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BRITISH guitarist Prince Sampson has been a professional musician since the early ‘80s, and has played with the likes of The Pasadenas, Alexander O Neal and Eternal. He also traveled throughout the world as the guitarist for British songstress Des’ree. Now concentrating on his own solo album Living in the Moment, the talented musician tells Davina Morris about his career to date.

When did you start playing the guitar?

It feels like I've been playing the guitar all my life, but I started when I was 16 and I’m now 49. So it’s been a long time.

What’s your proudest achievement to date?

I’d have to say my three children, simply because as any musician will tell you, it’s incredibly difficult to be half way across the world working and get home in time for dinner. Kids need a father figure who's there and so even though I have not always been there, I try to compensate for it when I am.

Who’s the best artist you’ve worked with and why?

Luckily, all the projects I have been involved in were so different from one another that I can honestly say all of them. However, because of the amount of writing and producing I did with Des'ree at the time of making [the albums]

Supernatural and Dream Soldier, it helped to bring my own music out to a higher level in terms of exposure.

Can you share any secret stories of artists who acted like divas?

Laughs: You are trying to put me in the type of trouble where any money I make from this music will have to be spent sorting out lawsuits! I can't afford that stuff right now!

Fair enough! What was it like working with Des’ree?

Des'ree is very musical so for me that makes things very easy. I have good memories of that time. Des'ree is a seriously gifted vocalist.

How do you describe your album?

I wanted to take a different direction, which involved concentrating more on what I was feeling and that happened to be a more jazz-orientated sound. At any rate, I was not sure what it was all going to sound like, but the feedback I’ve received from various radio stations has been amazing. Colourful radio and Jazz FM have both shown my music a lot of love, which is fantastic.

Who is your favourite guitar player of all time?

It’s too hard to pick one! My favourites are Eric Gale, George Benson and Jimmy Hendrix.

For more information on Prince Sampson, visit www.princesampson.com

Published: 16 November 2009
Issue: 1398

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