Capture Music Featured Story:

Sam Gunderson

From a very early age it became apparent that music would become the domineering force in Sam Gunderson’s life. Music was a focal point in the Gunderson household, and was his main focus throughout his formative years.

Although being well versed on a variety of different instruments, It became clear that guitar would become his primary choice. It was on the guitar that Sam could begin to pick out the various blues sounds that he heard his father, a guitar player make. His father would teach him the basic chords and progressions, and from there they would study the giants of electric blues. A native of Chicago Sam’s dad experienced firsthand the zenith of the bustling Chicago blues scene and inspired with unforgettable stories about the intensity of the artists.

Gunderson & Cactus Groove”, “F.I.V. Years in the Funhouse”, and “The Cactus Groove Sessions”.

Sam’s first serious full-grown effort “Sam Gunderson & Cactus Groove” is where he really cut his musical teeth. Throughout the Virginia Band’s ten-year residence, Sam would learn the basics of the industry. From touring to industry pitfalls, songwriting, recording, and live performance, the bands average 320-date a year schedule would be the base of his business and playing experience. It was with this band that he would solidify his relationship with Inner Ear Studios and record the first threealbums on his discography: “Sam 

After a productive ten year run, looking for a change Sam found himself in the South picked up by then regionally known soul singer Taylor Hicks. He spent a year and a half touring the South with “The Taylor Hicks Band” until Taylor went on to American Idol stardom. In Taylor’s absence the band formed “The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra” (LiMBO) with Sam sharing the front-man position with keyboardist Brian Less. From this band came the releases, “Little Memphis Blues Orchestra”, and “Live @ Workplay” CD, and DVD. It was with “LiMBO” that Sam experienced his first national tour, and gained the skills necessary to function in a nationally touring band. The following years brought more national tours with Taylor Hicks, and a variety of regional performances in various bands. During this time Sam accumulated a great deal of original material that would become the basis of his first true solo album. 

 “Dirt” is Sam Gunderson’s first solo album and celebrates the collaboration between Sam and longtime friend and musical heavyweight Mike Creager of Capture Music. The combination of Sam’s musicianship, and Mikes recording ability and sonic prowess, created an authentic blues, roots album with its own distinct sound. While paying tribute to the blues genre, it is still fresh with songwriting, style, and the finest musicianship the Southeast can offer. With this album Sam hopes to launch a national tour under his own flag, and continue to fulfill his dreams of performing, and making happiness through sharing his art.

 

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We would also like to say thanks to all of the stations supporting Jesse Payne's extended play release "Buffalo", for more information on Jesse and his music go to www.jessepayneonline.com