Sam began his professional life as a singer touring the South and the New England states singing Gospel Music from 1968-1974. In 1985, Sam relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his longtime dream of signing a recording contract with a major label. He immediately began singing at Marla Gibbs (Star of sitcoms The Jeffersons and 227) Supper Club. So impressed by what she saw she called Sam “The Total Package,” punctuality, stage presence, attitude, usage of the audience, and most of all great singing, she nicknamed him “MR. ENTERTAINMENT.”