Sami Jo
Encyclopedia
Sami Jo was an American
country
singer. She is best known for her 1974 single "Tell Me a Lie
", which peaked at No. 21 on the Pop
Top 40 that same year.
Sami Jo was raised in a religious family in Batesville, AR. She began singing on local radio at age 3 and was also a local beauty queen during high school. When she was 19 she moved to Dallas, where she acquired the nickname "Sam" from a roommate, which eventually turned into "Sami Jo".
Her early career was guided by Atlanta music legend Sonny Limbo. He connected Sami Jo with Rick Hall
in Muscle Shoals, AL, where she recorded two singles that failed to chart. Sonny then got her a deal with MGM South, which led to Sami Jo's first hit, "Tell Me A Lie". In addition to reaching #21 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, it also reached #14 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. Her follow-up single, "It Could Have Been Me", also did well, reaching #46 pop and #31 easy listening. Her first album
, also entitled It Could Have Been Me, peaked at #33 on the U.S.
Country
Albums chart
.
Despite this early success, Sami Jo did not achieve another major hit on either the pop or the country charts. In 1975, after MGM South was folded into its parent label, MGM Records
, Sami Jo charted one record ("I'll Believe Anything You Say") at #62 on Billboard's Top Country Singles chart. When MGM Records was merged into Polydor Records
, Sami Jo continued recording for the new label, achieving two minor country hits ("God Loves Us" and "Take Me To Heaven") in 1976, working with Jimmy Bowen as her producer.
After these two singles, Sami Jo was dropped by her label. She was signed to Elektra/Asylum's
country division in 1981 by its president, her former producer Jimmy Bowen. Even though her recordings were produced by Bowen, neither of her two charting singles ("One Love Over Easy" and a remake of Eddie Rabbitt's "I Can't Help Myself") cracked the top 70 on the country chart. In 1983, her label was merged into its parent company, Warner Bros. Records
. She worked with producer Jim Ed Norman (best known for his work with Anne Murray) on a remake of Brenda Lee's "Emotions", but Warner Brothers recalled the single soon after sending promo singles to radio stations. She also recorded some tracks for the Southern Tracks label, but none charted.
After her music career ended, Sami Jo managed two stores in Tulsa, OK.
She has a son, Tony, and a grandson, Maximus.
Sami Jo Cole Website: http://www.samijocole.com/index.html
"Tell Me a Lie" was later covered by the 1980s recording artist
Janie Fricke
in 1983, who turned the song into a No. 1 Country hit.
Sami Jo Cole website: http://www.samijocole.com/index.html
You can contact Sami Jo at: http://www.samijocole.com/index.html
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer. She is best known for her 1974 single "Tell Me a Lie
Tell Me a Lie
"Tell Me a Lie" is a popular 1983 Country Music song, made famous by 80s Country recording artist Janie Fricke.In 1983, Janie Fricke picked up the song "Tell Me a Lie" as to be released as her next single in 1983. During this time, Fricke racked up a good amount of hits, like "It Ain't Easy Bein'...
", which peaked at No. 21 on the Pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
Top 40 that same year.
Sami Jo was raised in a religious family in Batesville, AR. She began singing on local radio at age 3 and was also a local beauty queen during high school. When she was 19 she moved to Dallas, where she acquired the nickname "Sam" from a roommate, which eventually turned into "Sami Jo".
Her early career was guided by Atlanta music legend Sonny Limbo. He connected Sami Jo with Rick Hall
Rick Hall
Roe Erister "Rick" Hall is an American record producer, songwriter, music publisher and musician who is best known as the owner and proprietor of the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.-Life and career:...
in Muscle Shoals, AL, where she recorded two singles that failed to chart. Sonny then got her a deal with MGM South, which led to Sami Jo's first hit, "Tell Me A Lie". In addition to reaching #21 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, it also reached #14 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. Her follow-up single, "It Could Have Been Me", also did well, reaching #46 pop and #31 easy listening. Her first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, also entitled It Could Have Been Me, peaked at #33 on the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
Albums chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
.
Despite this early success, Sami Jo did not achieve another major hit on either the pop or the country charts. In 1975, after MGM South was folded into its parent label, MGM Records
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
, Sami Jo charted one record ("I'll Believe Anything You Say") at #62 on Billboard's Top Country Singles chart. When MGM Records was merged into Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, Sami Jo continued recording for the new label, achieving two minor country hits ("God Loves Us" and "Take Me To Heaven") in 1976, working with Jimmy Bowen as her producer.
After these two singles, Sami Jo was dropped by her label. She was signed to Elektra/Asylum's
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
country division in 1981 by its president, her former producer Jimmy Bowen. Even though her recordings were produced by Bowen, neither of her two charting singles ("One Love Over Easy" and a remake of Eddie Rabbitt's "I Can't Help Myself") cracked the top 70 on the country chart. In 1983, her label was merged into its parent company, Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. She worked with producer Jim Ed Norman (best known for his work with Anne Murray) on a remake of Brenda Lee's "Emotions", but Warner Brothers recalled the single soon after sending promo singles to radio stations. She also recorded some tracks for the Southern Tracks label, but none charted.
After her music career ended, Sami Jo managed two stores in Tulsa, OK.
She has a son, Tony, and a grandson, Maximus.
Sami Jo Cole Website: http://www.samijocole.com/index.html
"Tell Me a Lie" was later covered by the 1980s recording artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
Janie Fricke
Janie Fricke
Janie Fricke is an American country music singer, best remembered for a series of country music hits in the early to mid 1980s....
in 1983, who turned the song into a No. 1 Country hit.
Additional information
In-depth interview with Sami Jo: http://www.hollywoodstarletbarbarapayton.com/samijo/index.htmlSami Jo Cole website: http://www.samijocole.com/index.html
Discography
- It Could Have Been Me (MGM South, 1974)
You can contact Sami Jo at: http://www.samijocole.com/index.html