Sam Harkness has been a highly respected teacher, singer, songwriter, and actor for over 30 years whose experience encompasses music styles from “ Blues “to “Broadway”.
Sam, a music major and graduate of New York’s famous High School of Performing Arts, started at age 14, as lead singer and writer for his own “doo-wop” vocal group and has since worked with many gospel and jazz vocal groups, and with R&B and Blues bands in and throughout the Tri-state area. He has appeared as lead singer of Jump Street Blues Band at Tramp’s, Lone Star Café, gospel revues at the “world famous” Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., the Village Gate, on Broadway as leader of orchestral voices (pit captain) and as the “Cowardly Lion” in “The Wiz ” with Stephanie Mills and in “Reggae”, principal role off-Broadway in “House of Flowers” wit h Patti Labelle, principal role as one the Chesterfields (vocal group) in the Hollywood movie film, “American Hot Wax” which depicted the early days of rock n’ roll. In addition, Sam acquired wide range of experience in jingles, demos, and as a background, “session” vocalist with the likes of Luther Vandross, Chic, the Village People, and Marvin Sease. He has served as an Adjunct Professor of Voice at Five Towns College and lectured at the Jazz Coalition, as well in public schools under the auspices of the International Jazz Artists. As a songwriter, his music was featured on Lena Horne’s Grammy award-winning “Lena on Broadway” show. |
