Sam Harris sings Over The Rainbow (1984) Star Search

[Nicolletta13]

I remember this guy. My sister had his album and listened to it over and over and over again. LOL

[apoetic1]

Wow... this gives me chills! I was 10 years old when I watched this live. Sam was my absolutely favorite on Star Search. Man, the nostalgic feeling was unexpected. I've been fishing around in iTunes and did an online search (updating iPod music). Heard several versions, but wasn't quite getting that resonance I remembered... til I played this one. Funny how "exact" childhood memories can be. Awesome!

[beeweejr]

Paging Patti LaBelle! I smell a dream duet.

[pumpkinpie902]

I think he sings this song better than Judy Garland!! Wow, what a beautiful amazing voice!

[nick345ize1]

incredible voice, great performer, i love Sam!

[monk1312]

Sam needs to take a chill pill, way to hysterical version for this puppy's aesthetics. Good voice.

[capatga]

I think he went on to do some stage and Broadway work

[legacy3690]

sam harris is amazing.

[lucasboden]

People in the 80s didn't question other people's sexual orientation like we do today.  He has gay written on his forhead, but we didn't care in the 80s.

[Bankens1]

wow, Just totaly awesome

[ojmccaf63]

OMG! OMG! THIS IS WAAAAY BEFORE AMERICAN IDOL!!! WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO HIM?? LOL

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@ojmccaf63 try samharris dotcom

[greeneyedstone42]

What a voice back in the day...

[tonyalive]

IT's a Shame Star Search didn't know what to do with the winners... If was an American Idol winner he probably would have broken all records for album sales.

Just Awesome!

[eddyxusmc1]

Wow been looking for this for years, I have heard his new version and this was by far the best I heard his sing it when the show first came on and followed him in that show. Wow it still is amazing.

[Heyjay454]

Wow I would love to see that. I do remember hearing about that. Maybe emulate is a better word then copied. Sam did an amazing job..which is why this still sends chills all these years later. Go Sam!

[Heyjay454]

But he just copied Patti LaBelle...would luv to see a a duet with them.

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@Heyjay454 They did duet, and she gave him her arrangement.

[buffymekaren]

sam harris blew me away on star search,it could of been early 80's impressed the heck out of me....

[MegaDianal]

Where is Sam Harris now. I think he's an excellent singer. Motown did him no good.

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@MegaDianal type his name and put a dot com after it... it's like magic!

[hjb103055]

Gives me tears everytime.

[FlyingFeatheredHorse]

His album "Standard Time " was awesome if you enjoy real classics.

[maxx3442]

Great talent, no doubt...but oversings a bit. He's the male Patti Labelle.

[DONGOE]

The people who voted "thumbs down" on this( 52 on 1/25/11 ) have no soul and no taste in music.

[ricardogutierrezable]

Didn't christina aguilera beat him

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@ricardogutierrezable he was grand champion winning 14 times in a row. Christina Aguilera lost on her first try, but she was young.

[CookyMonzta]

The only one who ever dared to sing this song the way Patti LaBelle sang it. That is why he won.

[JerrysTube]

When I originally saw Sam Harris sing this song Somewhere Over The Rainbow...He did the most awesome job of performing as well as singing it ever...!

I used to eat at a Goldies Hamburger Joint in Sandsprings, great burgers ...and tons of Sam Harris memorbilia. Sam gets around and I saw him in person at the TCC Grand Auditorium in Tulsa also. He's something else this Sam Harris. In closing, You played it for him....now play it for me...Play it again Sam...lol.

[slave2thenight23]

can't get the goosebumps to go away

[LittleSonOfa]

Adam Lambert reminds me of today's Sam Harris.

[IdolReady]

I owuld really love to know how he sings that high... lucky man lol

[buffymekaren]

he blew me away,my socks off too lol

[vanessa4u4evr]

Yeah, this white boy can 'sang'. Amazing pipes.

[JonLeibow]

He's smiling at you.

[companythemusical]

a true talent!

[niksinnn]

wow .. my gram used 2 make me watch Star Search every wk/end.. i dont remember shit about any one on that show except 4 Sam Harris..still gives me goose bumps!!

[hydrolito]

@niksinnn Actually several successful singers appeared on Star Search before they were Famous, such as Britney Spears, Tiffany, Christina Agulera, Leeanne Rimes, Justin Timberlake, and Destiny Child.

