Sam Myers was born in Laurel, Mississippi on February 19, 1936. Visually impaired by cataracts from a young age, Sam was educated at the Piney Woods School near Jackson. While there, Sam developed an interest in music as a career. He became skilled enough at playing the trumpet and drums that he received a non-degree scholarship from the American Conservatory School of Music in Chicago. Sam spent his days in the classroom learning the academic side of music and his nights honing his blues chops in the rough nightclubs and streets of Chicago’s South Side.

Sam met and sat in with such blues luminaries as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Hound Dog Taylor, Robert Lockwood, Jr. and the great Elmore James, with whom Sam formed his first long-lasting musical relationship. Sam played drums with Elmore on a fairly steady basis from 1952 until his death in 1963. In 1956, Sam wrote and recorded what was to be his most famous single, “Sleeping In The Ground,” which has been covered by Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and many other blues artists.

From the early 1960’s until 1986, Sam worked the clubs in and around Jackson, Mississippi as well as across the South in the Chittlin’ Circuit. He even found himself touring the world with Sylvia Embrey and the Mississippi All-Stars Blues Band. Then in 1986, Sam met Anson Funderburgh and joined his band, The Rockets. Since that time, Sam and Anson have traveled all over the U.S. and the world, winning acclaim as one of the best live blues bands playing today.

Sam passed away while at home on July 17, 2006, following his release from the hospital after throat cancer surgery. He was making good progress with his recovery, and his death was totally unexpected. He was laid to rest next to his parents, Ollie and Celeste Myers, near Meridian, Mississippi.

Sam’s autobiography, “Sam Myers: The Blues Is My Story,” will be published by the University Press of Mississippi in October, 2006.

45 RPM Singles:

Ace 536 - My Love Is Here To Stay, Sleeping In The Ground - 1957

White Label 1955 -Rhythm With Me - 1957 - (Dutch label, probably

same personnel on Ace sessions)

Fury 1035 - You Don’t Have To Go, Sad, Sad Lonesome Day - 1960

Ace 2037 - You’re So Fine (A side) - 1979

Mid South NR 15681 - Back In My Baby’s Arms - 1987 (B side); billed as Sam

“Blues Man” Myles

Record Albums:

With various musicians:

TJ 1030 - Down Home In Mississippi - 1979

TJ 1040 - Mississippi Delta Blues - 1980

TJ 1002 - Mississippi Delta Blues Band: In Europe - 1981

TJ 1050 - Mississippi Delta Blues Band - 1981

TJ 1054 - San Francisco Blues Band, Chromatic Style - 1981

TJ 1056 - San Francisco Blues Band - 1986

TJ 1060 - Mississippi Delta Blues Band Greatest Hits - 1986

With Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets:

Black Top 1032 - My Love Is Here To Stay - 1986

Black Top 1038 - Sins - 1987

Black Top 1049 - Rack ‘Em Up - 1989

Black Top 1068 - Tell Me What I Want To Hear - 1991

Black Top 1077 - Through The Years:A Retrospective - 1992

Black Top 1111 - Live At The Grand Emporium - 1995

Black Top 1140 - That’s What They Want - 1997

Rounder 619573 - Change In My Pocket - 1999

Rounder 619619 - Which Way Is Texas? - 2003

As Sam Myers:

Electro-Fi 3383 - Coming From The Old School - 2004

Appears With The Following Artists:

Black Top 1046 - Snooks Eaglin, Out Of Nowhere - 1988

Black Top 1050 - Joe “Guitar” Hughes - 1989

Cannonball 29108 - Hash Brown, Hash Brown’s Texas Blues Revue - 1999

Socan 401 - Robin Banks, Honestly - 2001

Topcat 4022 - Jim Suhler, Dirt Road - 2002

P-Vine 3775 - Snooks Eaglin, Out Of Nowhere - 2003

Blue Bella 1003 - Nick Moss, Count Your Blessings - 2003

Appears On The Following Elmore James Re-releases:

