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Steve Sample, Sr
Encyclopedia
Steve Sample, Sr is a renowned bandleader, arranger, composer and jazz educator now residing in Bellingham, Washington
. For more than 30 years, Sample was a professor in the Music Department of the University of Alabama
, where he directed the Jazz Ensembles and taught music theory, arranging and jazz related courses. Steve trained many notable jazz musicians during his long tenure at Alabama, including Gary Wheat, Birch Johnson
, Kelley O'Neal, Chris Gordon, Mervyn Warren
, Cedric Dent, Beth Gottlieb, Mart Avant, Dick Aven and Ray Reach
. He is respected by his peers as one of the finest jazz educators in the United States. On September 26, 2008, Steve was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
for his contributions to jazz education.
, Selma, Alabama. He enrolled at the University of Alabama in January 1955 and received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1958. Sample joined the music faculty in September, 1958, and continued to work on his Master’s Degree, receiving it in June, 1962.
and various vocalists and soloists.
Summer Jazz Band Camps, serving on the U.S. College All-Star Jazz Band Advisory Board and two terms as Alabama State President of the National Association of Jazz Educators. While attending the Arranger’s Workshop at the Eastman School of Music in the summer of 1974, he was selected to write a feature arrangement for Stan Getz, tenor saxophonist. In 1982 and 1986 he took jazz combos on tour in Guatemala and Costa Rica. In May 1986, he took the University of Alabama Jazz Ensemble to Disney World for three days of performing.
During the course of his tenure at the University of Alabama, he and the UA Jazz Ensemble worked with such stars as Bob Hope
, Dave Brubeck
, Jim Nabors
, Vic Damone
and Joan Rivers
plus jazz greats Maynard Ferguson
, Dizzy Gillespie
, Dee Barton
, Bill Watrous
, Urbie Green
, Alan Vizutti, Gene Bertoncini
and Rich Matteson
. The Jazz Ensembles won and/or participated in local and regional jazz festivals including Tallahassee, Florida, Memphis, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia and Mobile, Alabama. The UA Jazz Ensemble also traveled to and performed at the Wichita and the Notre Dame Jazz festivals.
(now known as Dallas' Original Jazz Orchestra). In addition, he has published a String Orchestra arrangement of “Silent Night” with Belwin Publishers. Since retiring, he has continued to send arrangements to the SuperJazz Big Band in Birmingham, Alabama. He has written for the Los Angeles Resonance Flute Consortium and the trombone section of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sample became acquainted with the FINALE music software program in 1988 and has become quite adept with its writing and printing aspects, using a Macintosh computer. Since retiring, he and his wife Brenda now reside in Bellingham, Washington
, where his main hobby is woodworking but he still writes almost every day. He now collaborates on projects with Phil Kelly, a retired television and film composer/arranger who also lives in Bellingham.
Samples' son, Steve Sample, Jr is an accomplished jazz drummer, having played with many notable jazz groups, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra
, the Night Flight Big Band and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra
.
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
. For more than 30 years, Sample was a professor in the Music Department of the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, where he directed the Jazz Ensembles and taught music theory, arranging and jazz related courses. Steve trained many notable jazz musicians during his long tenure at Alabama, including Gary Wheat, Birch Johnson
Birch Johnson
Birch "Crimson Slide" Johnson is an American trombonist. He is a first call studio trombonist, Emmy nominated composer, producer and songwriter based in New York City. For 10 years, Birch was a member of the "Blues Brothers Band" and appeared, as an actor, in the movie "Blues Brothers 2000". He...
, Kelley O'Neal, Chris Gordon, Mervyn Warren
Mervyn Warren
Mervyn Edwin Warren is an American film composer, record producer, music conductor, music arranger, lyricist, songwriter, pianist, and vocalist. Warren is a five-time Grammy Award winner and a 10-time Grammy Award nominee...
, Cedric Dent, Beth Gottlieb, Mart Avant, Dick Aven and Ray Reach
Ray Reach
Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. is an American pianist, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City...
. He is respected by his peers as one of the finest jazz educators in the United States. On September 26, 2008, Steve was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
for his contributions to jazz education.
