Sam Hooper Group

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 since 2004 at Shanghai’s renowned House of Blues & Jazz. Later that year, he won Guitar Center’s King of the Blues Store Finals in Cerritos, CA. Hooper has been featured at Boston’s NEMO, Nashville’s 2NMC, and Philadelphia’s PMC music conferences, New England Songwriters Festival, and The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival in Florida. The Group was also a finalist in the 2002 18th Annual Boston Battle of the Blues Bands, (now part of the International Blues Challenge). Hooper has previously released three critically acclaimed CDs, the infectious All Caught Up, the collaboration Rich Glenn & Sam Hooper, and East, recorded in Shanghai. His songs have been heard by millions of viewers on the hot daytime TV dramas All My Children and The Young & The Restless. In 2004, one was selected for the compilation CD, Boston’s Best Singer/Songwriter Showcase. Sam Hooper Group has opened for blues guitar legends Ronnie Earl and Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson and showcased at New York’s Soul of the Blues Festival and Alabama’s W. C. Handy Music Festival. Hooper has also performed at Terra Blues in New York City as part of Chicago blues great, Melvin’ Taylor’s band. A documentary of Hooper’s musical journey has appeared on Medford, MA Cable TV and is now seen on youtube.com. In 2010, Hooper played guitar for five months on Princess Cruises’ Star and Grand Princess cruise ships with the band Grooveline. His performances were enjoyed by thousands of passengers in South America, The Caribbean, The Netherlands and Europe. He returned to Grooveline in 2011 to play and sing again on the Star Princess including stops in North Africa and Uruguay. In November 2010, Hooper returned to Shanghai as a special guest performer to celebrate House of Blues & Jazz’ 15th anniversary. To commemorate this special occasion, the band has released its new CD, Sam Hooper Group – LIVE in Shanghai. It was recorded on an exciting night of the band’s second contract at House of Blues & Jazz. It features Sam along with Jordan Scannella – bass and Akira Nakamura – drums throwing down in front of an ecstatic standing-room-only crowd. The new CD is available now on iTunes. 2011 also found Sam Hooper Group on the road doing its first tours of the Southeast and Southwest USA. Stops in Florida, Louisiana and Texas culminated with a thrilling performance opening for England’s #1 blues guitarist, Matt Schofield, at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar in Houston, TX. Energized new fans showed their support by buying CDs from Sam’s full catalog! For more information visit samhooper.com. NEW Interview: http://www.bmansbluesreport.com/2011/11/bmans-exclusive-interview-sam-hooper.html