Sam Harris
Harris in 2009
Born
Samuel Kent Harris

(1961-06-04) June 4, 1961
Sand Springs, Oklahoma, United States
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
  • actor
Spouse
Danny Jacobsen
​
(m. 2008)​
Children1
WebsiteOfficial website

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

Career

Harris in 1990

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] "Over the Rainbow" was released in Australia and peaked at number 65 in 1985.[8]

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.[9]

Stage

On Broadway, he received a Drama Desk nomination for his role in the Jeff Calhoun-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, Pippin and "The First Wives Club." He also starred in the self-penned shows Hardcopy, Different Hats, Revival, and the critically acclaimed SAM. Harris's most recent show was Ham: A Musical Memoir which played in New York and Los Angeles. The Los Angeles run received Ovation Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor (Harris), and Best Musical Director (for Todd Schroeder.)

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 appeared on Motown Returns to The Appollo in 1985. In addition to his now iconic performances on "Star Search" he was a series regular on The Class (2006-2007 - Perry Pearl). In 1986-87, Harris was one of several "Star Search" alumni who performed the contestants' songs on the songwriting competition series You Write the Songs with Harris singing the winning song "Everybody Needs A Dream" by songwriter Tom Grose (also a "Star Search" alumnus with his band The Varsity.) Harris is also credited on Rules of Engagement (Jackie, recurring), The Wayne Brady Show, CSI (Alan Widcom), Major Crimes (Jason) among others. He was music supervisor on Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001), and 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), Brunch (co-host (2006), 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) and "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon".[10]

Author

In 2014, Harris penned a collection of autobiographical essays and stories entitled Ham - Slices of a Life which was published by Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books, and received unanimous critical praise.[11] Harris subsequently adapted the book into an Off-off-Broadway solo performance, HAM: A Musical Memoir.[12]

In 2020, Harris released his second book, a novel entitled The Substance of All Things.

Personal life

Sam Harris left his home in Oklahoma at the age of 15 to pursue a theater career, finished high school through correspondence courses, and briefly attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received the Frank Sinatra Pop Singing Award.[13]

Harris and Danny Jacobsen, who is a director and presentation coach for numerous blue-chip companies and also a film producer,[14] have been together since 1994. In 2008, they adopted a son, Cooper Atticus Harris-Jacobsen, and then the couple married.[15][16]

Stage work

References

  1. ↑ "Is 'American Idol' hitting a tired note?". Courier-journal.com. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Sam Harris Kicks off Met's Cabaret Series".
  3. ↑ Haver, Grayson (December 19, 2001). "So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star? | Music Feature". Indy Week. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ "See Ya, Carmen Ghia. Roger Bart Exits Producers June 30 for Hollywood". Playbill.com. June 30, 2002. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ Dodds, Richard. "The Bay Area Reporter Online | Life is a gay cabaret during Pride Month". Ebar.com. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  6. ↑ "See. Sam. Sing!". Pennsylvania.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. November 17, 1984. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  8. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 134. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. ↑ "Sam Harris Records Equality Anthem". Advocate.com. May 26, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Sam Harris - Filmography by TV series". IMDb. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
  11. ↑ Sam Harris (January 14, 2014) Ham: Slices of a Life: Essays and Stories, Gallery Books ISBN 978-1476733418
  12. ↑ Gates, Anita (January 24, 2015). "Theater Review: Dreaming of Fame, the Stage and Rainbows". The New York Times. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Sam Harris Biography". Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  14. ↑ "FilmMakers". Littlemanthemovie.com. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  15. ↑ Wong, Curtis M. (May 11, 2013). "Sam Harris at 54 Below: Star Search Champ, Broadway Actor on Cabaret Act, Forthcoming Book". HuffPost. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  16. ↑ Sam Harris (June 27, 2016). "BWW Interview: Sam Harris HAMs It Up While Telling It Real". Broadway World (Interview). Interviewed by Gil Kaan. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
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