Steve Sample, Sr

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Steve Sample, Sr is a renowned bandleader, arranger, composer and jazz educator now residing in Bellingham, Washington. For more than 30 years, Sample was a professor in the Music Department of the University of Alabama, where he directed the Jazz Ensembles and taught music theory, arranging and jazz related courses. Steve trained many notable jazz musicians during his long tenure at Alabama, including Gary Wheat, Birch Johnson, Ned Holder , Kelley O'Neal, Chris Gordon, Beth Gottlieb, Mart Avant, Rick Avin and Ray Reach. He is respected by his peers as one of the finest jazz educators in the United States. On September 26, 2008, Steve will be inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame for his contributions to jazz education.

Samples' son, Steve Sample, Jr is an accomplished jazz drummer, having played with many notable jazz groups, including the Glenn Miller Band, the Night Flight Big Band and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra.