A 2013 magna cum laude graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Drum Set Performance, Sam Ward is one of the most versatile drummers on the scene today. He began playing drums at the age of five and started performing and teaching professionally at sixteen. Since then, Sam has managed to consistently maintain a thriving music career.
After relocating to Los Angeles about seven years ago, he joined a band called 4th & Orange, who were signed to Atlantic Records within just a couple of months. Over the next year and a half, they toured nationally, supporting artists such as Collie Buddz, Sublime with Rome, Damian Marley, and Natiruts; performed at major U.S. reggae festivals; and released several singles and music videos that gained millions of streams and views. During that time, Sam continued to teach private drum students each week and perform with major artists such as Ally Brooke and Tyga, as well as independent artists including Molly Moore, Big X, Double Tiger, Watson, FXNTi, and more.
In 2022, Sam relocated to Las Vegas, initially maintaining a steady split between Los Angeles and Las Vegas as he worked in both cities. He quickly landed one of the drum chairs for MJ Live at the Tropicana Theatre on the Las Vegas Strip. Upon moving, he was also hired by Jimmy Powers V and The Hang Dynasty and has held several local residencies. He has performed with artists such as Justin Young Band, Rita Lim, M3CCA, and Tinnitus LV, among others.
Recently, Sam revived his personal musician collective in Las Vegas, called the Naughty Octopus Collective, which has already been booking a significant number of gigs around the city. He has also recorded drums for countless singles, EPs, albums, and music videos, too many to list here. Visit his Linktree to see some of the projects that feature his drumming.
Sam is a seasoned professional known for his deep and soulful pocket, sharp focus on writing parts that serve the music, blistering yet tasteful chops, expert drum tuning ability, and strong performances both in the studio and on stage. He is also highly regarded as an educator, with several of his former and current students going on to attend prestigious music schools and pursue professional careers.
Above all, Sam simply loves music and the instrument. You can always count on him to bring a positive attitude and a contagious sense of drive wherever he goes.
