Samuel J. Sapp
- Producer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Samuel J. Sapp was appointed Producer and Vice President Creative /
Television Production at Chan Add Films in September 2003. He is also a
global entertainment consultant for various music-based recordings,
soundtracks, and music based compilation projects. In addition to his
music consulting services, he continues to oversee creative production
for all Chan Add Films Television and Movie projects. At Chan Add
Films, Mr. Sapp provides strategic leadership in marketing initiatives,
product management and branding, financial management, creative
development, product acquisitions and sales. He also is part of the
team that created and developed the first dual language television show
titled, "Hacienda Heights", which centers on the trials and
tribulations of the families who live, work and love in the fast
growing city of "Hacienda Heights." The conflicts that arise between
the political factions, the wealthy dynasties and the working middle
class families are universal and will reflect the times in which we
live today. "Hacienda Heights" is shot in both English and Spanish and
is a modern day prime time drama. Sam is producing 26 episodes of the
show for the initial roll out, and an additional 87 shows in 2011. In
the early 2000's, operating in the capacity of a Creative Consultant,
Samuel Sapp oversaw production of the "Love and Basketball" Soundtrack
with writer / producer / director Gina Prince-Bythewood released on New
Line Records. He also served as a consultant to "The Ali Motion
Picture" Soundtrack from the Will Smith movie "Ali," released on
Interscope Records. Mr. Sapp was responsible for Executive Producing,
Creating, and Producing his first television show titled "Garage Envy,"
along with Overbrook Entertainment, Will Smith and James Lassiter's
Production Company, based in Beverly Hills, CA. Here Sam created the
show, Garage Envy, started his own production company and sold "Garage
Envy" to the A&E Network in New York, NY as his first entry into the
television arena. Prior to starting his creative consulting firm, Mr.
Sapp had a distinguished 10-year career as an Artists and Repertoire
(A&R) Executive, Executive Producer and Marketing Executive at a few of
the major global recording companies including Sony Music / Columbia
Records, where he reported directly to Tommy Mottola, CEO of Sony
Music. As Vice President of Columbia Records from 1996 to 2000, he was
responsible for overseeing 75 recording artist signed under the Sony
Music umbrella, including So So Def Records owned and operated by the
multi-platinum producer and recording artist Jermaine Dupri, and Ruff
House Records, that launched the global selling 10 times platinum
project "The Fugees" featuring Lauryn Hill. Mr. Sapp oversaw all the
creative activities of the company including Executive Producing the
classic "Love Jones" soundtrack and the American Music Award winning 10
Million unit-selling soundtrack, "Men in Black," where he led
recordings with Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz, Snoop Dogg, 3T, Alicia
Keys, and Nas. Under his leadership and direction, Columbia Records /
Sony Music enjoyed its most successful years in business while Sony
Music earned in excess of 100 Million dollars. Samuel Sapp Executive
Produced and oversaw all creative record production with artists like
Alicia Keys, Will Smith's "Getting Jiggy Wit It", Destiny's Child, and
Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and Mariah Carey. Here
he spearheaded relationships with producers and writers to create hit
songs for many multi-platinum global selling recording artists like
Beyonce' and Xscape featuring Kandi Burrus, currently starring in
"Housewives of Atlanta," airing on Bravo Network. Sam also oversaw all
of Sony Music's video production, which included multi-million dollar
video shoots for Will Smith and Mariah Carey. Here he honed his
production skills and keyed in on presenting visual entertainment in
its best form. In 1996 Samuel Sapp formed a partnership label deal with
Arista and LaFace Records named Marvellous Music where he was President
of that label. There he collaborated with Grammy Award winning music
producers and artists Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "LA" Reid
to negotiate and secure rights to Executive Produce a compilation
soundtrack for 1996 Olympics Games in Atlanta, GA, from the
International Olympic Committee (IOC). Samuel led the global marketing
efforts by advertising music during Olympics highlights on NBC
Television worldwide for six weeks prior to 1996 Olympics and
continuing throughout the competition. Mr. Sapp also negotiated
artists' rights for recording of the soundtrack from various record
labels and the rights to perform live on NBC at Opening & Closing
Olympic Ceremonies. The result, a Grammy-nominated All-Star Compilation
CD featuring Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, David Foster, Brian McKnight,
the Boys Choir of Harlem and many others. Samuel formerly served as
Vice President of Artists and Repertoire (A&R) at Mercury / Wing /
under the PolyGram Records umbrella reporting directly to Ed Eckstein,
the first African American President of a non minority owned US
Corporation. Samuel oversaw the careers of Vanessa Williams, Tony Toni
Tone', Sinbad, and worked closely with Bon Jovi. It was here where he
discovered Brian McKnight in Los Angeles through a friend, at the age
of 18, and signed him to his first record deal on his 19th birthday to
Wing Records. Samuel, Executive Produced his first soundtrack titled
Jason's Lyric, where he produced the first all male ensemble hit song
"U Will Know," featuring 42 of the most successful male recording
artists of that time. Here Sam followed up with the similar strategy on
Panther with a classic production of an all female artists recording of
"Freedom," featuring every known successful female recording artists of
that time. Mr. Sapp is the recipient of many awards throughout his
career including The A&R Executive of the Year Award two years in a row
while at Sony Music / Columbia Records. BRE Magazines Executive of the
Year Award. He is also a member of NARAS (National Academy of Recording
Arts and Sciences) that produces the yearly Grammy Awards. A native of
New Jersey, Samuel attended various schools throughout the state and
attended Howard University, where he was a Business Major with a focus
on Marketing. He had continued his education, at UCLA, and is currently
studying for an MBA in an accelerated executive MBA Program. Samuel
lives with his family in the Los Angeles area of California where he is
raising two sons.