About Sam

Sam Rudin is an extraordinary pianist, with lightning-fast fingers, sure-handed clarity, and the rhythmic intensity of an entire band. He is also a compelling vocalist whose rough-hewn voice conveys both drama and humor.

He is a musical historian, whose repertoire reflects the whole range of American 20th century pop music, from blues to be-bop, from ragtime to rock'n'roll, and whose amusing and educational anecdotes help the listener make the connections.

And he is an exciting, high energy performer, whose enthusiasm on stage is as clear as his love for the blues, jazz, and country traditions from which his music comes.

Sam has worked with all types of musicians, playing rock'n'roll with Chubby Checker, western swing with Back in the Saddle, classic blues with Frankie Lee, and slick pop-soul with SisterSledge. He has even worked with bluegrass great Frank Wakefield, who has proclaimed Sam to be the only true bluegrass piano player in the entire world. With his own band, Hurricane Sam and the Hotshots, he plays swing, blues, R&B, and funk.

Sam fits in everywhere. He is equally at home on a big concert stage or in a small, intimate coffeehouse. as a solo performer, he has opened dozens of shows for such diverse talents as blues greats Albert King and Taj Mahal; pop stars David Crosby, Jerry Garcia, and Maria Muldauer; country rocker Jerry Jeff Walker; and jazz vibist Bobby Hutcherson.



A Personal Note - About the Name
As you may have noticed, I've undergone a slight identity change. I've been Hurricane Sam for a long time and the band is still Hurricane Sam and the Hotshots. But for a while now I've wanted to more clearly differentiate the band from the solo show.

Despite my frequently high energy approach to piano, there is, after all, a certain intimacy to an acoustic solo performance -- an intimacy that is perhaps not that well evoked by the mention of an extreme weather system.

So from now on, when I perform solo, it will be as you see it here --
Sam Rudin - Boogie, blues and jazz.