Highway 50 featuring Al Laughlin from the Samples

Highway 50 is the brainchild of Al Laughlin, original member of the Boulder, 
Colorado band, The Samples. Laughlin wrote or co-wrote many of the band’s most 
enduring songs including Did You Ever Look So Nice and Underwater People. His 
percussive off-beat reggae stylings on keyboards became known as “the bubble” and
helped form the band’s signature sound. 
The Samples sold over one million albums in the 1990’s as they sold out venues in 
college towns across the country and headlined some of the 
H.O.R.D.E.
tour shows in
1993 and 1996. They shared the bill with big names such as The Allman Brothers 
Band, Blues Traveler, and Phish and many up and coming bands opened up for them
including The Dave Matthews Band and Hootie & the Blowfish. The band’s success 
included television performances on The Tonight Show and House of Blues Live.
Laughlin continued writing songs after he left The Samples and, after years of 
urgings from fans, Highway 50 was born. 
Guitarist James Hambleton was recruited and the band began recording and playing 
clubs all over Colorado. The rest of the lineup is a rotating “who’s who” of the 
Colorado music scene including fellow former Sample Jeep MacNichol and Brian 
Nevin (of Big Head Todd and the Monsters) on drums, Andrew McNew and Matt 
Planer on horns.
Highway 50’s sound blends ska, reggae, jazz, pop and R&B with Laughlin’s melodic 
vocals and introspective lyrics. The band’s following continues to grow and big 
things are up ahead in 2013 and beyond...
Listen to Highway 50’s music at: 
http://www.reverbnation.com/highway50