Samantha King

Samantha King
File:Samanthaking.jpg Samantha King in concert, Canada Day 2009
Background information
Birth name	Samantha Erin King
Born	(1985-03-27) March 27, 1985 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Genres	Country, rock, blues
Years active	2000 - present
Associated acts	Raul Malo, Randy Bachman, Duane Steele, Lisa Brokop, Jann Arden, Rik Emmett, Alan Jackson, Doc Walker

Samantha King (born March 27, 1985) is a performer, recording artist and songwriter who has performed throughout North America and the Caribbean.

Specifically known for her powerful and melodic voice, she has been performing since her early teens. Although she specializes in performing country music, she has also performed rock, blues and folk music.

Early years

King was born at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton to Wendy Woods and Phillip King. She lived in Edmonton until she was 11 years old, and then moved to Bruce, Alberta with her mother and brother after her parents separated. She has one older sister and one younger brother.

She received notoriety at the age of 13 when she was the youngest person ever to win the ‘Country Vocal Spotlight’ at the 1998 Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta. When she was 14 years old she decided to pursue a career in music, and moved to Edmonton, Alberta to live with her manager.

Both King's mother and grandmother sing, the latter being a cousin of Hank Snow.

Music career

King wrote her first song (I’m Just So Blue) for her brother when she was 13, and released her first album, This is Forever, in December 2003.

At the age of 16 Samantha was a featured performer in the 2001 World Championship ceremonies in Edmonton for the theme song "We've Got the Fire" by Jan Randall.

She was then given the opportunity by RCA Nashville to work with The Mavericks lead singer, Raul Malo. She has also worked with Randy Bachman (Bachman–Turner Overdrive) and Buddy Cannon (Kenny Chesney’s Producer).

As an entertainer she’s performed on festival main stages with Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Jann Arden, Sawyer Brown, The Oak Ridge Boys, Joe Nichols, Duane Steele, George Fox, Doc Walker, Charlie Major, Colin James, Honeymoon Suite and many more.

She has written songs with several of Nashville’s well known songwriters including Lisa Brokop (Artist), Tim Taylor (Jason McCoy), LuAnn Reid (Kenny Chesney), Eddie Schwartz (Hit Me With Your Best Shot), Ted Hewitt (Curb Music Producer), Joie Scott (Shania Twain) and many more.

In 2009, the day before she was to perform on the main stage at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta, there was a large windstorm that collapsed the main stage - and caused the remainder of the four day concert to be cancelled. As a make-up concert, King opened for Tim McGraw on September 17, 2009, at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, singing a brand new song entitled "Let It Rain". Funds raised were donated to the Donna Moore fund providing for the family of the woman who died in the rainstorm

Awards and nominations

King's accomplishments include:

• ‘Country Vocal Spotlight’ winner at the 1998 Canadian Finals Rodeo (at age 13)
• Juno Award Nominee
• 2006 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) nomination for Female Artist of the Year
• Two-time CCMA Chevy Truck Rising Star Nominee
• Western Canadian Music Association (WCMA) nominee
• Canadian Music Broadcasters Nominee for her single ‘The All Overs’
• Won the grand prize in session one of the 2006 John Lennon Songwriting Contest (JLSC), in the category of best country song (along with co-songwriter Ted Hewitt). She was the only Canadian winner in the 12 genre categories.

Charities and fundraising

King is involved in a number of charities, and frequently performs benefit concerts for a variety of causes, including:

• World Vision - she's been a World Vision Artist supporter since 2006
• Michael Cuccione Children's Health Foundation (which helps fundraise for the Alberta's Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation) - She has been an advocate and supporter of this organization since 2000
• Pilgrims Hospice Society Edmonton

External links

• Official website
• Bruce and Julie's Biography of Samantha
• Canadian Association for the Advancement of Music & the Arts (CAAMA)