b. 9 October 1948, Waukegan, Illinois, USA. Samuels played the drums from the age of six. While pursuing a degree in psychology at Boston University in 1971, he studied vibraphone with Gary Burton and went on to teach at the Berklee College Of Music (1971-74). He moved to New York in 1974 and worked with Gerry Mulligan for three years as well as starting the group Timepiece. In the late 70s he worked and recorded with Frank Zappa and the group Double Image, with which he toured Europe. He taught workshops at the Manhattan School of Music and played in a group called Gallery with Michael DiPasqua, Paul McCandless and David Darling. Throughout this period he had an increasing involvement with Spyro Gyra, becoming a full member in 1986 and staying until the mid-90s. Samuels has released several sessions as leader, and currently works with clarinettist Paquito D’Rivera and steel drummer Andy Narrell as co-leader of the Caribbean Jazz Project.