Samuel James Buonaugurio, Jr.
Samuel James Buonaugurio, Jr. Tenafly native and THS graduate, class of 1990, Sammy James, Jr. is a Manhattan-based musician, composer, producer, and founder of rock’n’roll outfit, The Mooney Suzuki. The band’s Columbia Records debut, Alive and Amplified, hit the UK Top 40 and the group toured worldwide with acts like Kings of Leon and The Strokes while taking festival stages from Coachella to Fuji Rock. Sammy’s songs can be heard in ads for companies like Nike, Poland Spring, and Suzuki, as well as TV shows including Smallville, Friday Night Lights, and Gossip Girl.
He has contributed to film soundtracks for Disney, Paramount, and Dreamworks, and appeared in the films Tropic Thunder and School of Rock, for which he composed the title song performed by Jack Black. Recent credits include CBS’s Blue Bloods, Fox’s Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas and The Vow. Sammy is a producer on the cast album from Cyndi Lauper's Tony-nominated Broadway musical Kinky Boots.
He has contributed to film soundtracks for Disney, Paramount, and Dreamworks, and appeared in the films Tropic Thunder and School of Rock, for which he composed the title song performed by Jack Black. Recent credits include CBS’s Blue Bloods, Fox’s Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas and The Vow. Sammy is a producer on the cast album from Cyndi Lauper's Tony-nominated Broadway musical Kinky Boots.