(WSLS 10) - A U.S. Navy Sailor from Salem, Virginia, assigned to Navy Band Northeast in Rhode Island was recently selected as the band's Sailor of the Year for 2014.
Officials say Musician 1st Class Christopher Sams, a Salem native and graduate of Salem High School, joined the Navy as a saxophonist in August of 2000.
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In addition to performing in the band's Pops Ensemble and Ceremonial Band, they say MU1 Sams is the drum major for the marching band and is a saxophonist and vocalist in the band's popular music group, Rhode Island Sound.
They say Sams has kept busy with Rhode Island Sound, performing everything from Journey and Michael Jackson, to the latest hits on the radio today.
Officials say before reporting to Newport, Rhode Island in 2012, Sams' past duty stations included Naples, Italy, Seattle, Washington, Yokusuka, Japan, and Norfolk, Virginia.