R.I.P.—Joe Sample

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Bruce Bernard Williams
Posts: 207
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:37 pm
Location: Tulsa

R.I.P.—Joe Sample

Post by Bruce Bernard Williams »

Joe Sample died of complications of lung cancer yesterday in Houston at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. His family was at his side. Joe was 75. He was recently mentioned on this forum in a thread discussing his association with the group The (Jazz) Crusaders and Randy Crawford ("Street Life"). He was a gifted and talented pianist that happened to be one of my favorites. My favorite piece by him was titled "Hippies On The Corner" from his "Old Places, Old Faces" Warners album. My thoughts and prayers are extended to his family, friends, and associates.
Sara D
Posts: 391
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:32 am

Re: R.I.P.—Joe Sample

Post by Sara D »

Saddened beyond words to hear the news. We had tickets for one of his scheduled appearances at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in early August, dates which he had to cancel because of his illness.

One of the prettiest tunes Joe Sample wrote was 'Fly With the Wings of Love' from his 'Rainbow Seeker' album. When the Crusaders played the Festival Hall in the early 80s they were accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and I remember having goosebumps on top of goosebumps when they played the piece:

ron hertel
Posts: 481
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 7:08 pm

Re: R.I.P.—Joe Sample

Post by ron hertel »

Melissa Manchester posted on her "Facebook page" that Joe Sample recently recorded with her on her soon to be released CD "You Gotta Love The Life". .... They recorded a song written by Melissa Manchester and Hal David (turns out it was Hal's last) ..... See photo on Melissa's "Facebook" page.
Downtown
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri May 24, 2013 10:07 am

Re: R.I.P.—Joe Sample

Post by Downtown »

The song Meilssa Manchester co-wrote with Hal and that apparently is the very last lyric he ever wrote is called: "The Other End of the Phone“. And the recording has both Dionne and Joe Sample on it.

Melissa ist trying to get the album release financed through crowd-funding and that apparently has proved more difficult than she first thought. And therefore the release has been postponed to early next year.
Sara D
Posts: 391
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:32 am

Re: R.I.P.—Joe Sample

Post by Sara D »

I wasn't aware until I heard the Moira Stuart show on BBC Radio 2 on Sunday night that Joe Sample had recorded 'A House is not a Home'. He takes a few liberties with the time and the chords but he was a jazzman after all:

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