Sammy started singing at 4 in church. In 2nd grade the school music teacher was a Baylor Professor which formed an outside school band. And that's where Sammy got started. This Professor saw that Sammy had an interest in learning to play the guitar and Sammy's Mother purchased a guitar for him and the Professor gave him guitar lessons. At age 8 Chuck Harding and Ray Henning took an interest in Sammy's vocals and started promoting him in their touring country shows. Including such people as Johnny Gimble, Jim Vogle, Jimmy Day, Lloyd Maines.... He did a live radio spot every Saturday morning from 9 to 12 on Austin Avenue in Waco, Texas, in front of Chuck Harding and Ray Henning's first music store. He did the Brazos Valley Jamboree every Saturday night along with my co-host Melonie Allen, who is a Nashville jingles artist today, and her brother Dudley Allen, a well known Central Texas steel guitar player. He started playing in clubs at age 14. He's worked with various bands throughout high school. He played a lot of Opry shows all over Texas. Over the years he learned to play Bass and Fiddle as well as the Lead Guitar.
Formed his first country band at age 22 called The Country Sounds. Throughout the 70's performed opening shows for Moe Bandy, Red Stegall, Kenny Dale, Kenny Sereaht, Frenchy Burke, Johnny Bush, Hank Thompson, Sammy Smith, Sylvia, and many others. He's also done studio session work for several artists.
He did a record album in 1976 in Oklahoma City for Roy Sales, Inc. Producer Ray Owens, which landed a job on the Holiday Inn Circuit 6 nights a week for 2 years. After that tour he went to work playing for a friend of his in Ft. Worth named Donny McDuff and Stagecoach, whose father was Eddy McDuff, guitar great. He's played uncountable clubs, toured the US with tour bands, has formed 5 bands for various stars. He's played all the local halls and clubs, was house band for the Melody Ranch for quite a spell. Was founding member of the Ranch Hands Band, which drew the biggest crowd that the Melody Ranch ever had.
While playing with his own band The Broken Heart, he formed a band for John Henderson, while also playing in other bands such as Joe Rice and The American Sunrise Band, his other band Hot Country, and another band of his called The Ranch Hands. Musicians moved on....John Henderson went to Nashville, and Sammy helped form a band called Sante Fe with Darrell Dodd, who is now a Nashville star. He finally ended up playing full time with Joe Rice and The American Sunrise Band. While he was working for Joe, Sammy got a phone call from Ray Price's steel guitar player Buddy Harabel and Sammy played bass and fronted Buddy's band for 3 years, based out of Irving, Texas and toured 5 states.
He played the Western Swing Festival in Canton, Texas for Buddy's band for 3 years, headlining with such stars as Jodie Nicks, Johnny Gimble, Asleep at the Wheel, Johnny Bush and many, many Texas Swing bands.
When he left Buddy's band, he reformed Hot Country, worked Dallas/Ft. Worth area and along with another band they were alternating house bands for Chrystal Chandelier Club, Deb's Danceland, Green Onion, and Wet Willies.
He played several State Fairs, including the State Fair of Texas on the Texaco Star Stages, with groups such as Bill Tilman, Shenendoah, Restless Heart. He played 2 rodeo circuits in Texas and Oklahoma. He's played with several local celebrities such as Shorty Grisham, Steve Palousek, Don Sauersby, Bill Dearmore, Bill Barr, Bubba Cox, Tony Pickens, Jerry Nell, Rick MacRae, Ronny Huckabee, Leroy Eichler, Jimmy Mac, Tony Winkleman, Gayle Reese, Johnny Bradshaw Sr. and Jr., Jimmy Nichols, Stacy Thomas, Willie Kalouza, Stuart Still, David Scaiffe, Buddy Bryant, Lou Rouchelle, Dudley Allen, Doug Hughes, Wayne Wiggley, Terry Pilant, Donny Crum, and many, many more......
He was playing for a couple of bands when they needed him to play when one night out of the blue...he got a phone call to play bass for one night which turned out to be when he informed Terri that he also plays lead guitar. There was an opening in the band for a lead guitar at the time and lead singer....would he be interested in joining The Outlaws?
"I've enjoyed playing with this group....a very talented bunch. Articulative and outspoken. I love picking on the drummer....especially when he's trying (?) to sing. I hope that I have brought some spark, fun and enthusiasm to this band. And I look forward to playing with them in the future!"
