Sam Harris (singer)

Not to be confused with the lead singer of the rock band X Ambassadors.
Sam Harris
Born Samuel Kent Harris
(1961-06-04) June 4, 1961
Cushing, Oklahoma, United States
Occupation Recording artist and actor
Spouse(s) Danny Jacobsey (m. 2008)
Children 1
Website Official website

Samuel Kent "Sam" Harris (born June 4, 1961) is an American pop and theater musician as well as a television, theater and film actor.

Career

Singing

Harris got his start as the grand champion singer of Star Search in its premiere season in 1983. He gained acclaim and became best known for his winning rendition of the song "Over the Rainbow" on the show.[1][2][3][4][5] "Over the Rainbow" has since become his signature song.[6] His appearance on Star Search led to him landing a contract with Motown Records. His first single, "Sugar Don't Bite," was a Top 40 hit, reaching #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1984.[7] He is a multi-million selling recording artist with nine studio albums to his credit. He can also be heard on numerous concert, guest artist, and cast recordings. He has toured extensively in concert and has played to sold-out audiences at major venues including New York's Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre, and London's West End. He has appeared with the Boston Pops Orchestra, at the White House, and has sung on a variety of television specials and live productions. On February 12, 2008, he released a new single entitled "War on War" that became an Internet phenomenon with music videos made by the general public. The song became a part of his album, Free, which was released that summer. The single "Change Is On The Way" was written to support the Obama campaign and was heard on numerous television shows and behind Internet videos around the time of the election. In 2010, Sam wrote and released "My Reclamation," which has become an anthem for marriage equality.[8]

Stage

On Broadway, he received a Drama Desk nomination for his role in the Tommy Tune-directed revival of Grease, and a Drama League Award as well as Tony, Outer Critic's Circle and Drama Desk Award nominations for his work in Cy Coleman's Tony nominated musical The Life. He's also appeared on Broadway in Mel Brooks' Tony Award winning musical The Producers, in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and in the musicals Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, Hair, and Pippin. He also starred in the self-penned shows Hardcopy, Different Hats, Revival and the critically acclaimed SAM. Harris' most recent theatrical outing was the film-to-musical adaptation of The First Wives Club seen in a limited run at San Diego's the Old Globe Theatre in the summer of 2009.

Films

Harris has appeared in three feature films to date: In the Weeds (2000, as Jonathan), the documentary Little Man (2005, as himself) and Elena Undone (2010, as Tyler).

Television

Harris co-created the television series Down to Earth (1984, which ran for four years and 104 episodes). He was a series regular on The Class (2006-2007 - Perry Pearl). Harris is also credited on Rules of Engagement (Jackie, recurring, 2009), The Wayne Brady Show (2003 - Actor, one episode) and the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001, music supervisor). He has also appeared on numerous talk shows including The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1997 and 2000 - three episodes), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1994 - one episode), Brunch as a co-host (2006 - one episode), The Oprah Winfrey Show (1997 and 2001 - two episodes), Dr. Phil's 500th episode (2005), The View (2007 - one episode), The Tyra Banks Show (2010), The Dr. Drew Show (2011).[9]

Author

In 2014, Harris turned his collection of autobiographical essays and stories which he had written into a book which was published as Ham (Slices of a Life).[10]

Personal life

Harris and Danny Jacobsen, who is a director and presentation coach for numerous blue-chip companies and also a film producer,[11] have been together since 1994. They adopted a son, Cooper Atticus Harris-Jacobsen, in April 2008, and the couple married on November 1, 2008.

Harris disclosed, in an interview he gave to The Advocate in 2004, that he is a recovering alcoholic.

Stage work

References

  1. ↑ "Is 'American Idol' hitting a tired note?". Courier-journal.com. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  2. ↑ "Sam Harris Kicks off Met's Cabaret Series". Highbeam.com. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  3. ↑ Haver, Grayson (2001-12-19). "So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star? | Music Feature". Indy Week. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  4. ↑ "See Ya, Carmen Ghia. Roger Bart Exits Producers June 30 for Hollywood". Playbill.com. 2002-06-30. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  5. ↑ Dodds, Richard. "The Bay Area Reporter Online | Life is a gay cabaret during Pride Month". Ebar.com. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  6. ↑ "See. Sam. Sing!". Pennsylvania.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  7. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1984-11-17
  8. ↑ "Sam Harris Records Equality Anthem". Advocate.com. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  9. ↑ "Sam Harris - Filmography by TV series". IMDb. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  10. ↑ Sam Harris (January 14, 2014) Ham: Slices of a Life: Essays and Stories, Gallery Books ISBN 978-1476733418
  11. ↑ "FilmMakers". Littlemanthemovie.com. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
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