Relic 7040 - Dust My Broom: The Best Of Elmore James, Vol. 2 - 1992

Rhino 71190 - The Sky Is Crying: The History Of Elmore James - 1993

Charly BM28 - Standing At The Crossroads - 1993

Collectables 8829 - The Complete Fire And Enjoy Sessions - 1995

P-Vine 112522 - Best Blues Masters, Vol. 2 - 1998

Rhino 79803 - Blues Masters: The Very Best Of Elmore James - 2000

Buddha 99781 - Shake Your Money Maker: The Best Of The Fire Sessions - 2000

P-Vine 2889/9 - The Sky Is Crying: The Legendary Fire/Enjoy Sessions - 2003

Appears On The Following Compilations:

Sundown CG 709-01 - Blow By Blow: An Anthology Of Harmonica Blues - 1979

Vivid Sound VS-1011 - The Kings Sing The Blues: Vol. 2 - 1979

P-Vine 6101/6102 - N.Y On Fire: Bobby’s Harlem Rock, Vol. 2 - 1986

Black Top 1044 - Black Top Blues-A-Rama - 1988

Charly 1208 - New York Blues, Vol. 2 - 1989

Savage Kick 508 - Savage Kick Vol. 8: Black Rock N’ Roll - 1990

Black Top 2 - Black Top Blues-A-Rama - A Budget Sampler - 1990

K-Tel 846 - Blues: The New Breed - 1991

Black Top 1066 - Blues Cocktail Party - 1991

Black Top 1073 - Black Top Blues-A-Rama - 1992

Black Top 1078 - Soul Survey: A Blues Sampler - 1992

Black Top 1079 - Blues Harmonica Spotlight - 1992

Black Top 1083 - Blues Guitar Spotlight - 1992

Rhino 71123 - Blues Masters, Vol. 3 - 1992

Ace 2028 - Genuine Mississippi Blues - 1993

Capricorn 42009-2 - The Fire/Fury Records Story - 1993

Rollin’ & Tumblin' RT 2607 - Heavy Harp - 1994

Charly 3 - Modern Blues Anthology - 1995

Rhino 72017 - Blues Masters, Vols. 1-5 - 1995

Black Top 1122 - Blues, Mistletoe & Santa’s Little Helper - 1995

Black Top 1124 - Black Top Blues Vocal Dynamite! - 1995

Celebration 2519 - A Celebration Of Blues: Great Guitarists, Vol. 3 - 1995

Celebration 2521 - A Celebration Of Blues: Great Slide Guitar - 1997

Celebration 2523 - A Celebration Of Blues: Great Swing Blues - 1997

Easydisc 7038 - Texas Blues Party - 1997

Easydisc 7048 - Blues Harp Power - 1997

Platinum/A&M 161286 - Essential Texas Blues - 1997

Official 52544 - Papa Lightfoot and Sammy Myers: Blues Harmonica Wizards - 1997

WestSide 570 - Tuff Enough, Vol.3: The Ace Blues Masters - 1998

Westside 812 - Mark Lamarr’s Ace Is Wild - 1998

Platinum/A&M 161407 - Jingle Blues - 1998

Charly 220 - Blues Harp Bosses - 1998

Easydisc 367072 - Blues Guitar Masters - 1998

Easydisc 367073 - Blues Harp Hotshots - 1998

Ace 710 - Harp Blues: The Greats! - 1998

WestSide 579 - Genuine Mississippi Blues…Plus - 1999

Richmond 3008 - We Got The Blues For You - 2000

Varese 61131 - Harp and Soul - 2001

Music Blitz 30011 - Handy Award Nominees, Vol.1 - 2001

Past Perfect 325 - Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll, Vol. 2 - 2002

WestSide 240 - Shuckin’ Stuff – Rare Blues From Ace Records - 2002

Rounder 612171 - Box Of The Blues - 2003

Fuel 2000 61273 - Blues, Booze, Harps And Guitar - 2003