of the Hebrew slaves. The film, released by Paramount Pictures in VistaVision on October 5, 1956, was directed by...
. The other members were Carl Medke, Russell Fowler, Omar "Big Man” Lopez and Vincent Lopez (no relation to Omar). In 1962 the group made a record that did not sell. The Pharaohs disbanded in 1962.
In May 1963, Vincent Lopez was playing for Andy and The Nightriders in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. When their organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
quit, Sam joined. Andy and The Nightriders was Andy Anderson, David A. Martin
David A. Martin
David A. Martin was a founding member and original bass player for the rock group Sam the Sham, and recorded all their early hits on MGM Records. Martin also co-wrote the group's #1 hit "Wooly Bully" which sold over three million records...
, Vincent Lopez and Sam. The Nightriders became house band at The Congo Club. It was here that Sam became "The Sham".
In June 1963, The Nightriders headed for Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
and became house band at The Diplomat. In late summer 1963, Andy Anderson and Vincent Lopez left to return to Texas. Sam and David A. Martin replaced them with Jerry Patterson and Ray Stinnett and changed the name to "Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs." Shortly thereafter, the band added saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Butch Gibson.
The breakthrough hit
After paying to record and press records to sell at gigs, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs wound up with the Pen labelRecord label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
in Memphis. There, they recorded their first and biggest hit, "Wooly Bully", selling 3 million copies and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
on 5 June 1965 at a time when American pop music charts were dominated by the British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
. It was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
Although "Wooly Bully" never reached #1, it lingered on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for 18 weeks, 14 of which were in the Top 40. It became the first Billboard "Number One Record of the Year" not to have topped a weekly Hot 100 and remained the only one for 35 years until Faith Hill
Faith Hill
Faith Hill is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S...
's "Breathe
Breathe (Faith Hill song)
"Breathe" is a country song by American recording artist Faith Hill, released as the first single from her 1999 album of the same name. The song was written by Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar. "Breathe" became Hill's 7th number one on the country music charts in the US. The song spent four weeks...
" and Lifehouse
Lifehouse (band)
Lifehouse is an American rock band from Los Angeles. The band came to mainstream prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their debut studio album, No Name Face. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, beating out Janet Jackson and Alicia...
's "Hanging by a Moment
Hanging by a Moment
"Hanging by a Moment" is a song by American alternative band Lifehouse. It was the first single released from their debut studio album, No Name Face . The track was written by Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade, who said that he wrote the song in about five minutes without thinking about what would...
" in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
Further successes
The Pharaohs' next releases - "Ju Ju Hand" and "Ring Dang Doo"- were minor successes. In late 1965, 11 months after "Wooly Bully", David A. Martin, Jerry Patterson, Ray Stinnett, and Butch Gibson left over a financial dispute. Sam's managerTalent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
, Leonard Stogel, discovered Tony Gee & The Gypsys at the Metropole Cafe in Times Square, New York City
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
. The band were Tony "Butch" Gerace (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) Frankie Carabetta (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, saxophone and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) Billy Bennett (drums and percussion) and Andy Kuha (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
). It was this new set of Pharaohs that recorded "Li'l Red Riding Hood
Li'l Red Riding Hood
"Li'l Red Riding Hood" was a 1966 song by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. It was the group's second top-10 hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966...
". On the Hot 100, "Lil' Red Riding Hood" began its two-week peak at #2 the week of August 6, 1966, just as another fairy tale title, "The Pied Piper
The Pied Piper (1960s song)
The Pied Piper was a British pop song written by the duo of Steve Duboff and Artie Kornfeld, who first recorded the song in 1965 as The Changin' Times. However, it was British pop singer Crispian St...
" by Crispian St. Peters
Crispian St. Peters
Crispian St. Peters was an English pop singer-songwriter, best known for his work in the 1960s, particularly his 1966 hits, "The Pied Piper" and "You Were on My Mind."-Early career:...
, was ending its three-week peak at #4. The track did even better by Cash Box Magazine
Cash Box magazine
Cashbox magazine was a weekly publication devoted to the music and coin-operated machine industries in the USA which was published from July 1942 to November 16, 1996...
's reckoning, reaching #1 the same week. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
A series of mostly novelty
Novelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
tunes followed, all on the MGM
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
label, and kept the group on the charts into 1967. Titles included "The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin", "How Do You Catch A Girl", "I Couldn't Spell !!*@!" and "Oh That's Good, No That's Bad".
Post-hit career
In 1967, three girls, Fran Curcio, Lorraine Gennaro, and Jane Anderson, joined as The Shamettes. The group traveled to Asia as Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs and The Shamettes. In late 1967, after Six-day WarSix-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
between Israel and Egypt, Sam changed to Sam the Sham Revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
. In 1970, Samudio went on his own and issued an Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
album called Sam, Hard and Heavy that won the Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
Grammy Award for Best Album Notes
The Grammy Award for Best Album Notes has been presented since 1964. From 1973 to 1976, a separate award was presented for Best Album Notes - Classical. Those awards are listed under those years below. The award recognizes albums with excellent liner notes...
in 1972. The album featured Duane Allman
Duane Allman
Howard Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician and the primary co-founder of the southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band...
on guitar, the Dixie Flyers and the Memphis Horns. He formed a new band in 1974. The early '80s found Sam working with Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
and Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
film The Border.
On August 28, 1959 in Dallas, Texas he married Louise Smith. They had one son named Dimitrius Samudio, who was born on May 28, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. They divorced on May 16, 1968 in Dallas, Texas.
Today, Sam is a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and still makes occasional concert appearances.