Joe Sample

Joe Sample was an American pianist, keyboardist, and composer, best known for his pioneering contributions to jazz fusion and smooth jazz. Born in 1939 in Houston, Texas, he began playing piano at an early age and later studied at Texas Southern University, where he co-founded The Jazz Crusaders in the late 1950s.

The group, later renamed The Crusaders, became one of the most influential jazz fusion bands of the 1970s, blending jazz, R&B, and funk. Sample’s signature electric piano sound helped define hits like Street Life (1979), featuring Randy Crawford. His work with The Crusaders laid the foundation for the smooth jazz genre, influencing countless musicians.

Beyond The Crusaders, Sample enjoyed a successful solo career, releasing albums such as Rainbow Seeker (1978), Carmel (1979), and Spellbound (1989). His music combined jazz, soul, and classical influences, earning him widespread recognition.

As a sought-after session musician, he worked with legends including Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, and B.B. King. His keyboard work on Mitchell’s Court and Spark (1974) and Gaye’s Let’s Get It On (1973) remains iconic.

Throughout his career, Sample continued to perform and record, maintaining a deep connection to his blues and gospel roots. His timeless compositions and expressive keyboard style left a lasting legacy in jazz and popular music. He passed away in 2014, but his influence on contemporary jazz and fusion endures.