Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
Sam the Sham is the stage name of rock and roll singer Domingo “Sam” Samudi… Read Full Bio ↴Sam the Sham is the stage name of rock and roll singer Domingo “Sam” Samudio from Dallas, Texas. Sam the Sham would later be known for his campy onstage attire of robe and turban (inspiring one of the great tribute album names, Norton Records' 1994 release 'Turban Renewal') and hauling his equipment around in a 1952 Packard hearse, complete with maroon velvet curtains. Samudio made his singing debut while still in second grade, representing his school in a live radio broadcast. Later, he took up guitar and formed a high school group with some friends, one of whom was Trini Lopez.
He formed “The Pharaohs” in 1961 in Dallas. The other members were Carl Medke, Russell Fowler, Omar "Big Man” Lopez and Vincent Lopez (not related to Omar). In 1962 the group made one record but it did not sell. Tired of playing for $5 per man per night, The Pharaohs disbanded in late 1962.
In May, 1963, Vincent Lopez was playing for a band named “Andy and The Nightriders” in Louisiana. When their organist quit, Sam joined the group as the new organist. “Andy and The Nightriders” was composed of Andy Anderson, David A. Martin, Vincent Lopez and Sam. “The Nightriders” became very popular as the house band at The Congo Club. It was here that Sam became the “The Sham” in a dual reference to the fact that the band’s name was “Andy and The Nightriders” and Andy Anderson was the leader but everyone came to hear Sam sing and the fact that Sam couldn’t really play the organ – he could only play chords.
In June of 1963, “The Nightriders” headed for Memphis, Tennessee and once again became a very popular house band at a club called The Diplomat. In late summer 1963, Andy Anderson and Vincent Lopez left the band to return to Texas. Sam and David A. Martin replaced them with Jerry Patterson and Ray Stinnett and changed the name of the band to “Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs”. Shortly thereafter, the band added saxophonist, Butch Gibson.
After paying to record and press their own records to sell at their gigs, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs wound up with the Pen label in Memphis. There, they recorded what would prove to be their first and biggest hit ever, "Wooly Bully". "Wooly Bully" was a worldwide sensation and sold 3 million copies, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard charts in the summer of 1965.
The lyrics of "Wooly Bully" were hard to understand, and some radio stations banned it. The song was originally called "Hully Gully". When told by the record company that they couldn't use that phrase, Sam changed the words to the name of cat - 'Wooly Bully'. It became the first American record to sell a million copies during the onslaught of the British Invasion, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Although the "Wooly Bully" single never reached #1 on the national charts, it had great "legs," lingering in the U.S. Top 40 for a then-impressive 18 weeks. It remains the only Billboard 'Record of the Year' not to have topped the Hot 100 chart.
The Pharoahs' next releases-- "Ju Ju Hand" and "Ring Dang Doo"-- were minor chart successes. In late 1965, 11 months after the release of "Wooly Bully", David Martin, Jerry Patterson, Ray Stinnett, and Butch Gibson left Sam over a financial dispute. Sam's business manager Leanord Stogal discovered a band called Tony Gee & The Gypsys playing at the Metropole Cafe in Times Square, New York City. The band personal were Tony "Butch" Gerace, bass/vocals, Frankie Carabetta sax, keys/vocals, Billy Bennett drums/vocals, and Andy Kuha guitar/vocals. It was this new set of Pharaohs that recorded "Lil' Red Riding Hood" which reached #1 at the top of the charts of Cashbox Magazine in the first week of August of 1966.
A series of mostly novelty tunes followed (all on the MGM label) and kept the group on the charts into 1967. The titles of these songs included "The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin", "How Do You Catch A Girl", and "Oh That's Good, No, That's Bad". In 1967 3 girls joined the line up, Fran Curcio, Lorraine Genaro, and Jane Anderson. The new addition was called "The Shamettes". The group traveled to Asia as Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs and The Shamettes. In late 1967, Sam changed the name of the group to The Sam the Sham Revue. In 1970 Samudio went on his own and issued an album called Sam, Hard and Heavy on Atlantic. The album featured Duane Allman on guitar, the Dixie Flyers and the Memphis Horns. He formed a new band in 1974. The early 80s found Sam working with Ry Cooder on the soundtrack for the film The Border.
Sam continues to record, write, and do an occasional concert venue, while his adopted hometown of Memphis has adopted him an official ambassador of Memphis Rock and Roll.
