Sam Andrew
Encyclopedia
Sam Andrew is an American
musician
, singer, songwriter, composer
, artist and founding member and guitarist of Big Brother and the Holding Company
. During his career as musician and composer, Andrew has had three platinum albums and two hit singles. His songs have been used in numerous major motion picture soundtracks and documentaries.
, Bo Diddley
, and Little Richard
. He also listened to a great deal of Delta blues
. Not only did Sam have his own band at age fifteen, but he also had his own weekly TV show, an Okinawan version of American Bandstand
. His brother Leland Andrew frequently stated his brother was the Benny Goodman of Japan.
Shortly after Sam graduated from high school his father was transferred to Hamilton Air Force Base
in northern California. It was during this period that Sam started attending classes at the University of San Francisco and got involved in the San Francisco folk music scene of the early 1960s. But it was not until he returned from a two-year stay in Paris
that he met Peter Albin at 1090 Page Street.
As Big Brother began to gel, Sam brought many songs into the band. He has been a prolific songwriter all of his life, penning his first tune at the age of six. Of his early compositions, "Call on Me" and "Combination of the Two" have been two of Big Brother’s most enduring classic tracks. Sam continues today in his original role as musical director of the band.
Janis Joplin was recruited by band manager Chet Helms to join Big Brother as lead singer on June 4, 1966. They soon landed a record contract, issuing their first album on Mainstream and their second - a top seller - on Columbia Records.
Sam and original band mate James Gurley were known for their searing, psychedelic
guitar work. In February 1997, Guitar Player
magazine listed Andrew's and Gurley's work on "Summertime" as one of the top ten psychedelic solos in music history. On September 11, 2001, Sam was to be presented with a High Times magazine Life Time Achievement award. That day his flight to New York City was canceled and, instead, received the award the next year.
In December 1968 Sam along with Janis Joplin left Big Brother and the Holding Company to form the Kozmic Blues Band. After about nine months and one album, I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!, Sam returned to Big Brother.
After Big Brother stopped performing in 1972, he moved to New York where he studied harmony and counterpoint at the New School for Social Research and composition at Mannes School of Music. During this period he also scored several films in the US and Canada as well as writing two string quartets and a symphony. He remained in New York City
for eight years before returning to San Francisco where he began playing clarinet
and saxophone
. Big Brother and the Holding Company
reunited in 1987.
During the 1990s in addition to touring with Big Brother, Andrew was involved with his solo project, The Sam Andrew Band, that toured across North America, and the spoken word quartet, Theatre of Light, that featured The Vagabond Poet, Tony Seldin, keyboardist, Tom Constanten and harpist/pianist, Elise Piliwale.
Andrew is also Music Director of the play Love, Janis, a biopic based on the life of Janis Joplin
, written by Laura Joplin and directed by Randal Myler.
Andrew performed at the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock Concert on August 15, 2009 at Bethel Woods, New York.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, singer, songwriter, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, artist and founding member and guitarist of Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Airplane. They are best known as the band that featured Janis Joplin as their...
. During his career as musician and composer, Andrew has had three platinum albums and two hit singles. His songs have been used in numerous major motion picture soundtracks and documentaries.
Music career
As the son of a military father, he moved a great deal as a child. Sam developed a skill for music at a very early age. By the time he was fifteen living in Okinawa, he already had his own band, called the "Cool Notes". His early influences were Chuck BerryChuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
, and Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
. He also listened to a great deal of Delta blues
Delta blues
The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, Helena, Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The...
. Not only did Sam have his own band at age fifteen, but he also had his own weekly TV show, an Okinawan version of American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
. His brother Leland Andrew frequently stated his brother was the Benny Goodman of Japan.
Shortly after Sam graduated from high school his father was transferred to Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...
in northern California. It was during this period that Sam started attending classes at the University of San Francisco and got involved in the San Francisco folk music scene of the early 1960s. But it was not until he returned from a two-year stay in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
that he met Peter Albin at 1090 Page Street.
As Big Brother began to gel, Sam brought many songs into the band. He has been a prolific songwriter all of his life, penning his first tune at the age of six. Of his early compositions, "Call on Me" and "Combination of the Two" have been two of Big Brother’s most enduring classic tracks. Sam continues today in his original role as musical director of the band.
Janis Joplin was recruited by band manager Chet Helms to join Big Brother as lead singer on June 4, 1966. They soon landed a record contract, issuing their first album on Mainstream and their second - a top seller - on Columbia Records.
Sam and original band mate James Gurley were known for their searing, psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
guitar work. In February 1997, Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine listed Andrew's and Gurley's work on "Summertime" as one of the top ten psychedelic solos in music history. On September 11, 2001, Sam was to be presented with a High Times magazine Life Time Achievement award. That day his flight to New York City was canceled and, instead, received the award the next year.
In December 1968 Sam along with Janis Joplin left Big Brother and the Holding Company to form the Kozmic Blues Band. After about nine months and one album, I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!, Sam returned to Big Brother.
After Big Brother stopped performing in 1972, he moved to New York where he studied harmony and counterpoint at the New School for Social Research and composition at Mannes School of Music. During this period he also scored several films in the US and Canada as well as writing two string quartets and a symphony. He remained in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for eight years before returning to San Francisco where he began playing clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
and saxophone
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...
. Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Airplane. They are best known as the band that featured Janis Joplin as their...
reunited in 1987.
During the 1990s in addition to touring with Big Brother, Andrew was involved with his solo project, The Sam Andrew Band, that toured across North America, and the spoken word quartet, Theatre of Light, that featured The Vagabond Poet, Tony Seldin, keyboardist, Tom Constanten and harpist/pianist, Elise Piliwale.
Andrew is also Music Director of the play Love, Janis, a biopic based on the life of Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
, written by Laura Joplin and directed by Randal Myler.
Andrew performed at the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock Concert on August 15, 2009 at Bethel Woods, New York.