Tribute: Sam in a niche of his own | Sunday Observer

Tribute: Sam in a niche of his own

20 August, 2017

No more will the Harbour Room at the Grand Oriental Hotel echo with the song on Sunday evenings which belonged solely to Sam the Man. With his years of experience he created a niche for himself with his voice and saxophone in the Sri Lanka music industry where other musicians could not oust him from, but nor were they rivals to his style. Some were of the opinion he was outdated or old fashioned because he was not in the radar of the ‘now music’ but the fact of the matter is despite his age, he was performing till 81 years and he had the capacity, energy and style to draw the music lover to whatever music venue he was performing at and keep them until closing time.

During his performance he moved among the tables where the audience was seated, with his beloved saxophone checking on requests and it was a familiar sight to hear him call out to the band “Boys give me a C,” and start off the request of the music lover. This rapport he adapted can never be paralleled.

Where did it all begin for Sam the Man you may wonder. Actually in a spoolback, the year 1961 was the auspicious year for Sam. He formed the band Escort with Saybhan Samat on clarinet, Riza Lye on piano, Eddie Lye and Raj Haniff providing the percussion.

With Sam on sax, Saybhan on clarinet, winds and percussion became an attraction and Escort found themselves moving from one gig to another as their popularity escalated, until 1964 when Tony Fernando, Manager of the Jets invited Sam and Saybhan to join the band, and the band became Jet 8. This lasted till 1966, because Sam moved out to play with Leonard Francke and his band Manhattans who were dominating the dance band scene then.

But as it is with musicians the urge to move on saw Sam in 1966 form Sam the Man and the Gaylords with Gabo Pieris drums and the Schwallie brothers Dickie and Erroll. At the height of their popularity, Gabo Peiris broke off to form Gabo and the Breakaways, taking with him four of Sam’s band members. But that did not deter Sam. Strong minded and courageous, always ready for a new adventure, Sam formed his own band calling it Sam the Man and the band was a familiar sight at the lobbies of leading hotels especially the Taj Samudra where Sam the Man had a long run. He was proud of the fact that his band launched girl vocalists Esme de Silva, Priyanthi Manamperi and Noeline Honter and male vocalist Tyronne Grieb.

Sam the Man, the band, had a sound that was necessary at that time. There was Sam and Saybhan on saxes, Neville Pieris and Denzil Lazarus on trumpets. Jimmy Peck on piano, Dickie Schwalie – bass, Errol Schwallie lead guitar, Maithri Mervin de Silva – drums, Esme de Silva – female vocalist, Maurice Balasingham – male vocalist. To add colour to his outfit Sam introduced three go go girls – an act that was popular at that time. They were Sandra Barrington, Sherine Peck and Asuntha Herft.

What more could a band leader want? Sam who was into music during his college days was determined to make it big. And make it big he did. He learnt the finer points in playing the saxophone from Pappa Menezes, Edgar Hebber and Mario Mauricks. Armed with a thorough knowledge of playing the sax, Sam to give him the credit, started the Sing-along series with the Y’s Mens in 1997 and soon his popularity took him to global venues in England, Germany, the States and Canada. He made a lot of friends there, which saw him make many returns. His vast repertoire of the old favourites stood him in good stead, so much so, that he released three CDs of Sing along favourites that were bought off no sooner the CDs hit the shelves of the stores.

Harbour Room of the Grand Oriental Hotel will no doubt miss him on Sunday evenings. He cannot be replaced. And so too Mount Lavinia Hotel where he performed on Mondays, a hotel he always considered his second home and ironically he had to leave this world at Mount Lavinia Hotel.

Felicia his wife is grateful to the Managers and staff of the Hotel who left no stone unturned to help Felicia in her moment of sorrow.

We at the Sunday Observer will treasure the memories we had of him when he was one of the judges of The Observer Golden Clef Awards. His rational judgement inspite of his unlimited humour was always respected. The music industry will surely miss him. To him funk, disco, rap, rock was never on his wave length but he did not denounce it he liked his music straight with no strings attached and with meaningful sentimental lyrics. At this stage I’d like to take you to the Harbour Room and imagine Sam

singing... 

 

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