Early years
Steve began playing and arranging professionally with traveling road bands in 1948, after graduating from University High School, Normal, Illinois. He traveled with various road bands, until he enlisted in the Air Force in January 1951. From 1951 until January 1955, he played in and wrote arrangements for the 542nd USAF Band, Craig Air Force BaseCraig Air Force Base
Craig Air Force Base near Selma, Alabama, was a U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training base that closed in 1977. As an active air force base, Craig had two parallel runways, a large aircraft parking ramp and several large maintenance hangars....
, Selma, Alabama. He enrolled at the University of Alabama in January 1955 and received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1958. Sample joined the music faculty in September, 1958, and continued to work on his Master’s Degree, receiving it in June, 1962.
Years on faculty at the University of Alabama
While on the Theory/Composition faculty at Alabama, he taught Theory I, II and III, 16th and 18th Century Counterpoint, Form and Analysis and Orchestration. He served as staff arranger for University of Alabama concert and marching bands from 1955 to 1973. In 1967, he organized the University of Alabama Jazz Ensembles and later organized the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Arranging. In these programs, he designed the curriculum for and taught classes in Arranging, Advanced Arranging, Studio Orchestration, Jazz-Pop-Rock Composition and Music Calligraphy.Work as arranger
Professor Sample has served nationally at jazz festivals and competitions as a judge, clinician and director. His arrangements have been, and still are, being performed by high school, college and professional jazz bands, marching bands, symphony orchestras, tuba/euphonium ensembles, choral groups, the Los Angeles Flute Orchestra, the SuperJazz Big Band, the Dallas Jazz OrchestraDallas Jazz Orchestra
The Dallas Jazz Orchestra is a jazz big band based in Dallas, Texas, founded by Thom Mason and Galen Jeter. Since its beginning in 1973, the DJO has produced numerous notable recordings, two of which were Grammy nominated, and has performed internationally in concerts and jazz festivals, such as...
and various vocalists and soloists.
Other professional activities
Other professional activities include teaching and directing at the Stan KentonStan Kenton
Stanley Newcomb "Stan" Kenton was a pianist, composer, and arranger who led a highly innovative, influential, and often controversial American jazz orchestra. In later years he was widely active as an educator....
Summer Jazz Band Camps, serving on the U.S. College All-Star Jazz Band Advisory Board and two terms as Alabama State President of the National Association of Jazz Educators. While attending the Arranger’s Workshop at the Eastman School of Music in the summer of 1974, he was selected to write a feature arrangement for Stan Getz, tenor saxophonist. In 1982 and 1986 he took jazz combos on tour in Guatemala and Costa Rica. In May 1986, he took the University of Alabama Jazz Ensemble to Disney World for three days of performing.
During the course of his tenure at the University of Alabama, he and the UA Jazz Ensemble worked with such stars as Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
, Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
, Jim Nabors
Jim Nabors
James Thurston "Jim" Nabors is an American actor and singer. Born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama, Nabors moved to Southern California because of his asthma. While working at a Santa Monica nightclub, The Horn, he was discovered by Andy Griffith and later joined The Andy Griffith Show, playing...
, Vic Damone
Vic Damone
Vic Damone is an American singer and entertainer.- Early life :Damone was born Vito Rocco Farinola in Brooklyn, New York to French-Italian immigrants based in Bari, Italy—Rocco and Mamie Farinola. His father was an electrician; and his mother taught piano. His cousin was the actress and singer...
and Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
plus jazz greats Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
, Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Dee Barton
Dee Barton
Dee Barton was an American film score composer noted for his horror-esque style of composing in action thriller films...
, Bill Watrous
Bill Watrous
William Russell Watrous III is a jazz trombonist. He is perhaps best known by casual fans of jazz music for his rendition of Sammy Nestico's arrangement of the Johnny Mandel ballad "A Time for Love," which he recorded on a 1993 album of the same name...
, Urbie Green
Urbie Green
Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green is an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle....
