Big Sam (musician)
Encyclopedia
Sammie "Big Sam" Williams is a trombonist and band leader from New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been a member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
and currently leads Big Sam's Funky Nation. In youth he studied with educator and saxophonist Kidd Jordan
and at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
(NOCCA). Playing with the Dirty Dozen allowed him to meet and play with other touring bands and musicians such as Karl Denson, Dave Matthews
, Widespread Panic
and James Brown
. After one year with the Dirty Dozen Williams began a side project broadening his musical ambitions. In 2006, he played with Elvis Costello
and Allen Toussaint
on their grammy-nominated "the River in Reverse
" album and subsequent international tour. Over the years, Big Sam's Funky Nation would become his main band, touring both nationally, internationally, and at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Gathering of the Vibes
, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
, Voodoo Music Experience, South By Southwest
, Austin City Limits
, and others. Big Sam's Funky Nation is primarily a funk and rock that can also have elements of traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, acid jazz, dance, hard rock and even punk.
Sam Williams has a recurring role in a new HBO Original Series, Treme
scheduled to air in April 2010. The series follows residents of New Orleans, including musicians, chefs, Mardi Gras Indians and ordinary New Orleanians as they try to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane Katrina.
Williams learned only in adulthood that he is the great-grandson of Buddy Bolden
, the famed New Orleans cornetist.
In September 2006 Williams married long-time associate Shanekah Peterson, a former fellow student at NOCCA and owner of the New Orleans club, The Funky Butt.
In October 2010 Big Sam's Funky Nation will be performing at The Voodoo Experience
in New Orleans
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, brass band. The ensemble was established in 1977 by Benny Jones together with members of the Tornado Brass Band...
and currently leads Big Sam's Funky Nation. In youth he studied with educator and saxophonist Kidd Jordan
Kidd Jordan
Edward "Kidd" Jordan is an American jazz saxophonist and music educator from New Orleans, Louisiana....
and at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, or NOCCA, is a professional arts training center for secondary school-age children. NOCCA is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school offers instruction in creative writing, dance, media arts, music, theatre arts, and visual arts, with a summer culinary...
(NOCCA). Playing with the Dirty Dozen allowed him to meet and play with other touring bands and musicians such as Karl Denson, Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
, Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
and James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
. After one year with the Dirty Dozen Williams began a side project broadening his musical ambitions. In 2006, he played with Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
and Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern...
on their grammy-nominated "the River in Reverse
The River in Reverse
The River in Reverse is a 2006 collaboration between Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint.It received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.-Track listing:All songs written by Allen Toussaint unless otherwise indicated.# "On Your Way Down" – 4:54...
" album and subsequent international tour. Over the years, Big Sam's Funky Nation would become his main band, touring both nationally, internationally, and at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Gathering of the Vibes
Gathering of the Vibes
Gathering of the Vibes is an annual four-day music, camping and arts festival that celebrates the Grateful Dead & showcases a very diverse variety of music. Over the course of the event, styles often include; Funk, Bluegrass, Rock, Jam Band, Jazz, Reggae, R&B & Folk music. Since 1996, GOTV has...
, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana...
, Voodoo Music Experience, South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
, Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
, and others. Big Sam's Funky Nation is primarily a funk and rock that can also have elements of traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, acid jazz, dance, hard rock and even punk.
Sam Williams has a recurring role in a new HBO Original Series, Treme
Treme
Tremé is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Mid-City District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are Esplanade Avenue to the north, North Rampart Street to the east, St. Louis Street to the south and North Broad Street to the west...
scheduled to air in April 2010. The series follows residents of New Orleans, including musicians, chefs, Mardi Gras Indians and ordinary New Orleanians as they try to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane Katrina.
Williams learned only in adulthood that he is the great-grandson of Buddy Bolden
Buddy Bolden
Charles "Buddy" Bolden was an African American cornetist and is regarded by contemporaries as a key figure in the development of a New Orleans style of rag-time music which later came to be known as jazz.- Life :...
, the famed New Orleans cornetist.
In September 2006 Williams married long-time associate Shanekah Peterson, a former fellow student at NOCCA and owner of the New Orleans club, The Funky Butt.
In October 2010 Big Sam's Funky Nation will be performing at The Voodoo Experience
Voodoo Experience
Voodoo Experience, also commonly referred to as Voodoo or Voodoo Fest, is a multi-day music and arts festival held in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana. It was first held on Halloween weekend in 1999. It has since moved between the weekend before Halloween and Halloween weekend throughout the years...
in New Orleans
Awards
- 2009 Big Easy Music Award: Best Funk Band of 2008
- June 2009 Where Y’at Magazine’s “Best of the Big Easy’s Reader’s Pick: Best R&B Band”
- 2009 Louisiana Division of the Arts Fellowship
Selected discography
- King of the Party" - Big Sam's Funky Nation (HyperSoul Records, 2010)
- Peace Love & Understanding - Big Sam's Funky Nation (2008)
- Take Me Back - Big Sam's Funky Nation (2006)
- Birth of a Nation - Big Sam's Funky Nation (2003)
External links
- Big Sam's Funky Nation - official site
- Big Sam's Funky Nation - MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....