“F*ck this shit. Where's the melody? We're going to L.A.”

In Joe's stories about the past, he'd often share a simple yet insightful perspective on the Crusaders' musical journey. Recalling those early days, he'd laughingly say, "All the hard cats were in New York, and the Crusaders were like, 'F*ck this, where's the melody? We're going to L.A.'"

“The Joe Sample Fav 1” playlist is a carefully curated list created by Nick Sample, the son of Joe Sample. While every song in Joe’s catalog holds a special place in the heart of Holican’s founder, this playlist is a great starting point for anyone looking to explore his music.

Black and White, As Simple As

In the early 1960s, Joe was touring with the Beach Boys in Paris as their keyboard player. At that time, France was at war with Algeria due to the oppression of Algerians, which was no longer being tolerated. As a result, intolerance towards Algerians in France grew.

Cook Creole pasta with Joe!

If “wowed” by a meal, Joe would send the waiter to ask the chef what was in it and how it was prepared. Usually, the chef would comply. The waiter would return with a verbal list of ingredients and some basic instructions.For Joe, the best part of touring was being able to dine at a new restaurant every night. It was always an adventure.

Find the full story and recipe below.

The Joe Sample Hall of Fame playlist is a dynamic compilation of songs that feature tracks where Joe had a hand as a skilled session player, songwriter, or producer. However, the playlist is not restricted to these selections alone and is open to recommendations from Joe’s peers, family, and friends.

Joe Sample & George Benson: A Performance For The Ages

While George Benson and Joe Sample did collaborate multiple times, most notably on their song "Deeper Than You Think," the particular moment highlighted here was a performance of George's song "The Ghetto." Set in the 2000s, these two jazz legends were in the twilight of their iconic careers.

However, this performance showcased how they had not lost touch with their talents in the slightest. With Joe on the keys and George on the guitar and vocals, this unique rendition of the original song is a moment to capture for all jazz, funk, and blues fans.

“The jazz people hate the blues, the blues people hate rock, and the rock people hate jazz...”

Joe was celebrated for his unparalleled ability to blend soul, funk, gospel, Latin, and blues into jazz, showcased his distinctive dexterity and creativity. As he humorously observed, 'The jazz people hate the blues, the blues people hate rock, and the rock people hate jazz. But how can anyone hate music? We tend to not hate any form of music, so we blend it all together. And consequently, we’re always finding ourselves in big trouble with everybody.'

Joe's Intro To Japan

Joe was hired to play piano and write scores for the Percy Faith Orchestra. The tour was scheduled for Japan in the early 1970's. It would be Joe's second international tour generating a relationship and fanbase for many years to come. Japan became a favorite and popular destination for his music career.

Click below to hear one of the iconic scores that Joe wrote, performed by the Percy Faith orchestra in Japan.

Stanley Turrentine & The Apprentice Joe Sample

Stanley Turrentine was a legendary tenor saxophonist who was greatly admired by Joe Sample. Whenever Joe visited or worked in New York City, he would always run into Stanley at The Mayflower hotel, which unfortunately no longer exists. The hotel was located in 15 Central Park-West.

During their meetings, the two musicians would have lunch and discuss music. Joe cherished this time and felt honoured to receive advice, music lessons, and develop a friendship with his hero. Have a listen to “New Time Shuffle,” composed by Joe Sample. It is a soul jazz music album recorded by Stanley Turrentine and released in 1979.

The bond between Joe Sample and Randy Crawford was priceless, the connection as close as brother and sister.

Sample and Crawford first met in 1976 when Crawford made her debut album Everything Must Change.

Although the album received positive reviews, it was not commercially successful. Sample heard Crawford’s song and was impressed with her voice, so he asked her to sing the vocals for one of his songs.

This collaboration led to the production of Crawford’s fourth album Now We May Begin, which turned out to be a huge success.

Joe & Tupac: When two styles combined to create a classic

Tupac Shakur achieved international success with the hit song Dear Mama, which sampled In All My Wildest Dreams from Joe Sample’s iconic solo album Rainbow Seeker. Tupac and Joe had never met before. The process of sampling was typical for hip-hop producers who select a sample and build a track around it.

“Somehow, the Crusaders always found themselves in trouble with everybody!”

Jonatha Brooke captured this amazing story in an interview in 2016 following Joe's passing:

“He used to tell this story on stage about this one Crusaders song, “Way Back Home.” Really simple song. Gorgeous, though. Simple, but make-you-cry beautiful. At one point, I guess it was on some kind of tape that the Symbionese Liberation Army was using for their brain-washing.

Find out more below.

Being the prominent figure that Joe was within Jazz, Funk & Blues, he collaborated with a number of some of the most iconic names in the genre. This compilation features Joe’s collaborative releases with other prominent artists, including vocalists and instrumentalists.

Causing A Stir: "Put It Where You Want"

The popular Crusaders song, "Put It Where You Want It," was coined from a phrase commonly used by legendary comedian Redd Foxx. Redd was a favorite of Joe, and both were mutual friends who frequented the popular club, the Baked Potato, in Studio City. Redd's eloquent character would greet a beautiful woman with a respectful hello, kiss the palm of his hand, shake the woman's hand, and say, "Put It Where You Want It."

Joe Samples secret setting on his Fender Rhodes keyboard.

Every Keyboard magazine asked Joe Sample, what pedals do you use to get that incredible sound on the Fender Rhodes.

His reply: None, it’s all in my technique.