Sam's real name is Li Wu-sheng. Ethnic Chinese, family immigrated to San Francisco about 100 years ago. Sam's father moved to New Mexico & as a youngster he knocked around with some Native American kids and found the tales of the elders fascinating, absorbing much of their lore. He did well at school, and studied Environmental Science (University of Arizona) before opting for Medicine... returning to San Francisco to study and living there with his grandfather, a practitioner of Chinese herbalism, until recruited by the Morrow Project.