Sam continues his motivational speaking events and will release a much anticipated book of poetry in early 2007. For more news about Sam, go to:
www.samthesham.com
He formed “The Pharaohs” in 1961 in Dallas. The other members were Carl Medke, Russell Fowler, Omar "Big Man” Lopez and Vincent Lopez (not related to Omar). In 1962 the group made one record but it did not sell. Tired of playing for $5 per man per night, The Pharaohs disbanded in late 1962.
In May, 1963, Vincent Lopez was playing for a band named “Andy and The Nightriders” in Louisiana. When their organist quit, Sam joined the group as the new organist. “Andy and The Nightriders” was composed of Andy Anderson, David A. Martin, Vincent Lopez and Sam. “The Nightriders” became very popular as the house band at The Congo Club. It was here that Sam became the “The Sham” in a dual reference to the fact that the band’s name was “Andy and The Nightriders” and Andy Anderson was the leader but everyone came to hear Sam sing and the fact that Sam couldn’t really play the organ – he could only play chords.
In June of 1963, “The Nightriders” headed for Memphis, Tennessee and once again became a very popular house band at a club called The Diplomat. In late summer 1963, Andy Anderson and Vincent Lopez left the band to return to Texas. Sam and David A. Martin replaced them with Jerry Patterson and Ray Stinnett and changed the name of the band to “Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs”. Shortly thereafter, the band added saxophonist, Butch Gibson.
After paying to record and press their own records to sell at their gigs, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs wound up with the Pen label in Memphis. There, they recorded what would prove to be their first and biggest hit ever, "Wooly Bully". "Wooly Bully" was a worldwide sensation and sold 3 million copies, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard charts in the summer of 1965.
The lyrics of "Wooly Bully" were hard to understand, and some radio stations banned it. The song was originally called "Hully Gully". When told by the record company that they couldn't use that phrase, Sam changed the words to the name of cat - 'Wooly Bully'. It became the first American record to sell a million copies during the onslaught of the British Invasion, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Although the "Wooly Bully" single never reached #1 on the national charts, it had great "legs," lingering in the U.S. Top 40 for a then-impressive 18 weeks. It remains the only Billboard 'Record of the Year' not to have topped the Hot 100 chart.
The Pharoahs' next releases-- "Ju Ju Hand" and "Ring Dang Doo"-- were minor chart successes. In late 1965, 11 months after the release of "Wooly Bully", David Martin, Jerry Patterson, Ray Stinnett, and Butch Gibson left Sam over a financial dispute. Sam's business manager Leanord Stogal discovered a band called Tony Gee & The Gypsys playing at the Metropole Cafe in Times Square, New York City. The band personal were Tony "Butch" Gerace, bass/vocals, Frankie Carabetta sax, keys/vocals, Billy Bennett drums/vocals, and Andy Kuha guitar/vocals. It was this new set of Pharaohs that recorded "Lil' Red Riding Hood" which reached #1 at the top of the charts of Cashbox Magazine in the first week of August of 1966.
A series of mostly novelty tunes followed (all on the MGM label) and kept the group on the charts into 1967. The titles of these songs included "The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin", "How Do You Catch A Girl", and "Oh That's Good, No, That's Bad". In 1967 3 girls joined the line up, Fran Curcio, Lorraine Genaro, and Jane Anderson. The new addition was called "The Shamettes". The group traveled to Asia as Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs and The Shamettes. In late 1967, Sam changed the name of the group to The Sam the Sham Revue. In 1970 Samudio went on his own and issued an album called Sam, Hard and Heavy on Atlantic. The album featured Duane Allman on guitar, the Dixie Flyers and the Memphis Horns. He formed a new band in 1974. The early 80s found Sam working with Ry Cooder on the soundtrack for the film The Border.
Sam continues to record, write, and do an occasional concert venue, while his adopted hometown of Memphis has adopted him an official ambassador of Memphis Rock and Roll.
