Terry Sampson is a songwriter, producer, singer and keyboardist.
He signed his first publishing deal while attending
Central Michigan University. Shortly after he relocated to
Los Angeles, his song “Summer Hearts” was selected and
used in “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”
Not long after that, he signed on as a staff songwriter
with Warner Brother’s Music.
At Warner Brothers, He and Michael Himelstein wrote
“God’s Gift To The World”, which has has been covered at
least twice in every decade since by an impressive
collection of top singers. In 2007, the Jeffrey
Majors/Kelly Price rendition spent an entire year on the
Billboard charts earning the writers an ASCAP Rhythm &
Soul Music award.
Another Himelstein/Sampson collaboration “Full Moon At
Half Price” was recognized in the David Jenness and Don
Velsey songwriting textbook - Classic American Popular
Song 1950-2000.
“...many songs from recent eras fall into pure classic-pop
style. When they are good, they demonstrate that the
resources of that style are by no means exhausted. A fine
example is Full Moon At Half Price (Terry Sampson - Mike
Himelstein).”
In the 90’s, Terry’s original recordings were a mainstay on
the CBS daytime drama “The Young And The Restless”. He also
co-wrote and sang the theme to the Saturday Morning TV show
for ABCs “Land Of The Lost.”
He began to contribute songs for Disney’s Winnie The Pooh
record releases - and continued in that genre in the TV
productions Sid The Science Kid (Henson), Angelina Ballerina
(PBS/BBC), My Little Pony (Hasbro) and Make Way for Noddy
(PBS/BBC).
He has had songs recorded by, and written with Jazz artist
Al Jarreau. And other artist covers include Kenny Rogers,
Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Nicolette Larson, Phil Perry,
Cece Winans, Vanessa Williams, Kal David, Andrea Marcovicci,
and Carlos De Antonis.
He loves his on-going Christmas project with his daughter
Madeline as the “The Sno-Globes.”
He is currently enjoying his first record label release.