Post by Sweet Meat aka CC on May 16, 2004 15:15:08 GMT -5
Uncle Sam?
Background Info:
Sam Turner was born in Detroit. Like many great soul singers before him, he grew up in a household that looked upon music as a vehicle for religious testament. Turner's father is a Baptist minister, known to his congregation as "Singing Sam." Sam credits his father with instilling in him a strong sense of abiding faith, as well as introducing him to the stirring power of heart- felt music. Sam's first public vocal performance was at his father's church when he belted out the gospel standard "Don't Move My Mountains (But Give Me The Strength To Climb)." He was three years old at the time.
His church background enables Sam to see music as a forceful tool of expression. "I always wanted to do something positive," he says. "Something that kids could listen to, something that your grandmother could listen to." Most of his songs are quite a bit steamier than what the average grandmother is looking for, but Sam's parents are thrilled that their son has been given the opportunity to have a recording career. "I have all their blessings. I originally had aspirations to be a pastor, but God sent me this way."
Sam sharpened his singing skills in an unlikely place for a kid in his mid-teens: on the road. He won a role in the touring company of the gospel musical "A Good Man Is Hard To Find," and traveled with the show for three and a half years. "They didn't care if I could act," he says. "Once they heard me sing, they said, 'We'll teach him how to act!'" Outside of an elementary school fairy tale, "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" was the first play Sam had ever seen, much less performed in.
Charlucci Finney first heard Sam singing on-stage and, bowled over his voice, soon became his manager. When Finney was told that Stonecreek was looking for new talent, he arranged to have his discovery sing over a telephone for Boyz II Men's Wanya Morris. Duly impressed, Wanya presented Sam to the other members of the group - and soon he became the first signing to Stonecreek Recordings.
Boyz II Men are one of the best-selling groups in music history. Their first album, 1991's Cooleyhighharmony sold nine million copies, while the follow-up, Boyz II Men II, moved a stag- gering twelve million units. Their experience in the studio, as well as their maturing songwriting talents, have meshed beautifully with Uncle Sam's assured vocal approach. "In a year's time, we came up with 30 or 40 songs," Sam says. "Once we got to know each other, it was like we knew each other for years. We're like brothers - it's a good vibe."
That vibe is evident on every track of Uncle Sam. Sam credits a variety of soul singers as having influenced his technique, including Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, and Prince. Though these artists are an audible part of his approach, Sam's sinuous lyric readings are very much his own.
Artist Release:
Release Date: October 14, 1997
Tracklisting:
1. Can You Feel It
2. You Make Me Feel Like
3. Throw Your Hands in the Air
4. Leave Well Enough Alone
5. Without Lovin' You
6. Someone Like You
7. Tender Love
8. Think About Me
9. Baby You Are
10. Stop Foolin' Around
11. I Don't Ever Want to See You Again *Most Recognized Song*
Last Heard On:
His debut release, "Uncle Sam".
I wonda what happened to him!
Pity!
