Joe Sample, legendary pianist and member of the jazz super group the Crusaders, passed away in September. He was 75. Sample died in his hometown of Houston, Texas on September 12 due to complications from lung cancer.
Born on February 1, 1939, Joe Sample was introduced to the piano at five years of age. In the late 1950s, while studying music at Texas Southern University, Sample became a founding member of the Jazz Crusaders. They recorded their first album, Freedom Sound, in 1961. This was the first of more than 40 albums that the band-- including pianist Sample, saxophonist Wilton Felder, drummer Stix Hooper, and trombonist Wayne Henderson--released to enthusiastic audiences worldwide.
The Jazz Crusaders were known for their unusual front-line combination of saxophone and trombone, which was contrasted by Sample’s acoustic piano that was funky and rhythmically vibrant. Starting in the hard bop tradition, the Jazz Crusaders began to explore a fusion of soul and jazz music as many leading groups of the late 1960s did, such as Cannonball Adderley’s sextet and the pianist Les McCann.
The Jazz Crusaders became The Crusaders in 1971, creating a series of albums that featured some of the finest jazz funk of the 1970s. The release Crusaders 1 in 1971 announced this change, with Sample's dance floor classic "Put It Where You Want It" among many other gems. The added presence of a bassist for the group, and a guitarist(Larry Carlton) added much more color to the Crusaders sound, enhancing the funky grooves in their recordings of the period, such as “Chain Reaction”. The 1979 single "Street Life", written by Sample and fellow Texan songwriter Will Jennings as a vocal for singer Randy Crawford, was a huge hit for the Crusaders. Another gem from the Crusaders was the tune "Soul Shadows".
Joe Sample's unique compositions, energy and total command of the keyboard made him an in-demand sideman, studio musician, performer and composer. He worked with Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, George Benson, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, B. B. King, Joe Cocker and Anita Baker to name a few. Joe Sample was also a critically acclaimed solo performer, working with other musicians to record 21 solo albums in a career that spanned more than 50 years.
His last solo recording , Live, featured Randy Crawford on vocals, Steve Gadd on drums and Sample's son Nicklas on bass. The recording featured many bright moments including a spirited performance of the hit "Street Life".
As a host of late night jazz radio for years the music of the Crusaders has always been the "sure thing" to add a funky, fun groove to a program. Joe Sample's artistry and ability to sustain that groove will be deeply missed.
