Page 72 - ION Indie Magazine JanFeb 2022

Sammy was vindicated of any wrongdoing and his physical wounds
have healed, but the mental anguish and toll it took on him both
personally and professionally is still evident. In fact, he has dealt
with his share of PTSD stemming from the incident. "There was a
time when I thought PTSD only affected people that had gone to
war, but I now know that's not the case," says Sammy. "People who
have been inflicted with any kind of pain or trauma in their lives
probably have some form of PTSD."

Sammy Sadler released a new album this year, titled "1989.” The
new collection is a trip down memory lane and accentuates the
sounds of a time when Sadler was making his debut as a
newcomer on the Nashville music scene. "So much was taken
away from me that year, but I also believe that it just happens to be
an era of some of the best country music ever made and produced."

Sammy has decided to go back to his musical roots, which are true
to the traditional sound of country music, even while facing a
market that has gone way too far into the pop scene. "I feel like
there's a big void out there for music like this, but I think there's a
big market for it; people are hungry for it. They still want to hear this
music."

Sadler teamed up with several country hit makers from the late
eighties on "1989,” most notably a duet with Shenandoah’s Marty
Raybon for a fresh take on the groups number one hit “The Church
On Cumberland Road.” He also duets with the soulful T. Graham
Brown for a revitalized re-recording of Brown's smash hit “Darlene,”
and recruited Larry Stewart of 80's super group Restless Heart to
reimagine their classic “The Bluest Eyes In Texas.”

“It is such an honor to re-record some of the most memorable and
greatest songs from an era which I think was one of the best ever,”
Sadler said. “To have some of the original artists on this record with
me is both humbling and an honor.”

Perhaps one of the most treasured tracks on the album to Sadler
is "Tell It Like It Is," an Aaron Neville cover that served as Sadler's
sixth single at the time. In fact, the song was inching its way up the
charts when Sadler was shot down. "Billy Joe Royal ended up
hearing that song and went in and cut the same song and ended
up naming his album ‘Tell It Like It Is,’" Sadler recounts. "It remains
the biggest record of his career today."

"I haven't let a bullet stop me," Sammy says. "The only reason that
I'm here today is because of the grace of God. He gave me back
my life and he gave me the opportunity to sing a song and tell my
story. And that's what I'm here to do. I hope that I can touch people
with what I've been through and let them know that if they too are
going through something, they shouldn't give up. Look to God,
believe in yourself, and keep going."