Originally from Akron, Ohio, Sammy moved to New York in 1980 and quickly became one of the city's most in-demand session players. He was among the first drummers to master electronic drum programming, a skill that put him at the center of Cameo's breakout sound on *Single Life* and *Word Up!* — records that still define '80s funk. From there, his credits expanded to sessions and tours with Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Foreigner, Lou Reed, Aretha Franklin, Ziggy Marley, Hall & Oates, The Beach Boys, Pat Metheny, Anita Baker, Carly Simon, and many others — plus Grammy-winning and multi-platinum recordings, and more than 1,000 commercials and TV themes, including *Monday Night Football*, *Nightline*, and *World News Tonight*.

On Broadway, Sammy originated the drum chair for *Kinky Boots*, contributing both live performance and the show's electronic programming, and went on to *Pretty Woman: The Musical* and *Diana: The Musical* — handling all the Ableton programming for both *Kinky Boots* and *Pretty Woman*. He also designed and programmed the drums for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular and for the current production of *The Lost Boys*, covering both the stage kits and the drums and percussion in the pit.

Sammy is also a founding member and producer of the Harlem Parlour Music Club  and owns and operates Harlem Parlour Recording — a fully equipped studio in his 1902 Harlem brownstone blending vintage and modern gear: analog tape, Pro Tools, API and Neve preamps, and a mix of acoustic and electronic kits built for both in-person and remote sessions.