The award-winning, bestselling singer, actor, and author Sam Harris discusses his show Ham: A Musical Memoir, and more, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Sam Harris joins me now. The acclaimed performer of Broadway, film and television, author, and songwriter has recently premiered his stage production Ham: A Musical Memoir on BroadwayHD. The show is based on his memoir, that begins with his growing up in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. The show chronicles Sam’s formative years discovering a connection with music and performing in a black Baptist church at the age of 15, through to falling in love with a boy, a depression that leads to a suicide attempt, and then going to Los Angeles to pursue a career in show business. His remarkable voice and singing talents bring him to Star Search in its first season in 1983. That leads to bestselling albums, television and film appearances, Broadway, and more. The show Ham, moved to out West, and it’s that production, filmed at the Pasadena Playhouse directed by Ken Sawyer that is available now for streaming. Incidentally, the original New York production was developed and directed by Billy Porter. I’ll ask Mr. Harris about the tour de force performance that he gives, that’s a vocal wonder to behold. He recounts on stage such powerful moments in his life, that one wonders the emotional toll that might take. I’ll ask him about the range of his remarkable voice that is on full display in this show, as well as the highs and lows of a life in show business. It’s an entertaining show, and Sam will provide a promo code near the end of our interview for a free month of BroadwayHD, which you can find at www.BroadwayHD.com. Sam Harris was hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “one of the top 100 singers of all time.” His appearances on Star Search, where he won the Male Vocalist competition, pulled a weekly audience of more than twenty-five million viewers. His albums were multi-platinum bestsellers, and featured pop, gospel and theater music. He received great notices for his performance in Cy Coleman’s The Life, on Broadway, earning a Tony Award nomination in 1997. He has also starred in productions of Grease, The Producers, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Hair, Pippin, and more. He has also recently published a book of literary fiction, The Substance of All Things. The website for more is at www.samharris.com. He joined me from Los Angeles last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Sam Harris; Mr. Harris, good morning.

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