Sammy Ridgley


Samuel Ridgley, aka Sammy Ridgley, is a R&B artist and Jefferson Parish community activist.

Career

Ridgley was raised in the Shrewsbury section of Jefferson Parish on Andover Street. He started singing gospel at the First Zion Baptist Church. Ridgley's biggest early influence was Joe Tex.
In 1962, Ridgley joined a seven-piece band and the band got $100 a night while working during a day job at a funeral home.
In 1965, Ridgley recorded a session at Cosimo's called "The Hully Gully" with Tommy Ridgley, Eddie Do, and Irma Thomas singing background, but the session was never released. Ridgley also recalls the Magnificents did some recordings at WYLD's studio but doesn't know what happened to the tapes."
Around 1968, Ridgley started his own band called Operation Plus, which played at "the Young Man's Night Club on the Causeway for 24 years".
In 1972, Ridgley signed with local producer/promoter Elijah Walker. Walker produced Ridgley's first single, I’ve Heard That Story and Shake A Shake Sue. The record was arranged by Wardell Quezergue and produced by King's Row." However, when Walker died unexpectedly in 1973, Ridgley's career slowed and later recorded one record.
In 1981, Tommy Ridgley invited Sammy to open his show with Rose Davis.
In 1998, Ridgley was working at the Treasure Chest Casino when he was approached by Donald Lang and guitarist Ernie Vincent, who operate Kolab Records, to record a compact disc. During this time, Ridgley was a supervisor for community action programs at the Harvey Center.
In 2010, Ridgley performed at the Ponderosa Stomp.

Personal life

Ridgley is the younger brother of recording artist Tommy Ridgley. Ridgley is active in the Shrewsbury community and belongs to the Young Men's Union Benevolent Association, which is one of the oldest organizations in Jefferson Parish and goes back to 1801.