Sam Most
Samuel Most (December 16, 1930 – June 13, 2013) was an American jazz flutist, clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, based in Los Angeles. He was "probably the first great jazz flutist", according to jazz historian Leonard Feather.
Also recorded as Samuel Most
Sam Most

Tutshen · Tutshen at English Wikipedia · Took this photo in 2009 Previously published: None · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Sam Most
- Born
- 16 December 1930
- Birthplace
- Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
- Died
- 13 June 2013
- Place of death
- Los Angeles
- Occupation
- Musician
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Samuel Most (December 16, 1930 – June 13, 2013) was an American jazz flutist, clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, based in Los Angeles. He was "probably the first great jazz flutist", according to jazz historian Leonard Feather.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Sam Most. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1245134 · wikipedia · Sam Most
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Sam Most • Landscape — yes • Born — 16 December 1930 • Birthplace — Atlantic City, New Jersey, US • Died — 13 June 2013 • Place of death — Los Angeles • Instrument — Flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician • Years Active — 1948 – 2013
Biography
Biography
He was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and began his career in music at the age of 18 with the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Shep Fields, Boyd Raeburn and Don Redman. He also performed many times with his older brother, clarinetist Abe Most. His first recording was at age 23 on a Prestige 7" EP, "Introducing A New Star Sam Most". The record included a track titled "Undercurrent Blues" that featured an extended flute solo. The next year he was awarded DownBeat magazine's "Critic's New Star Award". Between 1953 and 1958 Most led and recorded sessions for the Prestige, Debut, Vanguard and Bethlehem labels. He also did session work for Chris Connor, Paul Quinichette and Teddy Wilson. He was a member of the Buddy Rich band from 1959 to 1961. Most resurfaced in the late 1970s recording six albums on the Xanadu label. From 1987 Most, with producer Fernando Gelbard of Liquidjazz.com, recorded four albums, including Solo Flute. He was the guest of and played for the King of Thailand three times. He was the subject of Edmond Goff's documentary film Sam Most, Jazz Flutist (2001). Sam Most died on June 13, 2013, from cancer, at Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. He was 82.
As leader
As leader
• Sam Most Sextet - Introducing A New Star Sam Most (Prestige, 1952 released 1953) • Sam Most Quartet - Sam Most Quartet Plus 2 (Debut, 1953 released 1958) • I'm Nuts About the Most...Sam That Is! (Bethlehem, 1955) • The Herbie Mann-Sam Most Quintet (Bethlehem, 1955) • Musically Yours (Bethlehem, 1956) • Plays Bird, Monk, and Miles (Bethlehem, 1957) • The Amazing Mr. Sam Most (Bethlehem, 1957) • Mostly Flute (Xanadu, 1976) • But Beautiful (Catalyst, 1976) • Flute Flight (Xanadu, 1977) • Flute Talk (Xanadu, 1979) • From the Attic of My Mind (Xanadu, 1980) • Any Time, Any Season (Innovation, 1987) • New Jazz Standards (Summit, 2014)
As sideman
As sideman
• Louis Bellson, Thunderbird (Impulse!, 1965) • Clare Fischer, Extension (Pacific Jazz, 1963) • Stan Kenton, Hair (Capitol, 1969) • Paul Quinichette, Moods (EmArcy, 1954) • Buddy Rich, Playtime (Argo, 1961) • Buddy Rich, Blues Caravan (Verve Records, 1961) • Lalo Schifrin, There's a Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin' On (Dot, 1968) • Lalo Schifrin, Ins and Outs (Palo Alto, 1982)
Identity
Identity
Sam Most is recorded with the occupation jazz musician. Recorded with the occupation clarinetist. Recorded with the occupation saxophonist. Recorded as a citizen of United States. Recorded with the occupation flautist. Recorded with the occupation composer. Classed in the genre jazz.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1930
Sam Most was born on 16 December 1930.
2013
Sam Most died on 13 June 2013.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Sam Most”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1245134: Sam Most
General reference · Wikidata
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,934 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Sam JonesPerson
- Sam Ku WestPerson
- Sam LazarPerson
- Sam M. LewisPerson
- Sam MtukudziPerson
- Sam MyersPerson
- Sam NeelyPerson
- Sam PalladioPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Sam Most?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.