Sammy Hagar

For his second studio album, see Sammy Hagar (album).

Sammy Hagar
Hagar performing in 2008
Hagar performing in 2008
Background information
Birth nameSam Roy Hagar
Also known asThe Red Rocker
Born (1947-10-13) October 13, 1947 (age 77)
Salinas, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1972–present
Labels
Member of
Formerly of
Websiteredrocker.com

Sam Roy Hagar (born October 13, 1947), also known as the Red Rocker,[1] is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose before launching a successful solo career, scoring a hit in 1984 with "I Can't Drive 55". He enjoyed further commercial success as the lead vocalist of Van Halen from 1985 through 1996, and from 2003 to 2005.

In 2007, Hagar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Van Halen. His musical style primarily consists of hard rock and heavy metal.[2][3][4][5][6]

A lifelong entrepreneur, Hagar founded four spirits brands and 13 restaurants. [7][8] In 2008, with his wife, Kari Hagar, he founded a private non-profit focused on children's causes and hunger relief, the Hagar Family Foundation.[9]

  1. ^ Chris Woodstra, John Bush, Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2008) All Music Guide Required Listening: Classic Rock, Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0-87930-917-2 p. 234.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Sammy Hagar at AllMusic
  3. ^ Popoff, Martin (August 15, 2014). The Big Book of Hair Metal: The Illustrated Oral History of Heavy Metal's Debauched Decade. Voyageur Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-7603-4546-7.
  4. ^ Dicaire, David (October 1, 1999). Blues Singers: Biographies of 50 Legendary Artists of the Early 20th Century. McFarland. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-7864-0606-7.
  5. ^ Duncan, Randy; Smith, Matthew J. (January 29, 2013). Icons of the American Comic Book: From Captain America to Wonder Woman: From Captain America to Wonder Woman. ABC-CLIO. p. 333. ISBN 978-0-313-39924-4.
  6. ^ Strong, Martin C. "Sammy Hagar Biography". Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "How I Did It: Sammy Hagar". Inc. November 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  8. ^ Chung, Sonia (June 6, 2023). "Rocker Hagar's Food, Cocktail Tour Hits Surf City". Orange County Business Journal. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Rocker Sammy Hagar launches Maui-made rum in Waikiki, shares mai tai recipe by Sherie Char". HAWAII Magazine. November 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.