Sam Llanas
Encyclopedia
Sam Llanas is a singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter in several rock
and roots rock
bands active from the 1980s to the 2000s, including the BoDeans
and Absinthe. Sam is known for his unusual and distinctive voice.
in Waukesha, Wisconsin
. In 1985, after adding Guy Hoffman
(drums) in 1984 and Bob Griffin (bass), the quartet signed a contract with Slash/Warner Records
and shortened their name to the BoDeans.
Under the guidance of producer T-Bone Burnett
, they entered Hollywood's Sunset Sound Factory in October to record their first album. The critically acclaimed debut Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams
was released in 1986. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band had several singles in the top 40 "mainstream rock" charts. In the mid-1990s, the band had two top 10 songs in the "Adult contemporary" charts.
Llanas provided backing vocals on the Robbie Robertson hit "Somewhere Down the Crazy River" from his 1987 self-titled solo album.
The BoDeans took some time off in the late 1990s so Neumann and Llanas could record solo albums. Llanas founded Absinthe, with the help of Milwaukee
musicians Jim Eannelli (guitars and bass) and Guy Hoffman
(formerly of Oil Tasters
and Violent Femmes
, currently of Radio Romeo). They have released one album, 1998's A Good Day To Die.
In 2011, Sam announced that he will release his second solo album, titled 4 A.M., on October 25. On August 18, he left the BoDeans for unknown reasons.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and roots rock
Roots rock
Roots rock is a term now used to describe rock music that looks back to rock's origins in folk, blues and country music. It is particularly associated with the creation of hybrid sub-genres from the later 1960s including country rock and Southern rock, which have been seen as responses to the...
bands active from the 1980s to the 2000s, including the BoDeans
BoDeans
The BoDeans are a rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1983 by Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas . In 1985, after adding a drummer and a bassist, the band signed a contract with Slash Records and recorded their first album...
and Absinthe. Sam is known for his unusual and distinctive voice.
Career
Llanas was one of the founding members of the roots rock band the BoDeans, which he formed with high school friend Kurt NeumannKurt Neumann (musician)
Kurt Neumann is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the roots-rock band BoDeans. Although primarily a guitar player, Neumann has also been known to play drums , bass, keyboards, and mandolin.-History:...
in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
. In 1985, after adding Guy Hoffman
Guy Hoffman
Guy Hoffman is a drummer and vocalist, formerly of such bands as Oil Tasters, BoDeans, Violent Femmes and Absinthe. He is a composer for such films as Field Day and a founding member of Radio Romeo.-Life:...
(drums) in 1984 and Bob Griffin (bass), the quartet signed a contract with Slash/Warner Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
and shortened their name to the BoDeans.
Under the guidance of producer T-Bone Burnett
T-Bone Burnett
Joseph Henry Burnett , widely known as T-Bone Burnett, is an American musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer.He was a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band on the Rolling Thunder Revue...
, they entered Hollywood's Sunset Sound Factory in October to record their first album. The critically acclaimed debut Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams
Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams
Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams is a music album of BoDeans songs released in May 1986 on Slash/Warner Bros. The album was produced by T-Bone Burnett...
was released in 1986. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band had several singles in the top 40 "mainstream rock" charts. In the mid-1990s, the band had two top 10 songs in the "Adult contemporary" charts.
Llanas provided backing vocals on the Robbie Robertson hit "Somewhere Down the Crazy River" from his 1987 self-titled solo album.
The BoDeans took some time off in the late 1990s so Neumann and Llanas could record solo albums. Llanas founded Absinthe, with the help of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
musicians Jim Eannelli (guitars and bass) and Guy Hoffman
Guy Hoffman
Guy Hoffman is a drummer and vocalist, formerly of such bands as Oil Tasters, BoDeans, Violent Femmes and Absinthe. He is a composer for such films as Field Day and a founding member of Radio Romeo.-Life:...
(formerly of Oil Tasters
Oil Tasters
Oil Tasters were an early 1980s band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States. They are one of the city's best remembered post-punk groups. They were not, however, easy to fit into the spectrum of post-punk music...
and Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
, currently of Radio Romeo). They have released one album, 1998's A Good Day To Die.
In 2011, Sam announced that he will release his second solo album, titled 4 A.M., on October 25. On August 18, he left the BoDeans for unknown reasons.
Discography
- A Good Day To Die (1998) (Absinthe/Sam Llanas solo project)
- 4 A.M. (2011)