Shake Anderson's comforting, rootsy mix of soul, R&B and blues is somewhat reminiscent of John Hiatt's most accessible and recognized work. Anderson makes the kind of music that, whether you fall in love with it or not, is simply impossible to hate. The mix of the warm instrumentation and the uplifting, affirming lyrics create a security blanket of song, and once you're inside, it's hard to find any reason to leave.
This is the kind of music that your dad listens to, and, when you're not around your hip friends, you admit you have something of a soft spot for it, too. His time touring and recording with industry greats like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder has served him well. Anderson's Stories From Sammy Louis contains a smooth blend of R&B and gospel that makes a comfort stew that the whole family can enjoy. --Anthony Bowman

Sounds Like: Bruno Mars, Sam Smith

Life Live

Sam "Shake" Anderson, born and raised in Louisville KY, started recording and touring at age nine. A bassist/guitarist/singer/songwriter. Shake has worked with artists as varied as Bruce Hornsby, Static Major, Steve Cropper, Earth,Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, The Indigo Girls, The Spice Girls, Curtis Mayfield, Aliyah, Felix Cavalieri, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. He spent six years as musical director for soul music legends "The Impressions".

Shake has also worked with a great variety of Christian artists such as Crystal Lewis, Annointed, Bryan Duncan, Israel Houghton and New Breed and Avalon. As a songwriter he was signed to Warner/Chappell music for six years.

Shake has also worked on many movies and has several gold and platinum albums for his work on Blue Streak, Dr. Doolittle, Boys on the Side and Austin Powers. He has played in some of the greatest concert halls and venues in the world--Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theatre, Symphony Music Hall, Radio City Music hall, The Heinekin Music hall, The Ryman Auditorium and The Buordone Theatre in Frankfurt Germany. Shake now makes his home base Ft. Worth Texas.

Shake is accompanied on Stories from Sammy Louis by J. D. Blair, Charles Ross, Darell Tibbs, Joel Goodwin, Mark "lupe" Hamilton, Ben "Black" Bush, Thomas Cain, Tim Krekel and Stephen "Static Major" Garrett.

Shake, whose real name is Sammy Louis Anderson, learned the most about life when an illness stopped him in his tracks. He was told he would never perform again and had several months to live. Life as he had known it was over. While spending more than nine months in the hospital and being told he was dying he learned who he really was--not Shake as the world called him--but Sammy Louis as his doctor's referred to him. This crisis in his life taught him what was really important. Shake overcame all the odds and rebuilt his life. These songs--chapters--are stories about making mistakes, learning lessons and rebirth. Shake says about Stories from Sammy Louis--"once you've been to the edge the middle don't matter."

Biography

Sam "Shake" Anderson, started recording and touring at age nine. A multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter/producer. Shake has worked with artists as varied as Bruce Hornsby, Static Major, Steve Cropper, Aretha Franklin, The Indigo Girls, The Spice Girls, Days Of The New,Warren Haynes, Curtis Mayfield, Aliyah, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. He spent six years as musical director for soul music legends "The Impressions".

Shake has also worked with a great variety of Christian artists such as Avalon,Crystal Lewis, Annointed, Bryan Duncan,Russ Taff, Nicole Nordeman,Donny McClurkin, and formed the Grammy winning gospel group New Breed with Israel Houghton.