Domingo Samudio, better known as "Sam" was one of the pioneers of the Tex-Mex sound. He had a local band and one night, prior to making it big, Sam went on stage wearing a robe and a turban. People in the audience liked the gimmick, so the attire stayed and his band became Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Sam is also credited as being the first male rock star to wear an earring.
Back then there was a dance called the Hully Gully. (I do not know one step of that dance by the way). Sam wanted to put a song dedicated to that dance on his first album. Record execs at MGM did not want to get involved in copyright issues so they asked him for a name change. He changed the name of the song to the name of his cat -- it rhymed after a fashion. The song, named after that cat, was reported to have been the first million seller by a U.S. group after the British Invasion began. You will know the name of the cat, if you click below.
Sam had another big hit, howling like a wolf, with a song called "Lil' Red Riding Hood." Last I heard, Sam the Sham was still very involved in life and various community activities. At one point I believe he was a pastor or a missionary. You can see what he looks like in more recent years at this link.
For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar 
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
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