Fletcher was born in rural
Tennessee and grew up in
Memphis. His family were members of the
Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and as a child he would attract church audiences for his singing. After studying at college, he joined the
US Army, served during the
Korean War, and while stationed in Germany sang with the
Seventh Army Jazz Concert Band. On returning to the US he began performing popular secular music despite the opposition of his family and church. From 1958, he released several singles on the
Metro and
Cub labels, both subsidiaries of
MGM Records. He performed in
jazz and
supper clubs in New York City, and appeared in an
Off-Broadway production of
The Amen Corner. Manager
Lee Magid signed him to
RCA Victor Records in 1960, and he released further singles, produced by
Hugo Peretti and
Luigi Creatore, including "Tall Hope" (from the musical
Wildcat), and his
signature song, "
I Believe In You" in 1961. While regionally successful, none of his records made the national charts. he signed for
Vee-Jay Records, who released his first album, ''Sam Fletcher Sings 'I Believe in You''' – featuring a re-recording of his earlier song, and
arrangements by
Bill Finegan – in 1964. He went into
rehabilitation and attempted to revive his career but was restricted to local performances and occasional more public events such as
Muhammad Ali's wedding to
Veronica Porche in 1977. He also worked as a teacher in Los Angeles. He was injured in a street robbery in the early 1980s, and performers at a benefit event for him included
O. C. Smith and his friend
Esther Phillips. He died in Los Angeles in 1989 (not 1984 as sometimes reported), and was buried with military honors at
Memphis National Cemetery. A CD containing both his albums has been released by Fresh Sound Records. ==Albums==