Sammy Price born 6 October 1908

 

Sammy Price (October 6, 1908 - April 14, 1992) was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. He was born Samuel Blythe Price, in Honey Grove, Texas. Price is most noteworthy for his work with his own band on Decca Records, known as the Texas Bluesicians that included fellow musicians Don Stovall and Emmett Berry. The artist is equally notable for his decade long partnership with Henry "Red" Allen.

 

He first learned alto horn before studying piano in Dallas and was a singer and dancer with Alphonso Trent's band during 1927-1930. In 1929, he recorded one solitary side under the title of "Sammy Price and His Four Quarters." After a few years in Kansas City, he spent time in Chicago and Detroit.

 

In 1938, Price became the house pianist for Decca in New York and appeared on many blues sides with such singers as Trixie Smith and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. He led his own band on records in the early '40s which included (on one memorable session) Lester Young.

 

Price worked steadily on 52nd Street, in 1948 played at the Nice Festival with Mezz Mezzrow, spent time back in Texas, and then a decade with Red Allen; he was also heard on many rock & roll-type sessions in the 1950s.

 

Besides a talented musician, Sammy Price has distinguished himself in political commitment in civil rights during the 60's. He was also a great businessman: he opened a couple of night clubs in Texas and launched a meat products company.

 

 

 

Here's "Boogie Woogie Notion" by Sam Price & His Bluesicians from above album

 

In later years he recorded with Doc Cheatham, he also partnered with the Roosevelt Hotel in New York; and was the headline entertainment at the Crawdaddy Restaurant, a New Orleans themed restaurant in New York in the mid 1970s. Both Benny Goodman and Buddy Rich played with Price at this venue. in the 1980s he switched to playing in the bar of Boston's Copley Plaza.

 

 

 

He was active until near his death. He died of a heart attack in April 1992, at home in Harlem, in New York, at the age of 83. (Info mainly edited from AMG & Wikipedia) 

 

 

Sammy Price with an all star line up playing in the Netherlands in 1959 for the VPRO Broadcasting Company.  A wonderful team of musicians is surrounding Doc Cheatham. Pianist and leader Sammy Price sets the intro and after a few chorusses the band jumps onto One O'Clock Jump. On alto sax we hear Eddie Barefield, trombonists Elmer Crumley and J.C. Higgimbotham. In the rhythm group no other than J.C. Heard on drums with Jimmy Lewis on bass.