Samuel J. Sanders, Jr. was born May 13, 1959 in San Antonio, Texas to Samuel J. Sanders, Sr. and the late Dellaree Sanders. He was the third child of seven children born to this union. Sam received his formal education in the San Antonio Independent School District, graduating from Sam Houston High School. Sam was baptized in Jesus name when he was a young child at Faith Temple Church, under the leadership of the late Bishop H. M. Young.