X-Nico

2 unusual facts about Joe Sample


Bill Traylor

A detail from Traylor's Construction w/Figures and Animals was used for the cover of Joe Sample's album, The Pecan Tree.

Joe Sample

Sample has a bassist son named Nicklas (with an ex-wife), who is a member of the Coryell Auger Sample Trio featuring Larry Coryell and Brian Auger.


Artistry Music

In July 2006 the label released the Jason Miles smooth jazz album "To Grover, With Love", a tribute to Grover Washington, Jr. Contributing to the album were some of the biggest names in smooth jazz, including Regina Belle, Dave Koz, Russ Freeman, Gerald Albright, Peter White, Chuck Loeb, Joe Sample, George Duke and Steve Cole.

Chad Wackerman

Chad has also toured with James Taylor, best friends Mark Linn-Baker and Larry Sweeney, John Patitucci, Jeff Lorber, and Joe Sample, as well as fellow Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio in a series of all-percussion concerts.

Dale Oehler

During the 1990s, Oehler's credits included work on albums for Dolly Parton, Kirk Whalum, Joe Sample, Diane Schuur and Mark Whitfield (featuring Diana Krall).

Lonnie Plaxico

Plaxico has also performed and recorded with a wide range of artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, David Murray, Alice Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Andrew Hill, Joe Sample, Abbey Lincoln, Bill Cosby, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ravi Coltrane, Scott Tixier, Barbara Dennerlein, Helen Sung and Nina Vidal.

Poogie Bell

Bell is best known as a drummer, working extensively with bassists Marcus Miller and as a sideman for other artists such as Erykah Badu, Victor Bailey, David Bowie, Stanley Clarke, Randy Crawford, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, John Scofield, Stanley Turrentine, Luther Vandross, Vanessa Williams and Victor Wooten.

Simply Chrysolite

Simply Chrysolite performed at the highly rated Mangaung African Cultural Festival in South Africa in October 2012 alongside Angie Stone, Randy Crawford and Joe Sample to over 30,000 music fans.

Steve Rucker

Steve also performed or recorded with Michael Jackson, Paquito D'Rivera, Barry Gibb, Jaco Pastorius, Joe Sample, Johnny Cash, Bo Diddley, the Woody Herman Big Band, the Tommy Dorsey Band (with Warren Covington), Sam Moore and Bob James.


see also

American Classic

In 2008, Nelson met at his ranch in Austin, Texas with his producer Tommy Lipuma, and jazzmen Joe Sample to select the songs for the album.