Sam continues his motivational speaking events and will release a much anticipated book of poetry in early 2007. For more news about Sam, go to:
www.samthesham.com
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Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs Lyrics
A Long Long Way I'm gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John He said he…
Banned In Boston Oww Let me get up on the doctored up thunder ticket I'm…
Big Blue Diamonds Big diamonds, Big blue diamonds, On her finger she had …
Big City Lights Ain't coming back to this one-room shack When out of sight.…
Black Sheep Black sheep lays around drinking wine all day, Readin' poet…
Fate Don't see me on the block no more Don't rock camo…
Gangster of Love Jesse James and Frank James, Billy Kid all the rest Suppo…
Grasshopper AAAAAAAhhh!!! Let's give it to them! (Ok, ok! Ow! Ha-ha-ha-…
Groovin Groovin', on a Sunday afternoon Really couldn't get away too…
Groovin' Groovin', on a Sunday afternoon Really couldn't get away to…
Hair on My Chinny Chin Chin Who's there? Howl, it's me again I'll huff and puff and…
Hanky panky My baby does the hanky panky, My baby does the hanky…
Haunted House I just moved in my new house today Moving was hard…
How Do You Catch A Girl Won′t somebody tell me please How do you catch a girl? Take…
I found love I used to have love in the summer But things have…
I never Had No One I never had no one That I could call my own And…
Ju Ju Hand JU JU HAND (Domingo Samudio) Yoka mata huba bakwa Juju Hand…
Leave My Kitten Alone You better leave my kitten all alone, You better leave…
Let It Eat You wanna love him but he's really got no feelings Just…
li Owoooooooo! Who's that I see walkin' in these woods? Why, …
Li'l Red Riding Hood Owoooooooo!Who's that I see walkin' in these woods? Why, it'…
Lil Owoooooooo! Who's that I see walkin' in these woods? Why, it…
Little Miss Muffet Little miss Muffet, Don't be afraid of me. I'm just a lone…
Little Red Riding Hood Owoooooooo! Who's that I see walkin' in these woods? Why, it…
Live Is Life Rip mama Grady I'm seeing that only God can save me Money…
Long Tall Sally I'm gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John He said he…
Love Me Like Before Please hear my plea Please stay with me I, I, I don′t…
Love Potion #9 I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth You know that…
Mary is my little lamb Mary is my little lamb, little lamb, That's what she am Pied…
Mary Lee Mary Lee, Mary Lee, You know, you sure look good. Mary…
Pharaoh-A-Go-Go Whoa! Somebody help me! Yeah! Ow! Come on, drive! Yeah, …
Red Hot My gal is red hot - your gal ain't doodley…
Ring Dang Doo Well, you can have your gold and your diamonds too All…
Ring them bells Ring them bells, beat them drums, I'm gonna stay until she…
Shotgun I said shotgun shoot 'em 'fore he run now do…
Sorry 'bout That You say that your new love affair Wasn't quite what you…
Standing Ovation Standing ovation Clap it up like it's a classic It's models,…
Sweet Talk Sweet talk, sweet talk, That sounds so good, Got me believ…
The Cockfight Fowler's the name, Stew Fowler! I'm a rooster. Fightin's …
The Hair of My Chinny Chin Chin Who's there? Howl, it's me again I'll huff and puff and…
The Memphis Beat Pah-pah, pah-pah, yeah, Pah-pah, pah-pah, Pah-pah, pah-pah…
The Out Crowd I'm in with the out crowd I'm in with the out…
Wolly Bully Uno, dos, one, two, tres, quatro Eh, Wooly Bully Watch it …
Wooly Bully Uno dos, one two tres quatro Ay, wooly bully Watch it now,…
Wooly Bully '67 Uno, dos, one, two, tres, quatro Matty told Hatty about a…
You Can't Turn Me Off Has anybody senn my megaphone? Miss Miller, have you seen m…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Sam The Sham:
Hair on My Chinny Chin Chin Who's there? Howl, it's me again I'll huff and puff and…
Wooly Bully Uno dos, one two tres quatro Ay, wooly bully Watch it now,…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Pharaohs:
Closer I wish I was closer to my friends The only time…
Crazy Crazy Happenings I love all crazy colors when we fight I love…
Don You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
I Don't Want You Masterful lyrics crafted from a metal object U.A.P. phenomen…
I Dont Want You Masterful lyrics crafted from a metal object U.A.P. phenomen…
Little Red Riding Hood *howl* What's that I see walkin' in these woods? Why, it's L…
People Make the World Go 'Round People... (′Round And 'Round And Around...) People Make The …
Ring Dang Doo Well, you can have your gold and your diamonds too All…
The Pharaohs Love Y'all Pharaoh pharaoh your foolishness Forces me to sing i shall h…
Tracks Of My Tears People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell…
Vincent A Go Go Too young to go steady, too young I hear him (her)…
Wild Thing Wild thing, you make my heart sing You make everything groov…
Wooly Bully Uno dos, one two tres quatro Ay, wooly bully Watch it now,…