[CoolerKing37]

Isn't this singer that annoying athiest dude that's always on TV?

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@CoolerKing37 no, this is the real Sam Harris in the video. The other one wrote a book and has a cult following called "The Lost Children of Hot Topic T-Shirts".

[astroman30]

Good news for Sam: Beavis and Butthead are coming back.

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@astroman30 see the video Sam made about B&B on his channel.  Funny!

[Hot80s]

haven't seen it in 25+ years it's still explosive!

[dbkimh]

Wow!  Incredible! Best version of Over the Rainbow!

[barbaglia]

beautiful

[deafgagirl]

i remember watching this. He had some chops!

[Herestome2]

Where are you Sam??? I love your voice!!! Woooo Hoooo! Judy would have loved your version!

[JaJr07]

I wish you and your family all that God has to offer you. God Bless!

[LASongwriter]

It doesn't get any better ... a GREAT TALENT!

[rc3miller]

he was 20 years before his time,he performs this on American Idol he would be a household name

[ussclaudejones]

This guy can really sing, off the charts!

[maritakassel]

Sam won Star Search..signed with Motown. He did not have much success with his album. He is singing on Broadway alot

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@maritakassel FYI he sold at least two million copies of a poorly promoted album when Motown died. He has at least 8 albums since. Time to catch up! :-)

[alexanuchid]

I 've been his fan since1986

[wordgrrl71]

I can't believe it; I had this guys album. I loved the whole album.

[harleymaori]

holy shit this guys has great vocals but scares the shit out of me.

[swdshchck]

@harleymaori Oh, please, how can that sweet face possibly scare anybody?

I remember being completely awestruck by Sam's incredible voice, and after all these years, I still am! Love Sam! (Love Adam, too!)

[alwayssme]

i remember him singging this song on the show,,,,,,, he had and has so much talent/charisma, etc awesome

[wattwhite]

EAT THAT LAMBERT!!!!

[knudifruiti]

His singing style kind of reminds me of Adam Lambert! I remember watching Sam on this show when I was 13!

[strokerman01]

My dad still talks about Sam Harris and his run on Star Search.  Sometime around the holidays its a sure bet someone in the family will get some stories about the greatness that was (is) Sam Harris, shortly followed by a sampling of the mp3s he's downloaded.

I love how McMahon is just like "Thank you Sam" - but it comes off like "this thing is over already." haha

[lettohara1970]

I love him singing " The Bells" ~~ it's soo amazing 

[bizychick02]

He was awesome in the day!

[lauranmary]

He nailed it

[TriviaGeek463]

I had such a crush on him! I remember watching him each week on SS...the last I saw him? was on Rosie's show back in the late 90's. He was starring on a Broadway show The Life and she had the cast on :)

[harveysuperboy]

Man I remember this.

[bardexprt]

I was obsessed with Sam Harris just like I am with Adam Lambert. I guess I really love gay guys with unbelievable singing voices.

[glibster]

@bardexprt Who doesn't? ;-)

[crazyredhead2009]

God I was in love with Sam and remember this so well. God what a great looking guy. xx Andrea Venn UK

[splatt12345]

He should teach the contestants on American Idol how to sing. I've loved this ever since the first time I saw it on Star Search in the 80's. Sam, you still give me goose bumps.

[RRydnew]

@splatt12345

True that! At least he sings and not mimics sound like on AI. 

[diroba001]

@splatt12345 ... I still get the goose bumps too & I'm almost 60 yrs old!

[getoutofmyway01]

so whatever happened to this guy?

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@getoutofmyway01 Google is your friend! :-)

[MickPalani]

@CrazyWordsThatRoll or even wikipedia :)

[whilome]

@getoutofmyway01 Still working onstage. And still all kinds of awesome.

[nealbrice]

@getoutofmyway01 He is not hard to find...... he is doing quite weel!!!!

[alwayssme]

@getoutofmyway01 last i heard hes in production and doing broadway

[moderadonna]

@getoutofmyway01 He has a youtube channel with loads of great videos on it as well. He still looks great too!

[Blinglover]

So happy to see this again. I recorded it on our first betamax because Star Search was after their bed time.

Now we see where Jennifer Hudson got her inspiration.

[SmokeyJoe1961]

Sam Harris went on to become a very well known Music Producer.

