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Samuel Joshua Watters was born in Camp Springs, Maryland (just outside Washington, D.C.) on July 23, 1970. He and his parents, Dan (a cellist) and Mary (a music teacher) lived in Long Island, New York during Sam's early childhood before moving to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma when he was four. When Sam was 8 years old, he met Mark Calderon, a destined meeting that would impact their lives more than they knew. When the two best friends entered Northwest Classen High School's chorus class, they met Kevin Thornton and Bryan Abrams, who had also been best friends since grade school. The four young men quickly developed a kinship with one another that revolved around their love for music. 
When the
opportunity to perform in a school talent show rolled around, the
talented foursome got together and memorized the close harmonies
of a Levi's 501 Blues jeans jingle to sing there. The response
to their beautiful voices was incredible. The quartet soon took
to giving impromptu concerts in the school hallways. When
that was vetoed by the school's staff, the four took their act
into the men's room -- which didn't stop fans of both genders
from gathering to listen.When the four young men were barely out of high school, a chance encounter with a popular musician changed their lives. Thornton and Abrams both worked at a local Oklahoma City movie theatre; this particular night, however, it was just Thornton. As he tore tickets for every Larry, Harry and Mary that walked through the door, in walked rock star Jon Bon Jovi, along with a group of friends (including Bon Jovi bandmates). Thornton dismissed the man as a look alike, until, on furthur investigation, he spotted a Bon Jovi logo on someone's jacket. The always-on-his-toes Thornton immediately played sick to get off of work...he had a plan. He then called Watters, Abrams and Calderon to come to the theatre for a possible chance to perform for Jon. So, after waiting through "two, long, boring movies," the guys had Abrams introduce them to Jon as Take One, and ask for a few moments of his time to hear them sing. "Go ahead fellas, show me what you've got." he replied. The guys then broke out their flawless harmonies and performed "Daddy's Home" right there in the lobby. Jon listened, thought it over, then answered, "You guys think you're pretty badd, don't you? Let's see how badd you are in front of 15,000 people!" With that statement, Take One secured a place on stage in front of 15,000 Bon Jovi and Skid Row fans at OKC's Myriad Convention Center. They were well-received by the audience, but their "big break" was yet to come. Soon after the Bon Jovi encounter, the guys met Robert "Kool" Bell of Kool and the Gang who took a listen, and then took action. Bell hooked them up with part of his management team, Myles Sanders and Linda Phillip. The guys moved cross-country to New York City in September 1989 and lived with Sanders and Phillip for a year and a half while they tried to get a record deal. It was also at this time that the four talents' group name was changed to Color Me Badd to avoid confusion with the a capella Gospel group, Take 6. Color Me Badd was a name thought up by Sam Watters himself. To him and the guys, it represented overcoming labels: racial, sexual, musical, etc. until all that's left is the vibe of the music. Color Me Badd signed with Giant records in 1990, and as a result, their first single was included on the soundtrack to the Warner Bros. film, New Jack City the following year. That song, "I Wanna Sex You Up," became the anthem of the summer of 1991, and Color Me Badd's all-time most recognized song (whether they, or their fans, like it or not... ha ha).  In November of
1998, following a seven-year run of the typical career highs and
lows, Color Me Badd parted ways. Watters is now, of course, half
of the very successful songwriting/production team now known as Mzmeriq Entertainment (formerly "Breakthrough Entertainment" or "Breakthrough Creations"),
along with Louis Biancaniello. He not only writes and produces
the songs with Louis, he also sings backing vocals on many of the
tracks, and has played instruments as well.In September of 2006, Sam wed singer/actress (and Biancaniello & Watters collaborator) Tamyra Gray, in Capri, Italy. Biancaniello, Watters, and Gray are reportedly working on material for her second album, as she continues her Broadway stage career. For more information on the creations of Biancaniello and Watters, please click here: their work :|: biography by Patricia M. Henderson (fanlisting co-founder) :|: first Sam Watters photo taken by Pam Martin: July 10, 1997 second (with wife Tamyra) is a press photo |
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DISCLAIMER: This is NOT an official website. We have no affiliation with Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, or anyone at the Mzmeriq or Breakthrough Entertainment companies, we are simply dedicated fans of their work. Emails sent to us will not reach them. Patricia & Gabbie :: bwfans@nsyncable.com |