Joe-Sample-Obituary

Joe Sample

1939 - 2014

Obituary

Joe Sample , who became a jazz star in the 1960s as the pianist with the Jazz Crusaders and an even bigger star a decade later when he began playing electric keyboards and the group simplified its name to the Crusaders, died on Friday in Houston. He was 75.
The cause was mesothelioma.
The Jazz Crusaders, who played the muscular, bluesy variation on bebop known as hard bop, had their roots in Houston, where Mr. Sample, the tenor saxophonist Wilton Felder, trombonist Wayne Henderson, and the drummer Nesbert Hooper (better known by the self-explanatory first name Stix) began performing together as the Swingsters while in high school. While attending Texas Southern, they added bassist Henry Wilson and the flutist Hubert Laws - who would soon achieve considerable fame on his own - to the group, changing their name to the Modern Jazz Sextet.
The band worked in the Houston area for several years but did not have much success until Mr. Sample, Mr. Felder, Mr. Hooper and Mr. Henderson moved to Los Angeles and changed their name to the Jazz Crusaders, a reference to the drummer Art Blakey's seminal hard-bop ensemble, the Jazz Messengers. Their first album, Freedom Sound, released on the Pacific Jazz label in 1961, sold well, and they recorded prolifically for the rest of the decade, with all four members contributing compositions, while performing to enthusiastic audiences and critical praise.
In the early 1970s, as the audience for jazz declined, the band underwent yet another name change, this one signifying a change in musical direction. Augmenting their sound with electric guitar and electric bass, with Mr. Sample playing mostly electric keyboards, the Jazz Crusaders became the Crusaders. Their first album under that name, Crusaders 1, featuring four compositions by Mr. Sample, was released on the Blue Thumb label in 1972.
With a funkier sound, a new emphasis on danceable rhythms and the addition of pop songs by the Beatles and others to their repertoire, the Crusaders displeased many critics but greatly expanded their audience.
For Mr. Sample, plugging in was not a big step. He had been fascinated by the electric piano since he saw Ray Charles playing one on television in the mid-1950s, and he had owned one since 1963. Nor did he have any problem crossing musical boundaries: Growing up in Houston he had listened to and enjoyed all kinds of music, including blues and country.
"Unfortunately, in this country, there's a lot of prejudice against the various forms of music," Mr. Sample told the Los Angeles Times in 1985. "The jazz people hate the blues, the blues people hate rock, and the rock people hate jazz. But how can anyone hate music? We tend to not hate any form of music, so we blend it all together. And consequently, we're always finding ourselves in big trouble with everybody."
They didn't find themselves in much trouble with the record-buying public. The Crusaders had numerous hit albums and one Top 40 single, "Street Life," which reached No. 36 on the Billboard pop chart in 1979. Mr. Sample wrote the music and Will Jennings wrote the lyrics, which were sung by Ms.Randy Crawford.
By the time "Street Life" was recorded, Mr. Henderson had left the Crusaders to pursue a career as a producer. Mr. Hooper left in 1983. Mr. Sample and Mr. Felder continued to work together for a while, but by the late 1980s Mr. Sample was focusing on his solo career, which had begun with the 1969 trio album Fancy Dance. His first true solo album Rainbow Seeker was released in 1978.
His later albums included The Song Lives On, featuring Lalah Hathaway (1999), Pecan Tree (2002) a solo piano recording Soul Shadows (2004). In 2007 he recorded the first of 3 cds featuring his trio and vocalist Randy Crawford (Feeling Good - 2007, No Regrets - 2009, Live in Europe - 2012) His last recording, Children of the Sun, is to be released this fall.
He also maintained a busy career as a studio musician. Among the albums on which his keyboard work can be heard are Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Tina Turner's Private Dancer, Steely Dan's Aja and Gaucho, and several recordings by B. B. King.
His catalogue of song has been used in various Films, TV Shows, and advertisements, becoming one of the most "sampled" in the industry, including Tupac Shakur's "Dear Mama."
Joseph Leslie Sample was born on Feb. 1, 1939, in Houston, the fourth of five siblings, and began playing piano when he was 5. His survivors include his wife, Yolanda; son, Nicklas and wife Victoria; three stepsons, Jamerson III and wife Kimberly, Justin, and Jordan Berry; six grandchildren, Canon and Holiday Sample, Jamerson IV, Karissa, Jase, and Jaden Berry; and a sister, Julia Goolsby.
In recent years, Mr. Sample working with his bassist son Nicklas, had worked with a reunited version of the Crusaders, his own Joe Sample Trio, and led an ensemble called the CreoleJoe Band, whose music was steeped in the lively Louisiana style known as zydeco. At his death he had been collaborating on a musical, Quadroon, which had a reading in July at the Ensemble Theater in Houston. Quadroon is based on the life story of Henriette Delille, the founder of The Sisters of The Holy Family, the first Order of African American Catholic Nuns. Henriette is currently up for Canonization as the first U.S., native born, African American Saint.
Yolanda would like to thank the doctors, nurses, chaplin, and staff at the MD Anderson Cancer Center for their professional yet loving care of Joe. And for the spiritual support they gave him and Yolanda during his extended hospitalization.
There will be a viewing open to the public Friday, Sept 19th, from 6-9pm., at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church. 4000 Sumpter Street, Houston Tx 77020.
In lieu of flowers etc., the family asks that donations be made to the Joe Sample Youth Organization, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit. Contributions can be made via pay-pal or credit card using the folioing link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=QV5AUC3H6AGQL
or by check to the following address: The Joe Sample Youth Organization, P.O. Box 590254, Houston Tx 77259



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Thank you joe you are one of the best things that ever happens to our family you got us threw some dark times my mother introduced you to us we love you Rest In Peace god bless your family.

Dr. Andre Walker with Mr. Joe Sample in Columbia SC

Search For Soul Joe.

RIH Mr Sample,your music shall live on. Im sure that the band is still playin on. John Cowart Jr

Enternl rest to him oh Lord and let the perpetual light shine on him amen miss my peewee

One never knows to whom their biggest impact in there life is made. Songs become doors to chapters of people's lives that remain forever. Your list goes on and on in the memory banks of my mind. Thank you sir, for I can revisit those chapters in my life and bring them into my future, where I can share with those that are privileged . God Bless!

Stilling missing Joe and his great music, one of the greatest pianist EVER.

The music has died!
A loyal jazz fan