Sample trained many notable jazz musicians during his long tenure at Alabama, including Gary Wheat, Birch Johnson, Kelley O'Neal, Chris Gordon, Mervyn Warren, Cedric Dent, Beth Gottlieb,[1] Mart Avant, Dick Aven and Ray Reach.
Sample began playing and arranging professionally with traveling road bands in 1948, after graduating from University High School, Normal, Illinois.
From 1951 until January 1955, he played in and wrote arrangements for the 542nd USAF Band at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama.
During the course of his tenure at the University of Alabama, he and the UA Jazz Ensemble worked with such stars as Bob Hope, Dave Brubeck, Jim Nabors, Vic Damone and Joan Rivers plus jazz greats Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, Dee Barton, Bill Watrous, Urbie Green, Alan Vizutti, Gene Bertoncini and Rich Matteson.
Sample became acquainted with the FINALE music software program in 1988 and has become adept with its writing and printing aspects, using a Macintosh computer.