Stories

Plane Flight

There was the time when we were about to take off from Syracuse N.Y., after just playing at Attica Prison. We were the first entertainment the prisoners had since the infamous riot. A reporter from a New York City newspaper wrote an article about us. The Attica incident later became a famous book and a movie.

After the show in Attica, we were all pretty tired when we got on the plane. The plane was slowly taxiing to the runway when we noticed the drummer wasn't on board. We yelled at the stewardesses that one of our guys was missing.

They actually stopped the plane, taxied back to the gate, and let us go in the terminal. Low and behold, there was our drummer, asleep, or maybe hungover on a bench. We woke him, got back on the plane, and took off.

The flight was uneventful, until we hit what is called a "clear air pocket", and the plane dropped a great distance. Cups and drinks that were on serving trays in front of the passengers were suddenly hitting the ceiling. I looked across the aisle at my good friend and piano player Mike Gregory as he held on for dear life. Another guy looked over at me with a stone cold look, and he immediately passed out. People screamed while the aircraft was in a free fall. No doubt everyone felt like "this was it!"

The airplane suddenly made a slamming sound (very similar to an aluminum boat jumping between waves of water, and hitting the next wave in front of it) as it cleared the air pocket and we were again flying normally, like nothing had happened. The cups and drinks that were once suspended on the ceiling now came back down on everyone. What a mess it made.

Everyone's nerves were still rattled, so our harmonica player pulled out his harmonica and started playing to try and calm everyone down. He later told us he was in Vietnam, and that he was on a plane that went down. To him, the plane dropping felt like the same thing. Needless to say, we made it to our next stop. But I couldn't help think that the drummer had wished we had left him sleeping in that bench in the terminal.

Meeting The Stars Of The Time

What A Great Sounding Keyboard:

When I first went to L.A. we dropped by the studio where we would be recording our first album the next day. A session was in progress, and the manager of the artist asked if we would like to meet his client who was recording at that moment. We said; "sure", and listened in on the session. I remember commenting on what a great sound this artist was getting on this certain kind of keyboard that I'd never seen before. The artist who I later met was Stevie Wonder. He was really nice to me. By the way, the song he was recording was "Very Superstitious."

Yes, stage fright can happen to the best of musicians at any time. Anything can trigger it; the size of a crowd, the feeling of playing with other musicians and bands that are better than you are, worry that the crowd won't like you, anything can trigger a tidal wave of fright. Once it happens, it's very tough to overcome. But as a professional musician, you have to walk on stage and face the fear! Ha, easier said than done.

I remember playing at the famous Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, Texas. We were opening the first night for Louise Mandrel, and the next night for Charlie McClain.

It was a huge crowd the first night, and for some reason I was terrified to go on. I think it had to do with the fact that the acts we were opening for, they were large bands and they were all seasoned Nashville players. At sound check, earlier in the day, they sounded great.

I had only three other players beside myself. I was so scared, I was shaking. I had performed a 1000 times before, but this time I was scared to death. I actually told my drummer; "I can't do it". He finally talked me into playing, and I went through the set like it would be my last time to ever play again. The crowd roared after every song. I'll bet that I lost 10 pounds during that set.

Sam standing in front of Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, Texas - Photo donated by Laurie Roussel

After the show, I couldn't tell if the owners liked us or not. In the dressing room, the owner answered my question. He asked if we would like to be the house band, and that he loved us. I couldn't accept, due to touring commitments I had at the time. After that, it sure made it easier for me to walk on stage. That is, if I ever got a little stage fright.

Thanks to Walt Roussel, the drummer in the above mentioned story for providing the above photo of Sam standing in front of Billy Bob's.