‘Black sheep’ still following musical dream
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, Sam Endress sat on a stool strumming his guitar and signing. A string of rose-colored lights marked off the “stage” in the corner of the Ambrosia Bistro and Wine Bar.
Endress, 31, comes from a family of writers, muralists, potters, painters, poets, teachers and activists, so his decision to play music and write songs was no surprise. What was a surprise was his decision to find a lucrative day job and become a pharmacist. “I’m a bit of a black sheep because of that,” he said.
Last May, Endress became a degree-carrying pharmacist after attending Washington State University with an undergrad degree from Eastern Washington University. Before that, he had been a blues influenced, guitar-toting musician.
“I play a confessional style of music … my own impressions, kind of a musical journey,” he said.
Endress wrote his first song when he was 8 and went on to play on stages, in recording studios and on the streets of California. “I’ve done some really big venues, but the harder I tried to be a rock star, the more it lost its meaning. I want to do something real, … authentic … not a mockery of something else,” he said,
“The lifestyle of a rock star never appealed to me. I’m not cutthroat enough. I wrote my best music after deciding not to be a rock star.”
He and his wife Stacy moved to Spokane where, while driving around the area, he turned to her and said, “I’m going to be a doctor.” He studied hard, excelled and is realizing his dream. Still, Endress has not given up his guitar-toting ways. He continues to play and write songs, from silly spoofs to serious love songs, including “The Devil is a Truck Driver’s Wife,” “Chasing Down the Love,” and “Roll On” about life, death and moving on. The songs, he said, are personal, and he’s written many for or with his wife.
He’s performed at the Rocket Bakery on High Drive, at the Peacock Lounge at the Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane and at private events.
At the Ambrosia Bistro and Wine Bar, he showed off his soul and rhythm to a packed crowd. During his breaks, he was approached and asked to play at a wedding and a private party.