Mister Sam, DJ-Producer Who Launched Gretchen, Dies at 80 in São Paulo

Overview

• Mister Sam, who died Monday in São Paulo at 80, suffered an acute heart attack according to Gretchen and Brazilian media reports.
• Gretchen announced his death on social media, crediting him with shaping her artistic path and early success.
• After moving from Buenos Aires to Brazil in 1973, he worked at the Beverly and Copacabana labels and became a DJ at the Banana Power disco.
• Between 1978 and 1982, he wrote and produced Gretchen hits such as Dance With Me, Freak Le Boom Boom, Conga Conga Conga, and Melô do Piripipi.
• In later years he launched the group Black Juniors and produced projects with Sharon, Rita Cadillac, Nahim, Gugu Liberato, and Banana Split, as a finished biography by André Barcinski awaits release.