Sammy Strain

Sammy Strain
Also known asSam Strain
Born
Samuel Strain Jr.

(1939-12-09) December 9, 1939 (age 86)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals (tenor)
Years active1956–2004

Samuel Strain Jr. (born December 9, 1939)note is an American retired R&B vocalist, known for his time as a member of Little Anthony and the Imperials (1961–1972; 1992–2004) and The O'Jays (1976–1992).

He holds the unusual distinction of being twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: in 2005 with the O'Jays and in 2009 with Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Early life

Strain was born to Sammy Strain Sr. and Margaret Mosley in Brooklyn in 1939. He visited the Apollo Theater as a teenager, and dropped out of Alexander Hamilton High School, Brooklyn age 16.

Career

Strain formed The Chips with several friends in 1956. He sang with a tenor voice.

In 1961, Strain joined The Imperials; they were later rejoined by their lead singer, Jerome "Little Anthony" Gourdine, and returned to the group's original name, Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Strain left the group in 1972 and was replaced by their choreographer Harold Jenkins. Strain then shifted to a career in food service, having a restaurant in Los Angeles and did not sing professionally for three years.[citation needed] At the end of that period, he was briefly a member of The Fandangos with Lonnie Cook and Alvin Walker. [citation needed] He also auditioned to be the lead singer for the group Arpeggio.[citation needed]

In 1976, Strain joined the O'Jays as the replacement for original O'Jays member William Powell, who left the group due to illness (colon cancer). Powell died shortly thereafter.[citation needed] In 1992, Strain left the O'Jays and rejoined the Imperials, singing with them until he retired from performing in 2004.

Strain was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: in 2005 with the O'Jays and in 2009 with Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Personal life

Strain married the singer Yvonne Fair (now deceased). He is currently married to his second wife, DeBorah, and has two sons, Vincent and Shawn.

Notes

1.^Some sources give Strain's year of birth as 1940 or 1941. However, he celebrated his 80th birthday in 2019 and most sources give 1939 as the year of birth, including the detailed biography in Echoes Of The Past magazine.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sammy Strain Story Part 1 : The Chips" (PDF). Classicurbanharmony.net. pp. 12–20. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sammy Strain". SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews. September 14, 2016.
  3. ↑ An A-Z of Rock and Roll - new and updated edition. An A-Z of Rock and Roll. ISBN 9781105325038 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Sammy Strain, R&B star, remembers those 'Streetlight Harmonies'". Hollywood Soapbox. April 1, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Sammy Strain Story Part 4 : Little Anthony and the Imperials" (PDF). Classicurbanharmony.net. pp. 12–20. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Little Anthony and the Imperials accept award Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2009 Induction Ceremony". YouTube. October 8, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ "WBSS Media-Sam Strain". Wbssmedia.com.
  8. ↑ Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ Helander, Brock (November 1, 1996). The Rock Who's who. Schirmer Books. ISBN 9780028710310 – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ "Feature Friday: An Unsung Hero ... Sammy Strain". Jaginchystuff.com.
  11. ↑ "80th Birthday Surprise Party for Sammy Strain". YouTube. 12 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05.