[dingybanez]

i have never seen this video clip before, but this sam harris was a great singer, never heard from before. this guy is magnificent. wer is he now?

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@dingybanez try typing his name with a dotcom after it. It's like magic!

[jakeen229]

@CrazyWordsThatRoll hahahha your sarcasm is amazing

[idreamofjeannie]

Has it been 26 years? I remember his performance like it was yesterday. Sam Harris for me...Adam Lambert for my daughters. Halleluia!!!

[nognilk]

30 years later, this is still the best rendition.

[singers333]

Sam you have the best version of Over the Rainbow ever next to Judy Garland.

[jblanding2010]

AMAZING!!!!!! 1:42 IS DAMNN...

[TheRealMsTaye]

Just RIDICULOUS! The boy can SANG!!

[ilindah]

very patti :)

[billydguy]

thanx alot - brings back memories!

[poots2988]

Mkes my ass hole quiver evertime i hear this!!!

[nvk54]

This man's voice still sends shivers right through me. I remember watching this, he's great

[lizamazes312]

i actually bought a 45 record of this at a vintage record shop here in massachusetts. i scour them for anyhting minnelli-garland related its good but he is so young its funny too

[sarsonec]

Goodebumps! I remember watching Sam Harris sing this on Star Search. I got boosebumps then too. I bought his first album on Motown Records.This song is on it but the rest of the album was a disappointment (to me). Sam's talent wasn't utilized to the best of his range. It was the 80's... disco was King or should I say Oueen. :)

Anyway, Adam Lambert does bring Sam to mind. Both are huge talents. There's enough room to love both.

[MyTony42]

I am in total agreement with you on you decision about sam harris' voice. When I got hids album I plyayed it to death, thank god, for head phones! What about the song, The Bells - another great one andAdam lambert is on his way

[fleabeard]

That wasn't the only time he sang that, during that competition. This vid only shows the 2nd-best performance he gave during it. I wish I still had the VCR tape of the better one.This one is still great though, of course.

[vasalike]

Adam lambert has nothing over Sam!! I love Adam but Sam more!!!!

[stillwill2215]

thats equivalent to asking;"the sky is blue"? lol he's copping patti labelle's version, which is cool.

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

@stillwill2215 just an FYI, Sam was given the song and arrangement BY Patti Labelle. He would have never sang or recorded the song without her blessing. If you have the CD, he even mentions that. But look for his YT channel. He has more versions. Honestly, I like the "standard time" version the best, with full orchestra... the arranger for Barbra Streisand was the conductor.

[stillwill2215]

hey crazy, yeah, i have no problem with that; if i was going to sing it i'd model it on patti's version too. her and judy's which are both in a class all their own. streisand is a bad momma but i can't get into her. 'heard she was scared to sing with celine dionne [cornball] at the grammys, i think it was.

[ccm800]

@CrazyWordsThatRoll true true! Patti and he are long standing friends. She adores the Sam

[santamara]

I still love Him!

[klg1956]

The "Motown Returns to the Apollo" version of this song is better. Do you have it? You should post it. If you don't, I have it and I'll post it.

[xadam2dudex]

hmmm.. Sam and Adam Lambert seem to have a lot in common

[BuckeyeSecretary]

I love to hear this beautiful man sing this song. My goodness

[4shys2]

This man took this song through so many levels! I still love it!

[ohsobobo]

i cried every time he sanged this song

[nealbrice]

I was there on the living room floor watchimg 25 years ago..........what a moment.............the young gays thank you for the moment.................we had joy.

[perry0104]

"thank you sam" lol

[rahrawraf]

i remember when he did this for the first time. What a memory jolt!!! Loved it, thanks so much.

[Shonese355]

Thanks so much for posting this...I remember watching it when I was a kid and I just showed it to my 7 year old daughter and she is floored!

[todnyc]

have you noticed that Adam Lambert totally copies Sam Harris' singing style? his singing at the AMA was a total ripoff!!!

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

tod, yes, a lot have. Adam is apparently a big fan of Sam's. Just google their two names together.

[alfiesgirluk]

I see where shayne ward got his version from now

[lpvcrcd]

Sam went on to Motown Label . Please catch and listen to the song ' Don't Look In My Eyes' from his debut LP 'Sam Harris'.. Just a great a great mood song. I have great memories of that song

[BuckeyeSecretary]

I always loved this guy

[53JoDi]

OMG I loved Sam Harris! Motown did him SO wrong when they signed him: "Sugar don't bite"?! WTH were they thinking? Lamest song and video.

