The day I saw Sam sing on star search was the day I fell in love with him! This song still gives me chills no matter how many times I hear it and now on UA-cam have the pleasure of watching it as many times as I like lol Thanks for posting this!
I was 4 yrs old when he did this performance! I have looked for this video for ever! After my grandmother passed away, we lost this video and have been looking for Performances from Motown returns to the apollp since. Every year @ christmas we play A Motown Merry X-mas and its great! This was a memorable performance by the great Sam Harris!
I LOVE LOVE SAM HARRIS TO THIS DAY (I remember this from the Star Search days). Could not wait to see him sing when that show came on (when he was a contestant).
Poorly promoted album sales don't always signify how much talent a person has. This guy is loaded with talent and if you can't hear it, you're not listening.
After all these years, hearing him wail out that song STILL makes me wanna jump up and holla!! LOL!! GO baby boy! SHOW the "American Idol" generation how it's DONE!!! :)
I remember when he came on stage - and I thought - how odd that this unknown person is singing at The Apollo. After he sang this song - I could not stop talking about him. I talked about him so much that a woman told me she had a tape- Sam I Am - so she made a copy and gave it to me. I played it all the time. I let a neighbor borrow it - who moved away - and never found another copy. Last night - I got the last copy of a CD off Amazon- Sam I Am. Cannot wait. Welcome Home - you were missed.
This is where I first heard Sam Harris along with my dad who loved his voice! I would have been 13 years old in '85 - even the men wore shoulder pads lol. Still an amazing voice x
Patti Labelled did it first in 1981 Merv Griffin show. Then Sam inspired by her rendition came up with his version. He did an excellent job too. I love both.
Hey i was eally little when he was on star search but i remember him so well... i remember this show too we used to have it on vhs but its long gone now...memories...*sigh*
For all of you haters its no secret his early performances and career was LABELLE and PATTI LABELLE inspired. I'm sure Patti wouldn't like some of these comments about her admirers. SAM HARRIS you did GREAT!!!
Hi thanks for sharing no one can sing this song like Miss Label when I saw this young man sing this I couldn't believe it and I have to eat this white this is why he win a real fan for sooooo long God bless you Linda j peace ❤️💯🌈l
12-11-2015 Friday night (-: Wow! Still as great as ever. Mr Harris to you all our best to you and to your family this Christmas. And thank you for the great memories. Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
O.M.G.!!! forgot how powerful his voice is. I think the toung(tong) has something to do with those high notes. Adam does it too. lol! Still want to see them on the same stage. Talk about bringing the house down! (Having an argument with my computer on how to spell, sorry)
Awesome and BRAVE (the outfit)! Good surprises come in 'strange' packages. Guess i need ot look up a few of his albums and see if there is a Christmas album.
I remember my daddy had this whole concert on aVHS and as a little girl I loved this song by him only. Patti sung it but nobody can match Sam’s version. Love his outfit by the way
Try his first cd after Star Search called Sugar Don't Bite, or maybe that's just the name of the hit song from it. Either way, that is one of the most brilliant cds I've ever heard still to this day.
That's exactly the way Patti would have done it - and for a GUY to be able to do a creditable Patti LaBelle, in front of the Apollo audience, and not be dragged off...this vid just does not do him justice. I saw this live, and what you don't see is enough of the crowd reaction - he owned the tune.
I remember tuning into Star Search every week just to see what Sam Harris was going to perform that week. He was indeed the standard bearer for that show..."The Orginal American Idol"...I actually think he was ahead of his time and this country wasn't quite ready for a white male performer who sounded like our best black female singers...and Motown completely mishandeled his career...shame...he's a great talent.
It’s been 6 years I wrote this comment, and this performance has still been so influential to me. Sam Harris and Patti LaBelle definitely made me the singer I am today!
SAM !! Remembering your first days on Star Search with this song. You have reinvented this song with your blue beat and fabulous voice. Thank you. Wishing you continued success !!! x
Gay or not, what a voice and in some ways I liked this presentation better than the original on Star Search. Such a stong voice, even today. Never heard a male singer with such inflections as on this song by Sam. Chilling.
i love it when they played this song on a beavis and butthead episode, and beavis almost had a seizure because butthead had the remote control and wouldn't change it, hahahaha
i wonder what he's doing today. he really was the man back in the day. everybody was doing over the rainbow. and star search and showtime at the appollo were two shows you just did not miss.
man as much as I loves this guy's voice, and even having performed with him before, this particular performance is just too over the top. it's too all over the place. not to mention the outfit!
