Sam Myers Dies

Well-traveled Mississippi bluesman Sam Myers died July 17th at his home in Dallas.

The 70-year-old featured player in Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets died of throat cancer, his sister said, and had been unable to perform since 2004.

Best known as a singer and harmonica player, Myers’ most famous single, 1956’s “Sleeping in the Ground,” was covered by Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and others.

In his early years while attending the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, he sat in with such blues greats as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter.

Myers and the rest of the Rockets collectively won nine W.C. Handy Awards.