 In the late 1970s, he worked with baritone saxophonist Joe Sunseri and his band, based out of New Orleans.The early 1980s found Sam working with Ry Cooder and Freddy Fender on the soundtrack for the Jack Nicholson film "The Border".After leaving the music business, Sam worked in Mexico as an interpreter and as a mate on small commercial boats in the Gulf of Mexico.