Sam Hooper Group
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Sam Hooper Group

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF | AFM

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF | AFM
Band Blues Americana

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Shanghai Daily"

They are first-class. They believe in their music. They live their music. The secret is that when they're doing their solos, the drummer, the bass player and Sam, they're totally absorbed...They are authentic.
- Shanghai Daily


"That's Shanghai"

"...Sam Hooper Group, a Boston based blues band that raises the sonic standard in the city. Check out Sam's mellow vocals and his blistering guitar, as well as tight solos from the talented bassist and drummer...Sam's soulful blues are definitely worth a listen." - Alex Kauffmann


"Boston Phoenix"

Sam Hooper has developed his own breed of blues, blending the signatures of driving soul and funk with tight, focused chops-intensive musicianship. - Ted Drozdowdki


"Metronome"

ALL CAUGHT UP is a dynamite sounding EP that Blues, Soul and R&B fans will definitely want to check out.
Good Stuff! - Douglas Stone


"The Boston Globe"

a fiery player, clearly influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Living Colour's Vernon Reid - Steve Morse


"Northeast Performer"

Lead guitarist Sam Hooper...is outstanding;
his fills and solos are wonderfully melodic
and his tone is excellent - Mike Baldino


"W. C. Handy Festival"

"After a fabulous week of concerts at 2nd Half Studio during the 2007 W.C. Handy Festival , no one could have topped the closing performance of The Sam Hooper Group. Sam has a unique way of making each song his own and each member of his group knows just when to step out and shine in the spotlight, then resume their place in support of Sam's vocals and his superb guitar. I highly recommend The Sam Hooper Group."

Steve "Papa T" Turner
2nd Half Studio-Sheffield, Alabama - 2nd Half Studio


"Artist Interview: Sam Hooper Group"

Bostonians would do well to catch any of Hooper’s performances, as he is easily one of the most versatile performers this city has to offer, sneaking below the radar, yet blasting above the competition in terms of pure musicianship.

-Erik Ziedses des Plantes - WERS.org


Discography

SAM HOOPER GROUP LIVE in SHANGHAI
EAST
ALL CAUGHT UP
RICH GLENN & SAM HOOPER

Airplay:
WBOS, 92.9 FM - Blues on Sunday with Holly Harris

WERS, 88.9 FM, Boston (Emerson College) -Bluesology

WMFO, 91.5 FM, Medford, MA (Tufts University) - Folk & Good Music Show

WGBH, 89.7 FM, Boston
Blues After Hours

KSCU, 103.3 FM, Santa Clara, CA (Santa Clara U.)

Photos

Bio

SAM HOOPER website: samhooper.com
Biography – 2010
phone: (617) 271-6743 e-mail: sam@samhooper.com

“Sam Hooper Group, a Boston based blues band that raises the sonic standard in the city."
- Alex Kauffmann, Shanghai Daily

“Sam Hooper's developed his own breed of blues, blending the signatures of driving soul and funk with tight, focused chops-intensive musicianship.” - Ted Drozdowski, The Boston Phoenix

Sam Hooper is a captivating American musician whose alluring blend of blues, rock and funk has thrilled audiences in China, Switzerland, Finland, and Japan. Originally from Cleveland, OH and well established on the Boston music scene, Hooper has recently relocated to the entertainment hotbed of Los Angeles, California. An alumnus of Berklee College of Music and The University of Miami School of Music, his songs have been published by Los Angeles’ Heavy Hitters Music and The University of Miami’s Category 5 Publishing. As an artist, he stirs up an alluring blend of blues/rock, pop and funk. His soulful vocals have been compared to Otis Redding and Robert Cray, while critics have likened his blistering guitar playing to Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana.

In February of 2009 Sam Hooper Group completed its third residency at Shanghai’s renowned House of Blues & Jazz. The dynamic trio of Sam on guitar and vocals, Jordan Scannella on bass and vocals and Akira Nakamura on drums did its first residency there for three months in 2004. They built a reputation for outstanding musicianship and exciting performances that really connected with Shanghai audiences. The highlight of the 2004 trip was the recording and release of their latest EP, East. They expanded their number of loyal Shanghai fans when they returned for five months of shows in 2005-2006. For 2008-2009, they brought talented keyboardist and songwriter Todd Marston, treating their fans to the fun of Sam Hooper Group as a quartet.

Comfortable in a solo/acoustic setting or grabbing his electric guitar to lead a band, Hooper has showcased at Boston’s NEMO, Nashville’s 2NMC, and Philadelphia’s PMC music conferences, and The New England Songwriters Festival. For four years, he’s been a featured performer at The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival in Florida.

Hooper has previously released two critically acclaimed CDs in the USA, the infectious All Caught Up, and the collaboration Rich Glenn & Sam Hooper. The funky blues of “I Won’t Be Your Fool,” and the hopeful ballad, “Help Me Out of the Dark,” from All Caught Up, have been heard by millions of viewers on the hot daytime TV dramas All My Children and The Young & The Restless. In 2004, “Leaving Me Too,” his melancholy account of the pain of loss, was selected for the compilation CD, Boston’s Best Singer/Songwriter Showcase.

Performing as a finalist in the 2002 18th Annual Boston Battle of the Blues Bands led to a Local Artist Spotlight on Boston’s radio program Blues on Sunday with Holly Harris on WBOS 92.9FM.

In the Fall of 2009 Hooper won Guitar Center's "King of the Blues" competition Store Finals in Cerritos, CA.

Sam Hooper Group has opened packed shows for blues guitar legends: Ronnie Earl and (former Muddy Waters sideman) Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson. Hooper recently showcased at New York’s Soul of the Blues Festival, Alabama’s W. C. Handy Music Festival and received an Emerging Artist endorsement from First Act Guitars. A documentary of Hooper’s musical journey has appeared on Medford, MA Cable TV and is now seen on youtube.com.

Sam Hooper Group is winning over new fans worldwide! Visit samhooper.com for more information