Samantha King
Encyclopedia
Samantha King is a performer, recording artist and songwriter who has entertained audiences throughout North America and the Caribbean. She has performed for small intimate songwriting gatherings - all the way up to audiences as large as 80,000 people.
Specifically known for her powerful and melodic voice, she has been performing since her early teens. Primarily focusing on country music, she has also been known to perform rock, blues and folk music for a wide variety of audiences.
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 that she wanted to pursue a career in music, so she moved into the big city (Edmonton, Alberta) to live with her manager, Irma MacPherson.
Both King's mom and grandma sing. King’s grandmother is a cousin of Hank Snow, who may have provided the genes for King's amazing yodelling skills.
King released her first album, ‘This is Forever’, during her high school grade 12 year in December 2003.
She was then given the opportunity by RCA Nashville to work alongside The Mavericks
lead singer, Raul Malo. She has also worked with rock legend 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
Specifically known for her powerful and melodic voice, she has been performing since her early teens. Primarily focusing on country music, she has also been known to perform rock, blues and folk music for a wide variety of audiences.
Early years
King was born at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 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
Canadian Finals Rodeo
The Canadian Finals Rodeo is the national championship rodeo in Canada. The CFR takes place in November and is the final event of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association season...
in Edmonton, Alberta. When she was 14 years old she decided that she wanted to pursue a career in music, so she moved into the big city (Edmonton, Alberta) to live with her manager, Irma MacPherson.
Both King's mom and grandma sing. King’s grandmother is a cousin of Hank Snow, who may have provided the genes for King's amazing yodelling skills.
Music career
King wrote her first song (I’m Just So Blue) for her brother at 13 years of age.King released her first album, ‘This is Forever’, during her high school grade 12 year in December 2003.
She was then given the opportunity by RCA Nashville to work alongside The Mavericks
The Mavericks
The Mavericks is a country music band founded in 1989 in Miami, Florida, United States. Between 1991 and 2003 they recorded six studio albums, in addition to charting 14 singles on the Billboard country charts...
lead singer, Raul Malo. She has also worked with rock legend Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
(Bachman–Turner Overdrive) and Buddy Cannon (Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
’s Producer).
As an entertainer she’s performed on festival main stages with Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
, Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
, Jann Arden
Jann Arden
Jann Arden is a Canadian singer-songwriter.-Life and career:Arden was born and raised near Calgary in Springbank, Alberta and attended Springbank Community High School. Her breakthrough came with her critically acclaimed 1993 debut album Time for Mercy and her first single "I Would Die For You"...
, Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown is an American country music band founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by five members of country pop singer Don King's road band: Bobby Randall and Jim Scholten , both from Midland, Michigan; Joe Smyth , Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard , and Mark Miller...
, The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet.The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s...
, Joe Nichols, Duane Steele
Duane Steele
Duane Steele, is a Canadian country music country music artist. He has released five studio albums and one greatest hits album, and has charted multiple singles on the Canadian country singles charts, including the Number One hit "Anita Got Married" in 1996....
, George Fox
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
, Doc Walker
Doc Walker
Doc Walker is a country music group from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. They have won Canadian Country Music Awards and had radio hits with the songs "I Am Ready" and "The Show is Free" from the 2003 album Everyone Aboard. In 2001 they released the album Curve...
, Charlie Major
Charlie Major
Charlie Major is a Canadian country music artist. He has recorded six studio albums and released more than twenty singles....
, Colin James
Colin James
Colin James is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who plays in the blues, rock, and neo-swing genres. He grew up as a Quaker.-Early years:...
, Honeymoon Suite and many more.
She has written songs with several of Nashville’s well known songwriters including Lisa Brokop
Lisa brokop
Lisa Brokop is a Canadian country music singer/songwriter and actress. Active since 1990 in the country music field, she has released a total of six studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the country music charts in her native Canada...
(Artist), Tim Taylor (Jason McCoy
Jason McCoy
Jason McCoy is a Canadian singer/songwriter who performs country music.He was born in Barrie, Ontario and was raised for a time in Camrose, Alberta before his family settled in Anten Mills, Ontario.He has won many awards including the 2001 Male Vocalist of the Year at the Canadian Country Music...
), LuAnn Reid (Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
), Eddie Schwartz
Eddie Schwartz
Eddie Schwartz is a Canadian musician and Juno Award winner who had moderate success as a recording artist in the early 1980s, before becoming a successful songwriter, and record producer in the late 1980s and the 1990s....
(Hit Me With Your Best Shot), Ted Hewitt (Curb Music Producer), Joie Scott (Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
) and many more.
In 2009, the day before she was to perform on the main stage at the Big Valley Jamboree
Big Valley Jamboree
The Big Valley Jamboree is a large country music festival located in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, a city located south east of Edmonton. Created in 1992, the Jamboree is held each year during the August long weekend, and features country singers from all over North America. It is one of the largest...
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
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
on September 17, 2009, at Rexall Place
Rexall Place
Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL...
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 RodeoCanadian Finals RodeoThe Canadian Finals Rodeo is the national championship rodeo in Canada. The CFR takes place in November and is the final event of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association season...
(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 ContestJohn Lennon Songwriting ContestThe John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
(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 worthwhile 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 Children's Stollery Foundation) - She has been an advocate and supporter of this organization since 2000
- Pilgrims Hospice Society Edmonton