After a formal musical education as French horn player and guitarist Sam began as a percussionist in 1995. Initially self taught on instruments such as bongos and djembe, within a year he was playing live percussion sets at various club nights in London and Leeds such as Megatripolis, Return To The Source, Megadog, Hijacked, Diversion etc. In 1997 Sam began to formally learn West African rhythm structures with Senegalese master drummer Magatte Dieng (Youssou N'dour) and was quickly working as an assistant instructor running workshops throughout the north of England.

After a spell in China Sam returned to England in 1999 and begun to learn Brazilian and Cuban percussion, Cooperating with artists such as Honeydrum, Claudio Kron and helping to record an album with Magatte Dieng. In the Summer of 2000 Sam spent six months in Cuba learning a full range of latin percussive instruments and styles. 

Since 2001 Sam has lived in Yunnan Province of China, where he toook on the name The people's Rhythm for his range of musical and percussive endeavours.  He has been active in the Chinese music scene, cooperating with bands such as The People's Rhythm, Gene Jazz Quintet, Minjian Funk, Shanren etc.

In 2004 participated in the Coors Light Yeh Party as the kit drummer for blues band Instant Noodles, playing over 90 gigs all over China. In 2005 he became involved as director and performer in the Bacardi Stomp Percussion Tour and with the club trio Menage a Trois. He now owns and runs Kunming's premier live music venue, Speakeasy Bar, which has been visited by a range of bands from China and Europe.

During 2006 and 2007 Sam has worked with various artists and DJs doing club nights throughout China.  In 2007 he completed club tours for Matissse Whisky, Budweiser, Sol Beer and Chivas Regal.  In addition Sam was one of the only Westerners to perform on the main stage of China’s prestigious Midi and Snow Mountain 2007 music festivals (as percussionist and kit drummer respectively).  Sam has also become well known as a maker of percussion instruments, having been featured in the national magazine City Pictorial. With a solid grounding in Afro based percussive styles and a wealth of experience in various club scenes, Sam is helping to promote the fusion of percussion instruments with Western and Chinese music and has become established as one of China's leading percussionists.