[nekonstantni]

end yes amazing voice but thath is obvious

[afesdf]

wow Von smith sings like this guy, check it out

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

Yes, do a YT search on "von smith" and "sam harris" in the same search.

[jvane2010]

he wishes..

[Marci3261957]

the VERY BEST rendition of "Over the Rainbow"!

[nessamaine]

god, we LOVE you, sam. :) giggle...my sisters and i used to tune in just for you. thank you for all of the lovely music! :)

[alwayssme]

have yet to get /find sam singing this on cd

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

alwayssme, then you clearly are not looking. The old version from this era is always on ebay. But the best version is the newer version arranged and produced by Peter Matz, who was Barbra Streisand's producer on many major albums. Sam is on YouTube and has an official site. Readily available.

[jammonper]

I have how Sam puts his whole heart and spirit into the song! Cheers!

[silverounce]

What a talent.....what a voice.....

[alwayssme]

omg star search, first i heard of sam and week after week wanted him to win and he did,,,, awesome singing,,,,,

[DUNSA1234]

OMG I never heard of this guy but he's fantastic!!!!

[wolfmgmt]

And after all these years, he's an even BETTER singer!!!

[bgtandgtofan]

Sam: I play this and "What Did I Have...." every day when I log onto my computer. What a voice, what control! Young singers today can't hold a candle to you!

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

I'm not Sam, but he is on YouTube.

[rturnerful]

You got that so right... Sam CARES how well he does and always seems to really want to be an entertainer in every sense of the word.. I am big fan of ballads from the 30s & 40s myself..

[kimv020887]

@bgtandgtofan Alicia Keys is a GOOD singer nowadays, bgtandgtofan.

[Griffix24]

Does anyone else find similarities between Sam and Adam Lambert after watching this video? I'm referring to their big vocal range and ability to hit the high notes....

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

Yes, everyone. Click around.

[QuasiSane45]

Best voice EVER on Star Search. I remember the chills I got, but only because I just got them again.

Awesome singer!!!

[DanielSodl]

I was 11, and still remember this clearly. I STILL have it from a VHS recording. lol... It was amazing....still inspires me.

[NeXt0091]

:O

wunderful singer!

[meganELISABETHx]

i love him x

[firsttenor76]

I loved his interpretation of Joseph also.

[norm58]

Sam had great control of his voice!!!

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

Had? He's not dead. hehehe. He has a channel on YouTube.

[norm58]

I know. We're buddies on Myspace

[JackRussellTerrier2]

Wasn't he on Beavis and Butthead?

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

He was! I wish someone would put it on YT. I think he makes Beaveis' head explode with the high note. So long ago

[Cantstopdamuzik]

Yeah, that little gem was on there.

[buffymekaren]

smoooochhhhh!u r wasome then/now!

[buffymekaren]

love you baby!sam harris i was around 14 yrs old when u blew my socks off/u blew me away!i love to sing and hear others sing i spotted your talent the day i fist heard you on star search i wanted to kiss you so bad!but now that im much older in my thirties i know you could never love me lol its ok i know...i am a girl/woman.but still wouldnt mind hearing u sing today and kiss me!:)

[CrazyWordsThatRoll]

I am not Sam Harris, but thanks!

[a198919a]

11 seconds..wow

[JackieEco]

great! : )

[terrieestrada]

wow i remember this. i loved to hear him sing this song , and i would wait for the goosebumps to come. Sam has sang so many songs and all of them are brilyant and his own , and i agree with VLPRESL 100% . hope you will get the chance to hear sam sing Walk On it is a great song and will leave with goosebumps also

[ActionAimz]

Wow nastaligia. As I was watching him I did see similarities to Adam Lambert's style. And Sam stood out as something new and different just as Adam did this year. The 80s mullet is too much, I remember crushing on Sam though

[waynegabi]

Sam has always been a great singer, a consummate performer. I had the honor of taping some concerts he did way before Star Search so that Sam could study them. They are still brilliant...he's a great entertainer. Wayne

[OkieMeterMaid]

WOW! Thank you for posting this video! I live in Oklahoma and remember very vividly pulling for Sam Harris. I remember the goosebumps I felt each time he sang a song, especially this one. I read the comments and I agree that Adam Lambert and Sam have similar voices, but Adam is an all around entertainer who will go much further than anyone can imagine. Adam's rendition of "Ring of Fire" is a masterpiece.