I thought he did a great job. I know that I wouldnt have had the balls to do it. You know somebody has gutts if theyll attempt to perform any rendition of Patti, Whitney, Aretha, or Michael. Go Sam!
i don't think there is a gay boy alive in America who hasn't heard Sammy do "Rainbow" it is a classic gay-masterpirce, and how could ou not love sammy?
alice... you don't know what you're talking about. Patti LaBelle sang this version first in late 70's and Sam sang this in the 80's. I saw Patti sing this on Soul Train in 1978. Sorry to disappoint.
@1destra Umm.. youre WELCOME. i acknowledge you made a sincere mistake and I accept that you sincerely apologize for your misdirected negativity. (Seriously, how hard is it, younger generation??).
I'm not too sure what the name of the song was that he was playing when I came in, but whatever it was, he was really stinking it up. He was putting all these dumb, show-offy ripples in the high notes, and a lot of other very tricky stuff that gives me a pain in the ass. You should’ve heard the crowd, though, when he was finished. You would’ve puked. They went mad. They were exactly the same morons that laugh like hyenas in the movies at stuff that isn’t funny. I swear to God, if I were a piano player or an actor or something and all those dopes thought I was terrific, I’d hate it. I wouldn’t even want them to clap for me. People always clap for the wrong things" J.D. Salinger Catcher In The Rye 1951
TheScunion Shut up....Cuz the catcher in the rye (if you will....) was obviously not enough for you thereby allowing you to focus on something a bit more relevant...... So shut up.. And now I am clapping! HAHHAH! Respectfully, Brent Troy David
The day I saw Sam sing on star search was the day I fell in love with him! This song still gives me chills no matter how many times I hear it and now on UA-cam have the pleasure of watching it as many times as I like lol Thanks for posting this!
I know what you mean. I couldn't wait for him to perform on the show. What a voice.
Me too
ME ( 3 ) Smile 😊@@eddieharrison3801
I have loved this guy for like forever. So much feeling in all his songs!
I was 4 yrs old when he did this performance! I have looked for this video for ever! After my grandmother passed away, we lost this video and have been looking for Performances from Motown returns to the apollp since. Every year @ christmas we play A Motown Merry X-mas and its great! This was a memorable performance by the great Sam Harris!
I remember star search I was still in elementary and he tore this song up. Love it
I LOVE LOVE SAM HARRIS TO THIS DAY (I remember this from the Star Search days). Could not wait to see him sing when that show came on (when he was a contestant).
Yes. And won every week! 😊
I remember when he song this on star search. and I have loved him every since
Me too. And bought his first album "Sam-I-Am".
He is still singing love this guy, he has pipes on him.
Poorly promoted album sales don't always signify how much talent a person has. This guy is loaded with talent and if you can't hear it, you're not listening.
After all these years, hearing him wail out that song STILL makes me wanna jump up and holla!! LOL!! GO baby boy! SHOW the "American Idol" generation how it's DONE!!! :)
I remember when he came on stage - and I thought - how odd that this unknown person is singing at The Apollo. After he sang this song - I could not stop talking about him. I talked about him so much that a woman told me she had a tape- Sam I Am - so she made a copy and gave it to me. I played it all the time. I let a neighbor borrow it - who moved away - and never found another copy. Last night - I got the last copy of a CD off Amazon- Sam I Am. Cannot wait. Welcome Home - you were missed.
I bought his album. I still have it, and I get notifications on Facebook from him.
Always seems like the nicest guy.
I remember him from STAR SEARCH and that has been many many years ago. I have been a fan of his every since. The man can SING
How was he not bigger?
This is where I first heard Sam Harris along with my dad who loved his voice! I would have been 13 years old in '85 - even the men wore shoulder pads lol. Still an amazing voice x
Explosive Performance 🔥
I first heard Sam sing this song on a talent show. He really sings this song. I hope he's still singing.
Star Search
Yes, he still performs. You can follow him on Facebook.
I saw him on Star Search. I still have a couple of his albums. Loved this guy!
Everytime i hear this version of this song it sends chill bumps down my spine!!! Legendary !!!!
