Tim Sample is widely acknowledged to be New England’s premier native humorist. Novelist Stephen King has likened Sample’s work to that of Mark Twain, and Charles Kuralt called him “Maine’s humorist laureate.” Tim’s books, albums, and videos have sold well over a million copies. For eleven years he was a correspondent for CBS News and a regular essayist on the Emmy award winning television show CBS News Sunday Morning. Tim was born and raised in Maine and has never lived (or for that matter wanted to live) anywhere other than the Pine Tree State. Tim’s first album of downeast humor was recorded in 1979 and produced by Noel Paul Stookey, “Paul” of Peter, Paul, and Mary with liner notes by the late humorist Marshall Dodge, who along with his partner Rev. Robert Bryan, created the world-famous Bert and I recordings back in the 1950s. After Dodge’s death in 1982, Tim recorded four albums and a video for the Bert and I company. Sample and Bryan have collaborated on a number of projects, including several TV specials, the popular recording How to Talk Yankee, and the TV specials Out of Season and Maine Humor Behind the Barn. Tim has also written and/or illustrated over a dozen books, including regional bestsellers Saturday Night at Moody’s Diner and his most recent, Maine Curiosities second edition. Tim’s national TV appearances include The Today Show and Good Morning America.
