Joe Sample

Joseph Leslie Sample (February 1, 1939 – September 12, 2014) was an American <a href="/facts/Jazz/lmUzXGq8">jazz</a> keyboardist and composer. He was one of the founding members of <a href="/facts/The_Crusaders_(jazz_fusion_group)/xV5nXJAY">The Jazz Crusaders</a> in 1960, after which its name was shortened to "The Crusaders" in 1971. He remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991, and also the 2003 reunion album Rural Renewal.
Beginning in the late 1960s, he saw a successful solo career and guested on several recordings by other acts, including <a href="/facts/Miles_Davis/sywS2Krc">Miles Davis</a>, <a href="/facts/George_Benson/fcIkeeyd">George Benson</a>, <a href="/facts/Jimmy_Witherspoon/CrVQ1Ea8">Jimmy Witherspoon</a>, <a href="/facts/Michael_Franks_(musician)/NzTJraXP">Michael Franks</a>, <a href="/facts/B._B._King/qkl0UUPV">B. B. King</a>, <a href="/facts/Eric_Clapton/BxvERMda">Eric Clapton</a>, <a href="/facts/Steely_Dan/hPjfQbXq">Steely Dan</a>, <a href="/facts/Joni_Mitchell/BzoEuUpT">Joni Mitchell</a>, <a href="/facts/Anita_Baker/Sf7eCJgX">Anita Baker</a>, Herb Alpert, and <a href="/facts/The_Supremes/2rN8DymP">the Supremes</a>. Sample incorporated <a href="/facts/Gospel_music/KSumCkFG">gospel</a>, <a href="/facts/Blues/f2WSr9QQ">blues</a>, <a href="/facts/Jazz/lmUzXGq8">jazz</a>, <a href="/facts/Latin_music/0fL8fzck">latin</a>, and <a href="/facts/Classical_music/oglVXmSb">classical</a> forms into his music.

Joe Sample open-in-new

Joe Sample