Meet Soul Sam: Six Decades On, Still Digging

HRSC
11 hours ago
3 min read

Updated: 12 minutes ago

Soul Sam has been playing records since 1962. He was there when the Soul scene was still finding its feet and this October he'll be there in Manchester too.

A DJ, teacher and lifelong record man, Sam's story runs from a Tannoy system at Bangor University through youth clubs, nightclubs and weekenders that shaped the scene as we know it.

We caught up with him ahead of his visit to talk records, walking, golf, and the promoter who trusted her DJs enough to let them just play

Thanks for agreeing to meet for a chat. How have you been?

My pleasure. I've just got back from DJing in Yarmouth for the weekender there. Other than that, I've been sitting in my garden and avoiding this heat as much as possible.

When did you start DJing?

1962 or 63. I studied English and History at Bangor University. There was a record player linked up to the Tannoy that piped audio around the building during the day. I was already buying records every week with my student grant, though I can say I officially started in 1966.

I was always hopeless at technology. I had a mate who put the records on for me but by 68 I was going it alone. I bought my own kit and played records at Victoria Youth Club and Queen's Park Youth Club in Bangor. They were on Monday and Friday, and on Tuesday I used to do a nightclub called Pepper's Place.

I was a teacher in the day and I'd DJ almost every night except Wednesdays, when I'd go to Liverpool to hear a DJ called Billy Butler. By the seventies, when the soul scene really took off, I was mainly DJing weekends, though at any given bank holiday I could do seven bookings over the weekend — soul nights, all-dayers and all-nighters.

Photo courtesy of Neil Salter
Flyer courtesy of Megan Willsher

Other than collecting records, what else are you into?

Walking. I used to do a lot of walking, and I also play golf with my pal, Arthur Fenn. He's a great golfer. I'm more of a hacker.

What are you looking forward to most about coming to Manchester?

The last time I was there was in 2012, for your original weekender. I remember double decking with Malayka to a floor of B-boys and break dancers. I also got a parking ticket that weekend — I've never driven back into the city since.

I am looking forward to coming back. I've wonderful memories, though I shan't be driving!

When it comes to seeking out records, what's been your best recent find?

I've a new one by Alan and Hayes called Winners and Losers. It's early eighties, but it's a baseline dancer. Incredible record — I'm just starting to play it.

What has been your most memorable night as a DJ or a punter?

In recent times, I'd say the Great Yarmouth Weekenders. Brilliant events.

Events of old, I'd have to say Cleethorpes. The promoter was a lovely woman called Mary Chapman. She was fantastic - a true soulie, who ran it for soul people. She trusted her DJs. She didn't tell them what to play. The best times were spent there. We played almost entirely US imports, and it was where the funky stuff started to emerge.

Sixty years of DJing, and Soul Sam's still doing it his way. A set that is not to be missed!

Welcome back to Manchester!