By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

Sam Strain has made a name for himself as a member of Little Anthony and the Imperials and the O'Jays.

But his resume from a 45-year career goes beyond such easily recognizable hits as the Imperials' "Goin' Out Of My Head" and the O'Jays "Use Ta Be My Girl."

"You may not know this, but the first group I sang with was a group called the Chips," he said.

Only die-hard doo wop fans would know who the Chips were, but the little novelty song they had a modest hit with in 1956 fared better on the charts in 1979, when the Blues Brothers' version of "Rubber Biscuit" broke the top 100.

Strain co-wrote the song, with its distinctive nonsense lyrics and opening "cow cow hoo-oo, cow cow wanna dib-a-doo."

Next, he sang with the Fantastics, who scored with "There Goes My Love," which was "very big" in western Pennsylvania, and "Millionaire Hobo," both in 1958, he said.

His next group, the Impacts, are known for "Darling, Now You're Mine" and "Canadian Sunset."

"That's how the Marcels got the bass line to 'Blue Moon,' he said of the hook on "Canadian Sunset."

The songs live on. "Canadian Sunset" and "Rubber Biscuit" are on "The Doo Wop Box II," and "Rubber Biscuit" bounced onto "Dr. Demento's 25th Anniversary Edition."

Dr. Demento is an avid vinyl record collector and plays novelty songs on his syndicated radio show.

A native of Brooklyn, Strain went to school with Anthony Gourdine, Ernest Wright and Clarence Collins of Little Anthony and the Imperials, so it was appropriate that he should join the group when the group reformed in 1963 after a four-year hiatus.

Two years earlier, he had sung in a group with Wright and Collins.

The Imperials had hits prior to Strain's joining with "Tears On My Pillow" and "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop," but fashioned bigger success with him on "Hurt So Bad," "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)" and "Take Me Back."

"I left the group in '72," Strain said. "I opened up a steak house in North Hollywood with Dionne Warwick and Redd Foxx. Two years later, I got a call to do a tour with the O'Jays for nine weeks because William Powell was sick. Well, nine weeks turned into 18 years."

Powell died a year after Strain got the call, and Strain became a permanent member.

The O-Jays, originally from Canton, Ohio, had hits with "Lipstick Traces," "Deeper" and "Back Stabbers" before Strain joined. After he signed on, the O'Jays released "Brandy," "Forever Mine" and "Girl, Don't Let It Get You Down."

Strain, 62, of Cherry Hill, N.J., went back to Little Anthony and the Imperials following a successful 1992 reunion show, and is still performing with them.

Little Anthony and the Imperials was named an inductee into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum, Sharon, as part of the 1999 class, and officially inducted at the 2000 induction ceremony. None of the group members could make it, but Strain accepted the honor a year later, at the October induction fete.

"I felt I would be missing something if I didn't come," he said. "They wanted me to come in person to accept the award and be a part of the festivities and be with all this distinguished talent."

That talent included members of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Gladys Knight and the Pips and the Supremes, groups he has shared marquees with over the years. Some of the relationships went beyond business.

"Bubba was my landlord," he said of Merald "Bubba" Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips. "I lived in his duplex. I been knowing him since they started in show business."

As a member of Little Anthony and the Imperials, Strain did Alan Freed shows at the Paramount in Brooklyn with the Miracles, and Murray the K shows with the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones and others at the Fox in Brooklyn.

Alan Freed and Murray the K were pioneering rock 'n' roll disc jockeys.

Strain had never met members of other inducted groups, such as the Chordettes, the Vogues, the Four Freshmen and the Pied Pipers, but always enjoyed their music.

"I listened to all of their music, because I was a group guy," he said.

The group guy found a home at the hall of fame, and promised to send memorabilia for display.

"All the pictures," he said. "We have shoes, clothes, records, gold records, platinum records. I have, between both groups, 30 gold and platinum records. I'm going to send a box of things so that, next time we come, we'll be well represented."