Sammy Sadler
In 1989, a critically-acclaimed newcomer to the country music fold, Sammy Sadler, had already
charted several successful singles and was ready to release his first album on Evergreen Records
when he was caught up in the assassination of then Cash Box chart-manager, Kevin Hughes, and a
payola scandal that would bring down the magazine and rock the music industry.
Despite suffering a near-fatal gunshot wound that would require multiple surgeries to repair, Sadler
remained under suspicion until the murder was solved thirteen long years later - by then, his career
was dead, as well.
In March 9, 2004, Sadler attempted to reboot his career, releasing Hard On A Heart on the Tri label.
The title track placed in the top-10 on the Texas Music Chart and went No. 1 in Europe for seven
weeks, but produced lackluster results in the states. In 2009, Sadler released another album, Heart
Shaped Like Texas on Audium Records, which transitioned to Koch Records and eventually sold to
E1 Music. Despite rave reviews for singles "I'll Always Have Denver," and "No Place to Land," E1
Music ultimately closed and Sadler's recording career ended.
Since that time, Sammy continued to play to fans with two successful tours-one with Doug Stone in
2012, and the other lasting from 2015-2016 with Ken Mellons and Jeff Carson called the "Taking the
Country Back Tour."
Record promoter Chuck Dixon, who was suspected of ordering the hit against Hughes, was reported
to have died mysteriously in 2013, and triggerman Richard D'Antonio would die in prison in 2014. The
passing of both provided a newly found confidence to Sadler, who had spent years looking over his
shoulder as a result of PTSD.
In 2021 Sammy released his highly acclaimed album 1989 produced by Buddy Hyatt, which featured
duets with country hitmakers T. Graham Brown, Marty Rabon and Larry Stewart. Sammy's
reemergence was featured in exclusives with People Magazine and Newsmax. Sadler was also
featured and shared his new music and story of personal triumph with WSMV's Today In Nashville,
Fox 17's "Rock n' Review" and The Dr. Ward Bond Show.
Sammy's new album will be tentatively released in 2024. The single, Louisiana Rain, was released in May of 2022. His latest
single, Everything's Gonna Be Alright, was released in February 2023.
Sammy's story is far from over, in fact, it's still being written.