Joe Sample
Joe Sample | |
|---|---|
Sample in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Leslie Sample |
| Born | February 1, 1939 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | September 12, 2014 (aged 75) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz fusion, soul jazz, crossover jazz, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboards, vocals |
| Years active | 1950s–2014 |
| Labels | Blue Thumb, MCA, GRP, Warner Bros., Verve, ABC |
Joseph Leslie Sample (February 1, 1939 – September 12, 2014) was an American jazz keyboardist and composer. He was one of the founding members of The Jazz Crusaders in 1960, whose 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 Miles Davis, George Benson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Michael Franks, B. B. King, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Anita Baker, Herb Alpert, and the Supremes. Sample incorporated gospel, blues, jazz, latin, and classical forms into his music.