Sam Outlaw

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Sam Outlaw

| image = Sam_Outlaw.jpg

| landscape = yes

| image_size = 220px

| caption = Sam Outlaw at Interstellar Rodeo 2016 Edmonton, Canada

| birth_name = Sam Morgan

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1982|7|28}}

| birth_place = Aberdeen, South Dakota, U.S.

| instrument = Vocals
guitar

| genre = Country, honky-tonk, Americana

| occupation = country music singer-songwriter

| years_active = 2009–present

| label = Six Shooter Records

| website = {{URL|www.samoutlaw.com}}

| associated_acts = Michaela Anne, Lydia Luce, Sarah Darling

}}

Sam Morgan (born July 28, 1982), professionally known as Sam Outlaw, is a country music singer-songwriter and producer. Outlaw calls his music "SoCal country", country music refashioned with a Southern California vibe of the classic honky-tonk and troubadour pop.{{cite web|title=Introducing a Country Singer Living in Los Angeles|url=http://shorefire.com/releases/entry/introducing-a-country-singer-living-in-los-angeles-sam-outlaw-new-lp-angele|website=Shore Fire Media|accessdate=April 8, 2015}}

Early life

Outlaw was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota as Sam Morgan.{{cite web|last1=Rapid|first1=Stephen|title=Interview With Sam Outlaw By Stephen Rapid|url=http://www.lonesomehighway.com/interviews/2014/2/17/interview-with-sam-outlaw-by-stephen-rapid.html|website=Lonesome Highway|date=February 17, 2014|accessdate=April 8, 2015}} At the age of 10, his family moved to southern California. He grew up in a conservative Christian home and was limited by his parents as to what kind of music he could listen to. He did however, note the influence of Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel and how their all-star tribute albums to Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys acted as "country music in a bottle" for him. The Beatles were also a huge influence on Outlaw. As a young adult, he had a musical revelation when he heard the classic country voices of Emmylou Harris and George Jones. Outlaw notes that George Jones' music inspired him to get more serious about playing the guitar and writing songs.{{Cite web|title = Exclusive Video Premiere: "Ghost Town" by Sam Outlaw|url = http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2015/07/07/exclusive-video-premiere-ghost-town-by-sam-outlaw/|website = The Daily South|access-date = 2016-02-23}}

In "his late 20s ... both his parents’ and his own marriage simultaneously crumbled."{{Cite web | url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/sam-outlaw-is-on-a-mission-to-make-country-music-that-doesn-t-suck-6868319 |title = Sam Outlaw is on a Mission to Make "Country Music That Doesn't Suck"|date = 2016-04-27}}

When Outlaw decided to actively pursue a music career, he borrowed his mother's maiden name, Outlaw, for a stage moniker. His mother has since died and he honors her by continuing to use the family name.

Career

Sam Outlaw had a successful advertising career in Southern California; however, on his thirtieth birthday he switched gears to pursue his passion for music. Outlaw self-released an EP in 2014. It immediately created a buzz and he secured performance slots at the Stagecoach Festival and AmericanaFest produced by the Americana Music Association.{{Cite web|title = Sam Outlaw Spreads SoCal Country Sound With 'Angeleno'|url = http://theboot.com/sam-outlaw-angeleno-interview-2015/|website = The Boot|access-date = 2016-02-23}}

CMT featured his music video, Cry For Me, in 2014.

While enlisting a crack group of backing musicians to record Angeleno, Outlaw's first LP, he began working with musician and record producer, Ry Cooder. Outlaw wrote all of the songs on Angeleno. Ry Cooder and his son, drummer Joachim Cooder, co-produced and played on the album. Other musicians on the album include Bo Koster, Taylor Goldsmith, Gabe Witcher and vocalist Arnold McCuller.{{cite magazine|title=Listen to Sam Outlaw and Ry Cooder Redefine California Country|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/listen-to-sam-outlaw-and-ry-cooder-redefine-california-country-20150310|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 10, 2015|accessdate=April 8, 2015}}

On March 3, 2015, Outlaw was signed to the reputable Six Shooter Records as its first US act.{{cite web|title=ARTIST CHAMPION + INDUSTRY VET MICHELLE AQUILATO JOINS SIX SHOOTER RECORDS AS USA GENERAL MANAGER|url=http://sixshooterrecords.com/artist-champion-industry-vet-michelle-aquilato-joins-six-shooter-records-as-usa-general-manager|website=Six Shooter Records|accessdate=April 8, 2015|date=2015-03-03}} Outlaw was featured in Rolling Stone as one of the top country music artists to see at SXSW in 2015.{{cite magazine|title=SXSW 2015: 21 Country-Music Artists You Need to See|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/sxsw-2015-21-country-music-artists-you-need-to-see-20150312/sam-outlaw-20150312|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 12, 2015|accessdate=April 8, 2015}}

Outlaw's second studio album Tenderheart was released on April 14 and debuted at number 3 on the UK Country Albums Chart{{Cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/country-artists-albums-chart/ | title=Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20 | Official Charts Company| website=Official Charts}} and garnered two award nominations from the British Country Music Association.

