Born in Antigua, in the Caribbean, he grew up in London, England, teaching himself to play various instruments including ukelele, guitar, keyboards, and establishing a reputation as a bassist, touring England and Europe with various Ska, Reggae and Soul bands. He played with guitarist Junior Marvin in his band, Blue Ace Unit where he got the nickname 'Fuzz' by playing his bass through a fuzz box. Junior would later join Bob Marley and the Wailers. He recorded for the successful band, The Equals, lead by Eddy Grant and then formed a trio, The Sundae Times with schoolmate, Dell Richardson (later with Osibissa) on guitar and vocals and drummer Conrad Isadore, his rhythm section mate from Joe E Young & The Tonics. One album was released, Us Colored Kids, scoring a top ten hit in Israel with a song called Abba Abba, written and produced by Eddy Grant. The trio disbanded.
The rhythm section of Fuzz and Conrad were then hired to record Stephen Stills' first solo album which included superstars Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Mama Cass, Rita Coolidge, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston and The Memphis Horns. During this time he worked with P.P. Arnold performing under the name Axis.
A big break came getting him a position with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Working sessions between London and Los Angeles, he became part of Manassas, with Stephen Stills, Chris Hillman, Dallas Taylor, Joe Lala, Paul Harris and Al Perkins, cutting two albums and touring for three years while finding time to do concerts with America.
Wrote and recorded songs with Marianne Faithful along with Steve Winwood in the early '80s. Later he joined the Alvin Lee Band along with Mick Taylor and Tom Compton. For Taj Mahal, he worked on the Broadway musical, Mule Bone written by Langston Hughes and Zora Lee Hurston, with music composed by Taj starring blues man Kenny Neal. In the early '90s he teamed up with Bobby Keys, Mick Taylor, Nicky Hopkins and Ivan Neville as Tumbling Dice.
Now he is performing as a solo artist on various instruments and Vocals a World Beat blend of Blues, Reggae, Calypso, Classic Rock and Folk songs.
Selected Discography
Crosby Stills Nash & Young - 4 Way Street
Graham Nash - Songs For Beginners
Stephen Stills (1)
Stephen Stills (2)
Manassas - Double Album
Manassas - Down The Road
Rita Coolidge (1)*
*PRODUCED BY BOOKER T JONES*
Dr John - Sun Moon & Herbs
The Who - Tommy Film Soundtrack
Marianne Faithful - Dangerous Acquaintances
# Herbie Mann - London Underground
# Eddy Grant & The Equals - several releases
# Taj Mahal - Mule Bone (GRAMMY NOMINATED)
# Chili Charles - Busy Corner
# Kevin Ayers - Sweet Deceiver
# Parliament Funkadelics - Maggot Brain
# Jimmy Cliff - one album
# Mickey Baker - one album
# Sean Gonzales & Archie Lee Hooker
# Denis Farley - several releases
# Maxayn - one release
# Mike Pinera - one release
Calvin Fuzz Samuel Releases:
# Us Colored Kids - President, 1968 UK
# Fuzzy Samuel - Caroline/Virgin, 1974
# This Train Still Runs - Tropical, 1998
# Organic Blues - Tropical, 2000
# Love Don't Taste Like Chicken - Tropical, 1999
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