, Alan Vizutti, Gene Bertoncini
Gene Bertoncini
-Biography:Bertoncini was born in New York City, where he was raised in a musical family. His father played guitar and harmonica. Bertoncini began playing guitar at age seven and by age sixteen was appearing on television. He graduated from high school and attended the University of Notre Dame,...
and Rich Matteson
Rich Matteson
Rich A. Matteson, was an American jazz artist, collegiate music educator, international jazz clinician, big band leader, and jazz composer/arranger...
. The Jazz Ensembles won and/or participated in local and regional jazz festivals including Tallahassee, Florida, Memphis, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia and Mobile, Alabama. The UA Jazz Ensemble also traveled to and performed at the Wichita and the Notre Dame Jazz festivals.
Notable Students
Former students of Sample’s jazz program include:- Birch JohnsonBirch JohnsonBirch "Crimson Slide" Johnson is an American trombonist. He is a first call studio trombonist, Emmy nominated composer, producer and songwriter based in New York City. For 10 years, Birch was a member of the "Blues Brothers Band" and appeared, as an actor, in the movie "Blues Brothers 2000". He...
, top New York City trombonist. Played with the Woody HermanWoody HermanWoodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
Band, the Tommy DorseyTommy DorseyThomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
Band and the Blues Brothers. - Mart Avant, trumpeter and arranger. Founding member and director of the Tuscaloosa Horns.
- Steve Sample, Jr., drummer with the Glenn MillerGlenn MillerAlton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
band. - Cedric Dent and Mervyn WarrenMervyn WarrenMervyn Edwin Warren is an American film composer, record producer, music conductor, music arranger, lyricist, songwriter, pianist, and vocalist. Warren is a five-time Grammy Award winner and a 10-time Grammy Award nominee...
, members of the jazz vocal group Take 6Take 6Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel music sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two...
, Both Cedric and Mervyn got their Masters Degrees in Arranging with Sample. - Chuck Tilley, drummer, who has toured with Lee GreenwoodLee GreenwoodMelvin Lee Greenwood is an American country music artist. Active since the early 1980s, he has released more than twenty major-label albums and has charted more than 35 singles on the Billboard country music charts....
, Englebert Humperdinck and Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
. Tilley is now a member of the group SixwireSixwireSixwire is an American country music group from Nashville, Tennessee. The group is composed of Andy Childs , Robb Houston , John Howard , Steve Mandile , and Chuck Tilley . The band's name references the six strings on a guitar. Sixwire recorded one album for Warner Bros...
. - Alison Prestwood, bassist, who worked in the New York City and Atlantic studios and is now one of the top players located in Nashville.
- David Pugh, trombonist, is now an editor and arranger for Belwin Publishers.
- Juliene Purefoy, saxophonist, now has her own 17 piece jazz band in Miami, Florida and is also a touring artist for Yamaha.
- Ray ReachRay ReachRaymond Everett Reach, Jr. is an American pianist, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City...
, pianist, singer, arranger and teacher at the University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamThe University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
(UAB) (1998 - 2005), currently Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of FameAlabama Jazz Hall of FameThe Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
. Reach was Sample's first graduate assistant at the University of Alabama, and has produced and/or recorded with numerous notable jazz players, including Lou MariniLou MariniLou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
, Lew SoloffLew SoloffLew Soloff is a jazz trumpeter, composer and actor. He studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. He is likely best known for his work with Blood, Sweat & Tears from 1968 to 1973...
, Ellis MarsalisEllis Marsalis, Jr.Ellis Marsalis is an American musician. He can usually be seen performing on Fridays at Snug Harbor jazz bistro in New Orleans.- Life and career :...
and Eric Essix. - Karen Smith, flutist and music calligrapher, first call copyist at Hayen Music (1985-1986), head librarian at Jo Ann Kane Music (the top music copying house in L.A.), head librarian at Sony Music Preparation Office, Sony Studios, worked as copyist for Warner Brothers, Disney and Paramount Studios, maintained the personal libraries of John WilliamsJohn WilliamsJohn Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
, Lalo SchifrinLalo SchifrinLalo Schifrin is an Argentine composer, pianist and conductor. He is best known for his film and TV scores, such as the "Theme from Mission: Impossible". He has received four Grammy Awards and six Oscar nominations...
, George S. ClintonGeorge S. ClintonGeorge S. Clinton is an American composer, songwriter, arranger, and session musician.Clinton was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His musical career began in Nashville while earning degrees in music and drama at Middle Tennessee State University...