[WizardOfOzfan94]

Brilliant but Mrs. Garland is always first.

[WizardOfOzfan94]

Judy will always be number one, but this guy is amazing.

[binkiesmom]

I loved him then and I still love him now!!!!!!!!!!!

[VLPRESL]

i totally disagree with RockMeBaby and IncorruptibleTruth. as one of the biggest sam harris admirers out there, i must say that adam's version of ring of fire was brilliant! nobody can touch "over the rainbow" or just about anything that sam sings, but... to say that adam can't control his voice as sam can is utterly rediculous. i've waited over 20 years to hear a voice that makes my hair stand on end like sam's does. adam lambert is that person. wow... is he ever!

[TheLivingDeadBoy]

What a voice, man...and the tux with Chuckies is completely awesome! The dude was ahead of his time.

[vic6string]

I still remember watching this show when it first came out. Amazing listening to this guy belt out this song every week for like 12 shows in a row and always getting blown away like it was the first time I ever heard it. Lambert is good, and very similar, but he is no Sam Harris (at least not yet)

[Nobbyboy2]

Sam only sang Over the Rainbow 2 times. He sang 15 different songs. He didn't even win with this song. But it definately stands out as one of the most memorable.

[kihoro1]

just let me comment on this dude only, cos theres great singers everywhere in the world that can execute this song so beautifully, never mind the comparison. cos this guy was absolutely awesome, loved you dude, from new zealand

[lcmason]

Sam Harris and Adam Lambert are nothing alike. No point in comparing them.

[LutionStackridge]

wow, he was really getting into it... lol

[mikee81]

He sounds like a diva version of Justin Timberlake.

[Dancerfromheaven1993]

Sam Harris like Adam have the ability to go into the higher ranges goosebump ranges I like to call them and they are suited for broadway, they both are very talented for their style and as far as Adam goes for winning AI, it would be great, however what ever Adam does he will be just fine....he is unique and gifted.He has a huge fan base now! Good luck to Adam!

[nieces1965]

So it took me all season to try and figure out who Adam Lambert reminded me of and then last night BAM...so I came on here to find good ol Sam...sure enough I'm not the only one!!! Cool. Adam is broadway....not rock and roll....and if he wins, his album will fail.....talent but not recording material for A.I. Broadway all the way!

[RockMeBabyB]

I totally agree with incorruptible truth. I lost all respect for Lambert after he butchered Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". I have great memories of dancing around my house as a child listening to Sam Harris. I STILL have the record, and it STILL plays on the ol' phono. hahaha. I sang his version at a state competition, and won first place...Oh, the memories.

[KickstartYourHeart]

i thought lambert's interpretation of the song was brilliant. i'd listen to it over the original.

[johnnyohness]

When Adam did Ring of Fire (1) he made it his own. Yes it did cause contraversy but it put him on the map. A brilliant move.

Remember the one way to get people talking about you is to be contraversal.

People could not wait to to hear what he was going to do the next week. There is a lot of talent out there but his way of getting people to talk about him was pure genius.

Seems it sure paid off.

[IncorruptibleTruth]

Adam's voice is very similar to Sam's in some respects, mainly with phrasing and range. The big difference between the two though is that Adam can't control his voice the way Sam could. Sam had great control and had a much fuller throat than Adam.

[RatherNotSay456]

Sam is much older than Adam. Adam is much better, he is much more emotional, and doesn't end every song the same way.

[mypuffy]

I thought I was the only one who thought Adam should sing this song on A.I. He would blow everybody away.

[tovarr5]

he and adam lambert should sing together on american idol!!! they would kill !!! definetely steal the show!!! afraid the producers would think it way too over the top!! Too many screaming queens!! LOL!!!!

[belladonna411]

Suck it Adam Lambert!

[johnnyohness]

I bet he does........and as Martha Stewart would say...It's a good thing.

[Gillis1984]

I haven't read the other comments... but I wonder if anyone else besdes me thinks that Sam Harris in this video is comparable to Adam Lambert's style?