Local legend Big Sam is just like the rest of us, so he's
been cooped up in his home trying to avoid the virus. But he's also a musician,
so he's seen a pretty big change in his lifestyle—everything from how he makes
money to how often he sees his family has changed. We had the privilege to sit
down and chat with him (virtually, of course) about the coronavirus, his new
hit "No More Shakes," and what it means to be a musician in a moment like this
one.
Since March 26, Big Sam (whose legal name is Sammie
Williams) has been offering Sunday livestreams. It started when he looked at
the schedule and began to worry: "Everything is getting cancelled. How am I
gonna make a living?" He and his band were having trouble covering essential
expenses like groceries, and, back then, unemployment wasn't set up for gig
workers. The livestreams, which will be continuing for the foreseeable future,
are a good, safe way to make money and share music. The latter part—sharing
music—is no joke to Big Sam, who notes that the role of music is "the same as
it's always been: to heal everybody and make everyone forget about the troubles
and worries that they have right now."
Big Sam's music definitely brings people together; it always
has, and this power extends even through the computer screen. Still, he can't
wait until things do go back to how they were: "I think the festivals will be
absolutely insane," he says. "People are going to be so eager to get back to
music." He foresees festivals selling out in minutes, as people hope for a
communal experience. For him, performing is therapy, and he knows that
listening to live music is therapeutic for people across the world.
Of course, he misses the live audience, and he says performing for the camera took some getting used to. Generally, his shows are very interactive, and he misses feeding on that "constant energy exchange." He gets just a taste of that performer's high now, when he travels out to sing "Happy Birthday" to a fan from a distance, or even when the neighbors come out to sit on their porches for his show. But Big Sam plays facing his home, not the street—he doesn't want to be the cause of a large gathering that could spread COVID-19.
As far as the virus goes, the trombonist doesn't think that
we'll be back to normal for quite some time, betting that we won't have any
live performances until at least February. But he does think we have a part to
play in slowing the spread, and, yes, Big Sam wears a mask. He knows that we're
"not gonna see any better results till everybody is responsible," so, even
though wearing the mask is a bit of a hassle, he "[puts] that sucker on."
But masking up is far from the biggest change he's seen
during the pandemic. Because he's not touring anymore, Big Sam has been writing
new pieces and recording his own music from home. He's hoping to release his
new album, Songs in the Key of Funk, Vol. II, by the end of the year,
and he's already released "No More Shakes," a song written about some of the
changes we've seen in the coronavirus's wake.
Working from home, Big Sam has also been able to see his
twin boys a lot. They're three years old, and he says he loves it (even though,
sometimes, two toddlers can be a lot to handle, he admits). "I appreciate being
able to spend all this time with my family," he says. "My boys love it, too." And
because the shows are right in the driveway, the kids are able to see
everything up close.
The musician has a few tips and tricks on how to best
support the local musical community. "If you have a particular band or venue,
reach out directly and make a donation to them," he suggests. "Every dollar
counts; every penny counts. We're super grateful." He warns against sending
Facebook stars, as Facebook takes a cut of the money, so your best bet is
donating directly. Right now, financial contributions are tough for a lot of
people, so if you can't donate, he recommends you share. "You never know who
else is gonna see that."
Big Sam is a staple of the local musician community, and if
you want to further support his work, tune into his Sunday shows on the Big Sam's Funky Nation
Facebook page at 12:00 p.m. Central time. It will be worth your while. If
you're looking to support Big Sam and his band directly, donations can be sent
through Venmo (@FunkyBigSam), Cashapp ($FunkyBigSam),
or PayPal (Noladelic@gmail.com). And
if you're just hoping for a little bit more information, head over to bigsamsfunkynation.com.