(Austin Powers composer), Johnny MandelJohnny MandelJohnny Mandel is an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Barbra Streisand, and Shirley Horn.-Life:...
, and David BenoitDavid BenoitDavid Benoit, is an American jazz fusion/smooth jazz pianist, composer and producer from Los Angeles, California. He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards...
, head librarian for the Hollywood Bowl OrchestraHollywood Bowl OrchestraThe Hollywood Bowl Orchestra is a symphony orchestra which is managed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and plays the vast majority of its performances at the Hollywood Bowl....
from 1991-1993. She now works for them and the Los Angeles PhilharmonicLos Angeles PhilharmonicThe Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
as an assistant librarian. Karen was instrumental in founding and developing the Los Angeles Flute Orchestra - Bethany Smith Staelens, vocalist and actress based in Seattle, Washington.
Publications
In 1982, Sample wrote the text book “An Approach to Mainstream Jazz and Pop Harmony.” He has published both original compositions and arrangements with the Dallas Jazz OrchestraDallas Jazz Orchestra
The Dallas Jazz Orchestra is a jazz big band based in Dallas, Texas, founded by Thom Mason and Galen Jeter. Since its beginning in 1973, the DJO has produced numerous notable recordings, two of which were Grammy nominated, and has performed internationally in concerts and jazz festivals, such as...
(now known as Dallas' Original Jazz Orchestra). In addition, he has published a String Orchestra arrangement of “Silent Night” with Belwin Publishers. Since retiring, he has continued to send arrangements to the SuperJazz Big Band in Birmingham, Alabama. He has written for the Los Angeles Resonance Flute Consortium and the trombone section of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sample became acquainted with the FINALE music software program in 1988 and has become quite adept with its writing and printing aspects, using a Macintosh computer. Since retiring, he and his wife Brenda now reside in Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
, where his main hobby is woodworking but he still writes almost every day. He now collaborates on projects with Phil Kelly, a retired television and film composer/arranger who also lives in Bellingham.
Samples' son, Steve Sample, Jr is an accomplished jazz drummer, having played with many notable jazz groups, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Glenn Miller Orchestra
The Glenn Miller Orchestra was originally formed in 1938 by Glenn Miller. It was arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, while three other saxophones played the harmony...
, the Night Flight Big Band and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra
Magic City Jazz Orchestra
The Magic City Jazz Orchestra is an American jazz ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the SuperJazz Big Band by Birmingham, Alabama jazz pianist and vocalist Ray Reach...
.
Recordings featuring Steve Sample's arrangements
- UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis MarsalisUAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis MarsalisUAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis is a CD, recorded in 2001 by the SuperJazz Big Band of Birmingham, Alabama with guest piano soloist Ellis Marsalis...
, produced by Ray ReachRay ReachRaymond Everett Reach, Jr. is an American pianist, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City...
and Henry PanionHenry PanionHenry Panion, III is an American composer, arranger, conductor, educator, and Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds degrees in music education and music theory from Alabama A & M University and the Ohio State University, respectively...
(2001) - Big 30, Galen Jeter and Dallas' Original Jazz OrchestraDallas Jazz OrchestraThe Dallas Jazz Orchestra is a jazz big band based in Dallas, Texas, founded by Thom Mason and Galen Jeter. Since its beginning in 1973, the DJO has produced numerous notable recordings, two of which were Grammy nominated, and has performed internationally in concerts and jazz festivals, such as...
(2004) - Messin' With Texas, Galen Jeter and Dallas' Original Jazz OrchestraDallas Jazz OrchestraThe Dallas Jazz Orchestra is a jazz big band based in Dallas, Texas, founded by Thom Mason and Galen Jeter. Since its beginning in 1973, the DJO has produced numerous notable recordings, two of which were Grammy nominated, and has performed internationally in concerts and jazz festivals, such as...
(2006) - Big Band Theory, Bethany Smith Staelens (2008)
External links
- Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame website
- Review of Dallas' Original Jazz Orchestra's latest CD, "Messin' With Texas," at AllAboutJazz.com