It’s not his crazy onstage antics as the frontman and guitarist for the midstate ‘80s new wave band the Sharks.
It’s not his tousled blond mullet or tight acid-wash jeans. It’s not his vocals or lyrics on the MTV competition-winning single "On My Own." It’s his smile.
"He always had a smile on his face — the most real smile you could imagine," said Shea Quinn, the bass player and singer for the Sharks.
Rawhauser, 55, died Oct. 8 of complications from lung cancer, leaving behind the memory of a talented musician, gentle soul and genuine friend.
"I’ll always remember Sam’s engaging spirit — the way he connected with people onstage and off," said the band’s keyboardist, Mark Showers. "He was liked by everybody."
Rawhauser’s knack for befriending the people he encountered led to the founding of the Sharks.
While working as a woodworker at H.M. Stauffer and Sons in Leola, Rawhauser became friends with a draftsman who shared his taste in music. That draftsman was Doug Phillips, who would become the drummer for the Sharks, and their mutual passion for music grew into a band in 1979.
A reluctant Rawhauser walked into the spotlight as the lead singer. He soon grew into the role. With his energy and even-keel temperament, he became a moderator in the band.
"He’d be the guy in the middle. Just his nature was he never wanted to take sides," Phillips said.
Source pennlive.com
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