He was my neighbor back in the early 80s. A really nice guy!
wow! that is too cool. He looks like a nice person
Love him. I never tire of this. Will enjoy it forever!! Thanks for posting it.
Patti Labelled did it first in 1981 Merv Griffin show. Then Sam inspired by her rendition came up with his version. He did an excellent job too. I love both.
Patti also sang it in the 1960s with The Bluebelles on The Beat!!!! TV Show.
7
Lord Byron She also sang her beautiful rendition of Over The Rainbow on SOUL TRAIN! It's on UA-cam too! Great performance!
Hey i was eally little when he was on star search but i remember him so well... i remember this show too we used to have it on vhs but its long gone now...memories...*sigh*
For all of you haters its no secret his early performances and career was LABELLE and PATTI LABELLE inspired. I'm sure Patti wouldn't like some of these comments about her admirers. SAM HARRIS you did GREAT!!!
Great to see this old clip - Sam is still great and performing. Good for him and all the haters can just go........
I remember this guy. My ex-husband used to do quite an interesting impression of Sam’s performance. He had our kids doing it too. Fun times.
Hi thanks for sharing no one can sing this song like Miss Label when I saw this young man sing this I couldn't believe it and I have to eat this white this is why he win a real fan for sooooo long God bless you Linda j peace ❤️💯🌈l
We know Sam was gonna win everytime!
Love the 80's and Star Search, many celebs were spawned. Harris, O'Donnell, Simbad.
12-11-2015 Friday night (-:
Wow! Still as great as ever.
Mr Harris to you all our best to you and to your family this Christmas. And thank you for the great memories.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
Je ne me tanne jamais d'entendre Sam Harris chanter cette merveilleuse chanson Brao Sam xoxoxo
Always loved this.......brilliant
Never saw this performance, thanks for sharing. Amazing voice, that Sam. Love the Rufus Wainwright brooches. :)
You got to be good to bring the NY Apollo audience to its feet
Oh man, I remember following him on Star Search!! MEMORIESSSSSSSS.
NOW THAT'S HOW YOU SING OVER THE RAINBOW! YOU GO SAM!
O.M.G.!!! forgot how powerful his voice is. I think the toung(tong) has something to do with those high notes. Adam does it too. lol! Still want to see them on the same stage. Talk about bringing the house down!
(Having an argument with my computer on how to spell, sorry)
Alright Boy! You better sing! Fantastic! He wanted everyone to know who was on stage. They may have laughed but they had to give it up for the diva.
Best ever
Awesome and BRAVE (the outfit)! Good surprises come in 'strange' packages. Guess i need ot look up a few of his albums and see if there is a Christmas album.
I love him singing that song He can sing!nd beautiful voice!
Millions remember them both. Both tore it up !
I remember my daddy had this whole concert on aVHS and as a little girl I loved this song by him only. Patti sung it but nobody can match Sam’s version. Love his outfit by the way
I remember this. He peformed it first as a contestant on Star Search.
Powerhouse of a man!
Try his first cd after Star Search called Sugar Don't Bite, or maybe that's just the name of the hit song from it. Either way, that is one of the most brilliant cds I've ever heard still to this day.
extraooooordinaire.
Who the heck cares if the Man is gay or not - he has got one hell of a voice - and what a range!
That's exactly the way Patti would have done it - and for a GUY to be able to do a creditable Patti LaBelle, in front of the Apollo audience, and not be dragged off...this vid just does not do him justice. I saw this live, and what you don't see is enough of the crowd reaction - he owned the tune.
He sing that song Amazing!
HE DID PATTI LABELLE PROUD
He did judy garland proud
man i witness this as a git and back then tis was that fire
I remember tuning into Star Search every week just to see what Sam Harris was going to perform that week. He was indeed the standard bearer for that show..."The Orginal American Idol"...I actually think he was ahead of his time and this country wasn't quite ready for a white male performer who sounded like our best black female singers...and Motown completely mishandeled his career...shame...he's a great talent.
powerful
Gay or straight....does it matter? He is a world class performer. His sexual preference makes no difference whatsover to his God given talent.
OH my god I needed this laugh so bad..holy crap I cant hold it together
ahaha
I remember in 2nd grade, our teacher told us to search up the lyrics and coincidentally, I found Sam Harris!
It’s been 6 years I wrote this comment, and this performance has still been so influential to me. Sam Harris and Patti LaBelle definitely made me the singer I am today!
