Sammy Strain

{{short description|American R&B vocalist (born 1939)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Sammy Strain | image = | caption = | birth_name = Samuel Strain Jr. | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1939|12|9}} | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alias = Sam Strain | genre = {{hlist|R&B|soul|blues|Doo-wop}} | instrument = Vocals (tenor) | occupation = Singer | years_active = 1956–2004 | label = | website = }}

'''Samuel Strain Jr.''' (born December 9, 1939){{ref|a|note}} is an American retired R&B vocalist, known for his time as a member of Little Anthony and the Imperials (1961–1972; 1992–2004) and The O'Jays (1976–1992).<ref name="Chips"/>

He holds the unusual distinction of being twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: in 2005 with the O'Jays and in 2009 with Little Anthony and the Imperials.

==Early life== Strain was born to Sammy Strain Sr. and Margaret Mosley in Brooklyn in 1939. He visited the Apollo Theater as a teenager, and dropped out of Alexander Hamilton High School, Brooklyn age 16.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soultracks.com/sammy-strain|title=Sammy Strain|date=September 14, 2016|website=SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews}}</ref>

==Career== Strain formed The Chips with several friends in 1956. He sang with a tenor voice.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TytXdxjh4tIC&q=sam+strain+tenor&pg=PT21|title=An A-Z of Rock and Roll - new and updated edition|publisher=An A-Z of Rock and Roll|isbn=9781105325038|via=Google Books}}</ref>

In 1961, Strain joined The Imperials; they were later rejoined by their lead singer, Jerome "Little Anthony" Gourdine, and returned to the group's original name, Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Strain left the group in 1972 and was replaced by their choreographer Harold Jenkins. Strain then shifted to a career in food service, having a restaurant in Los Angeles and did not sing professionally for three years.{{citation needed|date=January 2010}} At the end of that period, he was briefly a member of The Fandangos with Lonnie Cook and Alvin Walker. {{citation needed|date=January 2010}} He also auditioned to be the lead singer for the group Arpeggio.{{citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In 1976, Strain joined the O'Jays as the replacement for original O'Jays member William Powell, who left the group due to illness (colon cancer). Powell died shortly thereafter.{{citation needed|date=January 2010}} In 1992, Strain left the O'Jays and rejoined the Imperials, singing with them until he retired from performing in 2004.

Strain was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: in 2005 with the O'Jays and in 2009 with Little Anthony and the Imperials.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodsoapbox.com/interview-sammy-strain-rb-star-remembers-those-streetlight-harmonies/|title=INTERVIEW: Sammy Strain, R&B star, remembers those 'Streetlight Harmonies'|date=April 1, 2020|website=Hollywood Soapbox}}</ref>

==Personal life== Strain married the singer Yvonne Fair (now deceased). He is currently married to his second wife, DeBorah, and has two sons, Vincent and Shawn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Sammy-Strain-Story-Part-4-Little-Anthony-The-Imperials.pdf|title=Sammy Strain Story Part 4 : Little Anthony and the Imperials|pages=12–20|website=Classicurbanharmony.net|access-date=August 3, 2023}}</ref><ref name="youtube.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqSU5_WGozA|title=Little Anthony and the Imperials accept award Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2009 Induction Ceremony|work=YouTube|date=October 8, 2010 |access-date=January 7, 2015}}</ref>

==Notes== :1.{{note|a}}Some sources give Strain's year of birth as 1940 or 1941.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wbssmedia.com/artists/detail/3087|title=WBSS Media-Sam Strain|website=Wbssmedia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=%22Sammy+Strain%22+1940&pg=RA7-PA1986|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857125958|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TLszAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Sammy+Strain%22+1941|title=The Rock Who's who|first=Brock|last=Helander|date=November 1, 1996|publisher=Schirmer Books|isbn=9780028710310|via=Google Books}}</ref> However, he celebrated his 80th birthday in 2019 and most sources give 1939 as the year of birth, including the detailed biography in ''Echoes Of The Past'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jaginchystuff.com/|title=Feature Friday: An Unsung Hero ... Sammy Strain|website=Jaginchystuff.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/325q-oNYzjU| archive-date = 2021-12-05| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=325q-oNYzjU| title = 80th Birthday Surprise Party for Sammy Strain | website=YouTube| date = 12 December 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Chips">{{cite web|url=http://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Sammy-Strain-Story-Part-1-The-Chips.pdf |title=Sammy Strain Story Part 1 : The Chips|pages=12–20|website=Classicurbanharmony.net|access-date=August 3, 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|1897829}} *{{Discogs artist|1195749-Sam-Strain}}

{{The O'Jays}} {{Little Anthony and the Imperials}} {{2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}} {{2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strain, Sammy}} Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:American soul singers Category:Musicians from Brooklyn Category:American tenors Category:21st-century African-American male singers Category:21st-century American male singers Category:20th-century African-American male singers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singers Category:Little Anthony and the Imperials members Category:The O'Jays members