On May 3, 2019 – the same night he made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry – Outlaw released an EP called Hat Acts. At the time of its release, he wrote on his website: “I wanted to do something different with this album. Hat Acts is inspired by honky tonk scenes, hip-hop skits and of course – real life. This is a bit of a ‘concept album’ and I had a lot of fun putting it together.”{{cite web |last1=Hudak |first1=Joseph |title=Sam Outlaw Mixes Surreal Vignettes With Honky-Tonk Music on New EP |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/sam-outlaw-shake-a-heartache-country-song-830973/ |website=RollingStone.com |publisher=Rolling Stone |accessdate=9 December 2019|date=2019-05-03 }} Later that summer, he released a duet with Sarah Darling called "Forever & Always" across streaming platforms and was also a radio single in the United Kingdom.

=As producer=

September 27, 2019 saw the release of Outlaw's first project as a producer when Michaela Anne released Desert Dove on Yep Roc. He co-produced the album with longtime friend, collaborator and member of Delta Spirit, Kelly Winrich.{{cite web |title=Michaela Anne – Biography |url=https://www.michaelaanne.com/bio/ |website=MichaelaAnne.com |accessdate=9 December 2019}} Rolling Stone described the album as, "is a shimmering sonic statement of purpose that cements the 33-year-old artist as a nuanced songwriter with a penchant for telling difficult stories."{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=Jonathan |title=How Michaela Anne's Chance Meeting With a Stripper Shaped Her New Album |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/michaela-anne-desert-dove-album-895134/ |website=RollingStone.com |publisher=Rolling Stone |accessdate=5 January 2020|date=2019-10-05 }} The album garnered critical acclaim from outlets including Rolling Stone{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |display-authors=etal |first1=Jonathan |title=40 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2019 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/40-best-country-and-americana-albums-of-2019-920497/kendell-marvel-solid-gold-sounds-920543/ |website=RollingStone.com |publisher=Rolling Stone |accessdate=5 January 2020|date=2019-12-09 }} (#10), Stereogum{{cite web |last1=Moss |first1=Marissa R. |title=The 10 Best Country Albums Of 2019 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2067240/best-country-albums-2019/franchises/2019-in-review/ |website=Stereogum.com |publisher=Stereogum |accessdate=5 January 2020|date=2019-12-09 }} (#9), and Entertainment Focus{{cite web |last1=Ellwood-Hughes |first1=Pip |title=EF Country's Top 10 albums of 2019 |url=https://www.entertainment-focus.com/music-section/ef-country/ef-countrys-top-10-albums-of-2019/ |website=Entertainment-Focus.com |publisher=Entertainment Focus |accessdate=5 January 2020|date=2019-12-22 }} (#10) who included the record on each of their respective end of year "Best of 2019" lists.

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"\| Title ! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"\| Details ! colspan="3"\| Peak positions ! rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"\| Sales
style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="65"\| US Heat {{cite magazine\|url={{BillboardURLbyName\|artist=sam outlaw\|chart=Heatseekers Albums}}\|title=Sam Outlaw Album & Song Chart History – Heatseekers Albums\|magazine=Billboard\|publisher=Prometheus Global Media\|accessdate=November 21, 2015}} ! width="65"\| US Indie {{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2017-05-06\|title=Independent Albums\|magazine=Billboard\|publisher=Prometheus Global Media}} ! width="65"\| UK Country {{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/country-artists-albums-chart/20160415/21/\|title=Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20 – 15 April 2016 – 21 April 2016 \|work=Official Charts Company}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/country-artists-albums-chart/20170421/21/\|title=Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20 – 14 April 2017 – 20 April 2017 \|work=Official Charts Company}}
scope="row"\| Angeleno \| Release date: June 9, 2015 Label: Six Shooter Records \| 22 \| — \| 4 \|
scope="row"\| Tenderheart \| Release date: April 14, 2017 Label: Six Shooter Records \| 17 \| 42 \| 3 \| —
scope="row"\| Hat Acts (EP) \| Release date: May 3, 2019 Label: Black Hills Recordings \| — \| — \| — \| —
scope="row"\| Popular Mechanics \| Release date: November 12, 2021 Label: Black Hills Recordings \| — \| — \| — \| —
scope="row"\| Terra Cotta \| Release date: March 15, 2024 Label: Black Hills Recordings \| — \| — \| — \| —
colspan="7" style="font-size:8pt"\| "—" denotes releases that did not chart

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Title

! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Details

! colspan="3"| Peak positions

! rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Sales

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="65"| US
Heat
{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=sam outlaw|chart=Heatseekers Albums}}|title=Sam Outlaw Album & Song Chart History – