Sammie

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Genre: R&B

"You don't get a lot of second chances in the music industry," says Rowdy Records' recording artist Sammie, who exploded onto the scene at age 12 with the #1 hit single "I Like It" igniting the resurgence of child artists. His impressive platinum debut album, From the Bottom to the Top (Freeworld/Capitol), helped rekindle the youth movement lighting the way for Bow Wow, Lil' Romeo and other child stars to blaze up the charts. After a successful first chance and the conscious decision to put his music career on hold to experience high school, Sammie is back with his highly anticipated sophomore album, appropriately entitled Sammie.

"I want people to know that I've been blessed with the gift to sing," says the 18 year-old prodigy. "At 12 you're cute. Most people were in awe because I was 12 and could sing. At 18 the market is different, there are a lot of young artists out now," explains Sammie, who is determined to make an impact with Sammie. "I feel that R&B has died a little bit and I'm here to resurrect it."

Resurrect he does, after reuniting with Grammy Award winning super producer Dallas Austin who executive produced both albums. "I knew when he was 12 he was incredible and at 18 with time to marinate, he's exceptional," says Dallas recognizing Sammie's growth and amazing vocal ability. "He is all that I thought he would be plus more."

Obviously more mature than his preteen debut - having gone through a high to low voice change and critical teenage years - Sammie is more personal than the first album. "You learn and grow as you get older," says Sammie who co-wrote most of the songs on the album, drawing from life's experiences.

The album is a perfectly blended mix of hip-hop influenced mid-tempo tracks and soulful R&B ballads collected from some of today's hottest musical producers including Brian M. Cox, Jazze Pha, Adonis, Daron Jones (112) and of course musical mastermind Dallas Austin. Infused with inspiration from some of Sammie's musical icons - Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Michael Jackson, and Usher - Sammie raises the bar for entertainers today and showcases Sammie's sheer talent and wide vocal range. "Every time I got in the booth, I sang my heart out," says Sammie passionately about his craft. "I'm a singer. I sing passionately and I like to touch people through my music."

He began touching people at the tender age of 4. "Nobody knew I could sing," says the Miami native, recalling his first performance of "Troubles Don't Last Always" in church. "I used to watch my uncles and my family do it and wanted to get up there and try. After that day they called me up every Sunday to lead a song."
But it was disruptive behavior in class and a teacher with a keen ear for music that set the path for Sammie's success. "I was humming during a test and the teacher asked `do you want to share that with the class?'" explains Sammie who thought he was in serious trouble. "After I sang she sent me to the office where I was told to sing for the principal." The administrators recognized Sammie's gift and transferred him to Charles Drew Elementary, a magnet school with a performing arts program.

It was there that a music teacher recruited him to join a group with two older boys who eventually auditioned for the television program "Showtime at the Apollo." The show responded with interest in Sammie only who performed in 1998 on an "Apollo Kids" segment. Ultimately making it to the finals in 1999, Sammie performed a breathtaking rendition of "My Cherie Amour," which led to a call from Atlanta based entertainment executive Joyce Irby.

"She flew to Florida, got me on camcorder singing, showed it to Dallas who told her `don't show it to anyone else, I'm going to sign him,'" remembers Sammie who spent that summer after his sixth grade year recording his fir