Sam Colgate is a New Orleans based musician.  Born in Chicago, IL, Sam started playing the drums at the age of 14.  At an early age, he developed an appreciation for the Blues, and was later introduced to jazz by his drum teacher.  Sam’s love of music continued to grow throughout his teenage years, leading him to move to New Orleans and study music at Loyola University.  During his time there, Sam studied with local drum legends Wayne Maureau and Johnny Vidacovich, as well as with the world-class percussionists Jim Atwood and Dave Salay of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.  In addition to instilling valuable performance skills, the jazz program at Loyola gave Sam a solid foundation in theory and composition.  In 2016, Sam graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree with a focus on Jazz Studies and a minor concentration on classical percussion.  Today, Sam continues to write music and to perform around town.  He can be hired as a sideman or a leader for gigs and recording sessions, and is available for private lessons.