Inducted - Reno 2007
Sam Vudis' musical career dates back to his boyhood, where in 1963, he first learned to play the brac from Milan Opacich, Steve Lacanski, and Steve Barich. A naturally gifted musician, Sam played with the St. Sava Youth Tamburitzans until his family moved to Indianapolis in 1964. Receiving tambura music lessons for two years from Evelyn Petrovich, Sam continued to grow musically with INORBA (Inner Orthodox Band), 1965-67, and in 1972 joined Duni Verte Tamburitza Orchestra. Duni Verte played throughout the United States and Canada over the next four years. They performed for Vice President Rockefeller in 1975, recorded an album, and were booked to play 42 out of 52 weekends in 1975. Where most young musicians would consider this enough of an accomplishment, Sam continued to play tambura music wherever the road took him.
In 1976, Sam moved to Chicago and continued to study tambura with Marty Kapugi for eighteen months, filling in on jobs whenever he could. In 1979, a move across the United States to San Francisco did not stop him from finding bands to play with. As a bassist, he formed Zivio in 1981, and, as Sam puts it, 'played the West Coast' with band members Matt Peracic, Joe Berkich, and Art Rodich. At about the same time, Sam took it upon himself to teach the next generation of musicians the tambura sound -- he formed Becari (Tamburitza Youth Group) of San Francisco. Combining the support of the parishioners at San Francisco's St. John's Serbian Orthodox Church with many years of his own personal patience, Sam honed Becari into a performance and recording band.
While teaching, performing, and recording with Becari, Sam still found the time to play bass with the Balkan All Stars (Joe Maticic, Mike Fostar, and Art Rodich). Sam recorded three albums with the Balkan All Stars, including OPET, where mentor Marty Kapugi collaborated with the group for a most memorable recording. The Balkan All Stars continued to play Extravaganzas, festivals, and performed for former musicians then in retirement homes in the Washington State area. In 1985, Sam founded Svira Music, his own recording studio, which operated through 1990.
Venturing outside of tambura music, Sam formed two rock bands, The Byrnie Baker Band (1980-85) and Company She Keeps (1987-88). Vocalists Charity and Colleen Goodin enhanced the band's sound and electrified the opening act performances for Etta James, Roy Bucacan, Elvin Bishop, and the Chamber Brothers. Their record album "Certified Rock and Roll" received air play in the Northern California area.
Rock and Roll was only a side gig for Sam -- he continued to work with Becari San Francisco and managed the group into completing four recordings, performing at several TAA Extravaganzas, cultural festivals, and private parties (Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, Secretary of State George Schultz, and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown). Becari also performed many times for shut-ins through the "Bread and Roses" charitable organization. Sam continues to play brac with Becari, managing through more than a couple of decades to lead and continually refine their sound. In addition to Becari, Sam has recently formed yet another youth band in Saratoga, California, with the hopes of inspiring and motivating the next generation of musicians.
A lifetime of commitment to tambura, Sam has managed to fit music into each stage of his life; be it performing, recording, or teaching, his inexhaustible and innovative ways to showcase his innate muscial talents and to honor his cultural past bring smiles to many audiences. Ten albums, eight bands, one recording studio, a half dozen TAA Extravaganzas, dozens of students, music teachers, band members, politicians, royalty, shut-ins -- Sam has reached out as far as he can, and will continue to play as he states "to anyone who will listen."
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