I love that song!
Get down Sam!!! Off the chain!!
I actually bought his first record after Star search. He is an amazing talent that had a s***** management team.
I bought his first album, too. "Sam-I-Am". Still have it.
Oh Yeah......... always terrific, Sam. !!!!! EPIC :)
SAM !! Remembering your first days on Star Search with this song. You have reinvented this song with your blue beat and fabulous voice. Thank you. Wishing you continued success !!! x
Spectacular! Magnificent!!
I love his voice ! Amazing
WONDERFUL
Gay or not, what a voice and in some ways I liked this presentation better than the original on Star Search. Such a stong voice, even today. Never heard a male singer with such inflections as on this song by Sam. Chilling.
Wow he’s singing the hell of this song.
As great as Sam Harris is.Back in the day,a young cat name Beau Williams took the crown.They both did very well in there careers .All praise to God.
I
wonderful voice
i love it when they played this song on a beavis and butthead episode, and beavis almost had a seizure because butthead had the remote control and wouldn't change it, hahahaha
i wonder what he's doing today. he really was the man back in the day. everybody was doing over the rainbow. and star search and showtime at the appollo were two shows you just did not miss.
i will if u will. Thanks for resurrecting a 3 month old convo.
Outstanding!
man as much as I loves this guy's voice, and even having performed with him before, this particular performance is just too over the top. it's too all over the place. not to mention the outfit!
wow he was one of the greats off of start search
Beautiful
@soopacrip he's a big broadway star now and married to his bf. sorry to break your heart, dude!! we all know you had quite the crush!
He definitely has a set of pipes on him. I would've had an asthma attack. Wow.
Lisa Lee HEHHE! Now that was funny Miss Lisa! And I would have pulled my back out! HEHEH! big hugs! ;-)
I thought he did a great job. I know that I wouldnt have had the balls to do it. You know somebody has gutts if theyll attempt to perform any rendition of Patti, Whitney, Aretha, or Michael. Go Sam!
beavis n butthead ripped this dude to shreds😂
i don't think there is a gay boy alive in America who hasn't heard Sammy do "Rainbow" it is a classic gay-masterpirce, and how could ou not love sammy?
alice... you don't know what you're talking about. Patti LaBelle sang this version first in late 70's and Sam sang this in the 80's. I saw Patti sing this on Soul Train in 1978. Sorry to disappoint.
"The Voice"....'nuff said.
Its a shame he didn't reach the top. I always liked hearing him sing. But as the saying go, it depend on who's backing you and who all you know.
You might want to remember when this was and he is far from tucked away. Check out his channel and you can see that.
notice he didnt get a standing ovation because the audience was just being polite
the best vocal on this song since judy garland sam you are amazing love ya wish you and liza would do something together
Great voice!
Geeeezus Khrist that is something else. huhhhh
It doesnt matter where he singing at...all that matters is the audience
Sam and Christina Agulira duet.
Wow!
@1destra Umm.. youre WELCOME. i acknowledge you made a sincere mistake and I accept that you sincerely apologize for your misdirected negativity. (Seriously, how hard is it, younger generation??).
Total Diva :0)
I'm not too sure what the name of the song was that he was playing when I came in, but whatever it was, he was really stinking it up. He was putting all these dumb, show-offy ripples in the high notes, and a lot of other very tricky stuff that gives me a pain in the ass. You should’ve heard the crowd, though, when he was finished. You would’ve puked. They went mad. They were exactly the same morons that laugh like hyenas in the movies at stuff that isn’t funny. I swear to God, if I were a piano player or an actor or something and all those dopes thought I was terrific, I’d hate it. I wouldn’t even want them to clap for me. People always clap for the wrong things"
J.D. Salinger
Catcher In The Rye 1951
TheScunion I liked it!
TheScunion Shut up....Cuz the catcher in the rye (if you will....) was obviously not enough for you thereby allowing you to focus on something a bit more relevant...... So shut up.. And now I am clapping! HAHHAH! Respectfully, Brent Troy David
TheScunion I liked it.
Wow!!!!!!
Awesome
Nice perm there, Smokie!
❤️❤️❤️🎼
🎶🎤❤️
kept looking for patti
is this guy famous? reeeally?
@inasez Well didn't need a reply if it was directed to the wrong person so don't be silly.
Her reminds me of Von Smith
what the hell is that bathrobe get up???