Sam Dees

Sam Dees (born December 17, 1945) is a soul singer, songwriter, and producer. He was born in Birmingham to a large family. His vocal talent emerged early in life, and he won a number of singing contests. When he was still nine years old he formed a singing group, the Bossanovians and began to travel.

Dees began recording in his early 20s for SSS International in Nashville. He put out two singles on Birmingham-based Lolo Records, recorded by Bob Groves, including "It's All Right (It's All Wrong)" which had been written for Percy Sledge and "Don't Keep Me Hanging On", which he wrote himself. He created the Moonsong Publishing Company in 1969 to release his own songs. He produced several singles for Clintone Records at the New London Recording Studio in Homewood.

Within a couple of years Dees was recording on Chess for executive producer Lenny Sachs. Under Sachs umbrella he recorded "Love Starvation", "Maryanna", "Can You Be a One Woman Man", and "Put You Back in Your Place" in a former Birmingham church. He then began recording for Atlantic and put out one of the landmark albums of the soul genre with 1975's The Show Must Go On. His recording career was eventually overshadowed, however, by his ability to craft and produce hit songs for other artists. Dees' songs include "Am I Dreaming" (Atlantic Starr), "One in a Million You" (Larry Graham), "Save the Overtime (For Me)" (Gladys Knight), "Love All the Hurt Away" (George Benson and Aretha Franklin), and "Lover for Life" (Whitney Houston). He created his own Label, Pen Pad, on which he released his second full album, Secret Admirer.

Discography

Albums

• The Show Must Go On. (Atlantic, 1975)
• Secret Admirer. (Pen Pad, 1988)
• The Homecomings. (Pen Pad, 1991)
• Cry to Me. (P-Vine, 1994)
• Second to None (Kent, 1995)
• Gospel Tribute Album (Pen Pad, 1997)
• Sam Dees (After All, 1997)
• Lovers Do (Pen Pad, 1998)
• The Heritage of a Black Man (Kent, 1998)

Singles

• "Need You Girl" / "Lonely for You Baby" (SSS International, 1968)
• "It's All Wrong (It's All Right)" / "Don't Keep Hanging On" (Lolo Records, 1969)
• "Easier to Say Than Do" / "Soul Sister" (Lolo Records, 1969)
• "Won't Nobody Listen" / "Pretty Soon" as "Black Haze Express" (Clintone Records, 1971)
• "Black Tattler" / "Stop the Merry-Go-Round" as "Black Haze Express" (Vulcan Records, 1972)
• "Hammering Hank" Parts 1 & 2, as "Blast Furnace Band and Grapevine Singers" (Clintone Records, 1973)
• "Can You Be a One Man Woman" / "Put You Back in Your Place" (Chess, 1971)
• "Maryanna" / "Love Starvation" (Chess, 1971)
• "I'm So Very Glad" / "Claim Jumpin'" (Clintone Records, 1972)
• "I'm So Glad" / "Just Out of Reach" (Atlantic, 1972)
• "So Tied Up" / "Signed Miss Heroin" (Atlantic 45-2991, 1973)
• "So Tied Up" / "Trouble Child" (Atlantic 45-2991, 1973)
• "The Show Must Go On" / "Child of the Streets" (Atlantic, 1974)
• "Come Back Strong" / "Worn Out Broken Heart" (Atlantic, 1975)
• "Fragile Handle with Care" / "Save the Love at Any Cost" (Atlantic, 1975)
• "Storybook children" / "Just as Sure" (duet with Bettye Swann) (Big Tree, 1976)
• "In My World(Long Version" / "In My World" (short version) (New London International, 1978)
• "Say Yeah" / "My World" (Polydor, 1978)
• "One In A Million You" (Larry Graham, 1980)
• "Survive" / "Fly Angel Fly" (UK Move, 1986)
• "Just Wait Until I Get You Home" / "I'll Be Loving You" (Pen Pad, 1988)
• "After All" / "Always Something" (Pen Pad, 1989)
• "After All" / "True Believer In Love" / "After All"" (Pen Pad, 1989)
• "Get The Message Out" / "Say It's Only A Rumour" / "(Theme from) After All" (UK Ardent, 1992)
• "Walk on the Edge" (Vocal, Instr. & Acapella Versions) (UK Ardent, 1993)

References

• Hogan, Ed (no date) "Sam Dees: Biography" for All-Music Guide. [1] - accessed June 10, 2006
• Edwards, Dave, editor (1996) Sam Dees. Masters of Soul Series, Volume 1. Burlington, Vermont: JPMC Books. ISBN 1888885017

External link

• Sam Dees website