Sam Glass Band “My music may be too rock for country and too country for rock,” says singer/songwriter Sam Glass. “But it separates me from the masses. My goal is to do the music that I do best, and that’s country with blues and rock; kind of a melting pot. There are a lot of entertainers out there that go main stream, just playing one genre of music. I like to blend the music, and I’m definitely influenced by where I grew up. I’m from La Porte, Texas, outside of Houston in the Galveston Bay area. There is a free form of music there that has both the Texas and Gulf Coast influence. I like combining the music genres and the audience seems to like it too. It can be a bad thing to be so different, but also a good thing. ”

Sam Glass takes a unique approach. “Get some sand on it,” is the motto for the Sam Glass Band. This catchy phrase sums up Sam’s music which is a dynamic fusion of southern Texas rock, country and rhythm and blues with a little Gulf Coast ‘sand on it’- thrown in for good measure. Sam and his band are based in Orange Beach, Alabama on the Alabama and Florida state line along the Gulf of Mexico. The band is popular and well known for rocking the Gulf Coast and for thrilling fans with high energy, ‘shake it loose’ performances. Sam’s Band has the extraordinary ability to engage, involve and excite the crowd. Or, another way to describe a Sam Glass Band show is: a honky- tonk, beach party with fireworks!

What does a Sam Glass performance sound and look like? Sam has the uncanny ability to channel high energy into his songs with explosive vocals and unique phrasing in his lyrics. He has an incredible vocal range that ‘wows’ the crowd. Sam also has charisma and an extra dose of stage presence, along with the blond hair and good looks, that go along with being a beach rocker. If you attend one of the Sam Glass Band shows, you will be hard pressed to stay in your seat.

Sam’s musical fire was fueled during his tour in the Navy. It all started in Boot Camp when he was reprimanded for singing in the showers. Sam explains, “My punishment for singing in the showers was to stand up and sing solo in front of the whole Company. They thought they had me…you know, a good humiliation in front of my peers. By the time I finished singing ‘Amarillo By Morning’, everyone stopped laughing and started praising me. They told me I sounded great, and I really liked the experience of singing in front of an audience. I decided right then that I wanted to sing and be an entertainer. “

After the singing in the showers incident, Sam started singing cadence for the Company. “Singing cadence and singing professionally are two different things. That thought didn’t really register, until an incident at a ‘dive bar’ near the base. They turned off the jukebox and I was still singing,” Sam recalled. “So this rough looking biker pulled me on stage and told me to keep singing. Since he seemed serious, I did, and it went well. It was the first time I’d been on stage. I’ve been chasing a career in music ever since.”

A duty assignment change sent Sam to be stationed in Okinawa, Japan. “I really wanted to keep singing and stay involved with music. I found a way to sing in Japan.” said Sam. “Within two months, I became the lead singer for the USO Lonestar Country Blues Band and performed for thousands of troops. It was an awesome experience.”

Sam got his first break in 1988 at the world famous ‘Gilley’s’ in Pasadena, Texas. Sam would perform at ‘Gilley’s’ whenever he came home on military leave, and he received recognition for winning first place in a “Gilley’s” talent search. “This win was encouraging, so I was determined to keep practicing music,” said Sam.

Sam moved to Orange Beach, Alabama which is home to the Flora-Bama Lounge, a famous ‘five star honky-tonk’ that has been home to legendary songwriters such as Red Lane, Hank Cochran, Mickey Newberry and Sonny Throckmorton to name a few. Sam found Flora-Bama a highly supportive environment for songwriting. “I became the house band at Flora-Bama and this was a good move for me. I sold my truck and lived on a sailboat for a while. The atmosphere at the Flora-Bama was creative, and there were always great musicians and songwriters around who encouraged me and gave me advice.

Nashville soon came calling again. “In 1994, I started traveling back and forth to Nashville to perform. I auditioned for TNN’s Music City Tonight Show with Crook and Chase. The producer liked my music and invited me to fill in for T. Graham Brown when he took some time off from his regular spot on the show. I performed several times as a featured artist. It was a wonderful experience and exposure. This came at the right time, and still opens doors for me.” Some of the legendary artists that Sam shared the stage with are Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Travis Tritt and Lee Roy Parnell.

When asked about his songwriting, Sam explains, “I started as a singer and didn’t play any instruments at first. My friends played the music and I was the vocalist. At age 23, I decided to learn guitar so I could have more influence on the music I performed. I have always been artistic, and do sculpture, drawing painting and creative writing. I seem to have a poetic gift, so the songwriting came naturally. I got a taste of the Gulf Coast atmosphere and my songs reflect that. I also had the opportunity to hang around with top notch songwriters who live in the Orange Beach area like Hank Cochran. I’d sit at Hank’s house and soak up vibes…be a fly on the wall. I watched and I learned.

While in Nashville, Sam recorded a CD titled, ‘The Midnight Fire’ and it was produced by Jim Riley, renowned drummer for the band, ‘Rascal Flatts’. The CD is an explosive combination of emotions, clever lyrics and exceptional music. The music of ‘The Midnight Fire’ appeals to all ages and to all music genres. You can sample the CD at Sam’s Web site www.myspace.com/samglassband or at samglassband.com. ‘The Midnight Fire’ contains upbeat songs like ‘Cowgirl Crossin’, ‘She’s Radioactive’ and ‘Love of Your Life’. ‘Cowgirl Crossin’ is the first song to hit the airwaves, and has been played on the radio in 12 states!

Sam Glass Band Touring members are John Seymour, Cedric Brooks, Dave Watkins and David Cote. John is known as one of the premier, high power guitarists in the South. Cedric is the lively, infamous piano/keyboard player. Dave is the bassist who keeps the foundation strong, and is known as one of the ‘best string slingers on the coast’. The heartbeat of the band is created by David Cote ‘drummer extraordinaire’. The band meshes together well, and delivers on the rocking, country, blues sound that Sam Glass Band is famous for.

Sam Glass Band is a band to keep your eye on. They are totally original, and you just can’t get their addicting bluesy, rock/country songs out of your mind. And… Sam is an entertainer who ‘stirs things up’ and creates emotion and commotion with his songs. This band wins over the audience and has them toe-tapping and singing along. “The target audiences keep getting younger and younger, but they seem to like my music. The good thing about being a singer/songwriter is that I can run with what I’m comfortable with and pitch it. It’s basically country with rock and blues.” Sam smiles broadly and adds, “But I like to call it ‘Rocking Country Blues with a Big Funky Groove”’.

Sam’s enthusiasm is contagious, “I love making music. There’s so much energy when we perform. Something just happens and the audience gets involved. I like to break the rules and push the envelope. Come on out and see us play if you’re in the Orange Beach, Alabama /Pensacola, Florida area. You can check out Sam Glass Band, and experience their unique, ‘one-of-a-kind’ music and see what the hoopla is all about. Sam Glass plays at Cobalts, Bamboo Willie’s, The Hangout, Flora-Bama Lounge and other Orange Beach area locations. You can check the band’s schedule on samglassband.com!