Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs have been a 60s Tex-Mex rock ‘n’ roll band. The group was shaped by lead singer Domingo “Sam” Samudio in 1961 in Dallas, Texas, USA. The opposite authentic members have been Carl Medke, Russell Fowler, Omar “Large Man” Lopez, and Vincent Lopez. The unique lineup solely recorded one document which did not promote. They broke up in late 1962. Samudio went on to turn out to be an organist for the rock group Andy and the Knightriders.
Samudio resurrected The Pharaohs in 1963. The brand new lineup was Samudio (vocals/organ), Dave Martin (bass), Ray Stinnet (guitar), Jerry Patterson (drums), and Butch Gibson (saxophone). They made their debut with the novelty quantity “Haunted Home” and signed up with the MGM music label. The follow-up songs “Ju Ju Hand” and “Ring Dang Do” have been minor chart successes.
The band scored their biggest smash hit with the splendidly raucous “Wooly Bully,” which bought over three million copies and stayed on the Billboard High 40 charts for 18 weeks (the track peaked at #2 on the pop charts). “Wooly Bully” was named Document of the 12 months for 1965 by “Billboard” journal.
The bubbly “Li’l Crimson Driving Hood” likewise did very properly; it peaked at #2 on the Billboard pop charts for 2 weeks straight. The group went on to document extra enjoyably frothy novelty singles, however none of them have been as profitable as both “Wooly Bully” or “Li’l Crimson Driving Hood.” The band seem as themselves within the musical When the Boys Meet the Women (1965). Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs disbanded in 1967.
A real rock ‘n’ roll traditional, “Wooly Bully” was featured on the soundtracks to the movies Wild Nation (2005), Mistah (1994), Full Steel Jacket (1987), Child It’s You (1983), and Extra American Graffiti (1979). Domingo Samudio went on to contribute two self-penned songs for the soundtrack to The Border (1982), starring Jack Nicholson. Samudio is now a motivational speaker who nonetheless makes occasional reside live performance appearances in addition to continues to write down each songs and poetry. Bio
