Sam Hankins had the great fortune to be born into a musical family that would help cultivate his own talent and ambitions. Encouraged by his father, Samuel Hankins Sr., young “Hank” began with the guitar, then switched to his trademark trumpet in middle school and began playing in churches, professional bands and orchestras.

After earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Hankins joined the Air Force Jazz Band, The Pacesetters, stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. He remained with the Pacesetters as a trumpeter until the Air Force Base closed in 1991. Sam, then returned to school, earning both a second Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sam Hankins, an Olympia Fields resident and Rich East High School Band Director, won 9 independent artist awards at the Indie Music Channel Awards (IMC) ceremony in Hollywood on Sunday, April 23rd, 2017.

HEADLINES READ: “Rich East High School Band Director wins 9 independent artist music awards in Hollywood”

Thousands of independent musicians from all over the world (Australia, Europe, UK, Canada & Nigeria, to name a few) submit their music in the different genres to be judged by music industry professionals: producers, managers, radio DJs and songwriters. The list of nominees was released in March and the awards show was held in April in West Hollywood as in every year. This year it was held at the famous Troubadour, which has seen performers such as Miles Davis, Elton John & Bob Dylan, amongst others.

Sam Hankins walked away with the below awards:
Best Instrumental Demo for “El Matador”
Best Live Jazz Performance for “So What”
Best Male R & B Artist for “Reach For Me”
Best Soundtrack Song for “Land Of Freedom”
Best Soundtrack Recording for “El Matador”
Best World Music Artist for “Balli For My Galli”
Best World Music Recording for Balli For My Galli”
Recording of The Year for “El Matador”
Demo of The Year for “El Matador”

Offering up a fresh and exhilarating vibe with his full length debut “Nothing Between Us”, trumpeter and composer Sam Hankins draws on a powerhouse resume as a music educator and R&B/jazz sideman that includes multiple awards as a middle school Band Director and performances with numerous legendary artists, including Al Jarreau, Clark Terry, The O’Jays, The Temptations, The Dells, The Impressions, Aretha Franklin and the Glenn Miller Big Band.

As a prolific composer, Hankins has composed over 150 pieces before he took his wife’s advice and began pursuing the next phase of his diverse career, as a solo recording artist. He laid the groundwork for Nothing Between Us (May 2012) by releasing Dream Catcher (July 2011), a compilation of his catalog of music in every genre from smooth jazz and dance to techno. He released his third CD, Joyous Celebration, a Christmas CD which is a collaboration with David Mc Lorren in November 2015 and his latest CD Do That Thang in March 2016.

All 4 CD’s have received lots of radio play around the world and in the US. Sam is also an Adjunct Music Professor at South Suburban College where he is the Director & Conductor of the Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble.

SAM HANKINS is an endorsing artist of PHAETON TRUMPET COMPANY and plays exclusively on his Trumpet Model PHT-FX-1100 and Flugelhorn Model PHTF-LV 2800.

You can contact Sam at: http://www.samhankinsmusic.com and get your FREE download of “Nothing Between Us”