Sam Cunningham is a Los Angeles drummer performing & recording for 3 decades. Originally from Tulsa, a city renowned for its musical heritage and a legacy for producing drummers, Sam began playing at 5. By age 10, he was performing with adults in a Gospel band and before high school he landed his first paying gig in a theater production of Grease. His first national tour was at 17 playing in a Rock trio with musicians twice his age. In 1995, Sam joined Punk legends N.O.T.A. playing on their final release available only on vinyl. The band was signed to Austin-based punk label Unclean Records and opened for Fear, The Vandals and Suicidal Tendencies. The band is featured in the punk rock documentary Oil Capital Underground, which chronicles Tulsa’s thriving Punk scene in the 70s-90s. The band ended in 1999.
After several years of moderate career success around Oklahoma, Sam relocated to California in 2000. There he formed Alt Metal band Overcome by One, releasing one recording produced by Jeff Forrest of Double Time (Blink 182). Next he helped found Punk Soul band The Ape Code, releasing an EP around 2003. In 2005, he co-created Indie Rock duo Stop Revolt, releasing several recordings, one produced by Zander Schloss (Circle Jerks, Joe Strummer) and the other Arthur Barrow (Zappa, The Doors ). The band did a national tour in 2006. Sam had a brief stint with Norwood Fisher’s Trulio Disgracias in 2008. Around 2009, he co-created the L.A. Soul Project, a classic Motown band.
Sam's style is rooted in the Tulsa Sound —a fusion of Country, Gospel, Rhythm & Blues and Rock. He built a reputation with solid grooves and the ability to play a wide range of genres.
His drumming can be heard on dozens of records and on all major platforms. Sam has played with a long list of bands over the years. It’s not uncommon to see him playing a Rock show for thousands at a concert venue only to catch him playing Classic Country in some honky-tonk the very next night. Always working, Sam continues to play over 100 shows per year with a variety of local and nationally touring bands. He also works out of his own studio/creative space.
You can find Sam performing regularly with Always Tina (Tina Turner tribute), The Obscure (The Cure tribute), Start Me Up (Rolling Stones tribute) and leading his own band *Mighty Love* (Soul/RnB).
