Samuel Wilson: Bass player, photographer, poet, journalist and above all, core member of Contraband! Currently working in Mae Sot, a place on the Burma Thailand border, educating refugee children. Just prior to this, Samuel was in Bangkok for over 7 months, teaching at a school. Samuel also holds a post graduate diploma in journalism from KC college in Bombay, as well as a teaching diploma from Spicer College in Pune . A nature boy at heart, Samuel graduated in Botany from Fergusson College, Pune. Coming to Bombay in 1997 was a harrowing experience for the nature loving Sam. In Bombay, much to his chagrin, Samuel found way too much concrete and too little green. Back he went to good old Pune! What do ya guys know! Samuel has actually cultivated some green stuff for the mind on the slopes of the Fergusson College hill!

Samuel joined Contraband en route the Fergusson College band where he was first seen playing hard rock bass guitar to the tunes of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath,Judas Priest and the likes. Having met Sagar, his love changed over to the blues and jazz. Contraband had won him over. After playing bass for classics like 'We are the Champions',backed to the hilt by his good friend Rohit on keyboards, Samuel even played on the college stage once in a lungi.Having amassed a good following among the students on the Insynch stage, Samuel started playing pro in 1993 and still continues on the road in addition to his green activities. He has even concocted some rock versions of church hymns, in addition to the tons of highly creative verse that he doles out. Check out his works here at Poetry.com, where Samuel pens under the pseudonym of Yokel Quazar Coarter. Samuel owns a Fender Strat copy and a Yamaha nylon string classical guitar, in addition to a home made bass, a Stranger cube 80 amp,a Rockman Pre-amp and some Boss pedals and some more home grown amplification, all of which is visible in the numerous Contraband sessions.

Guys, Samuel lives on with Contraband. Power to his elbow!!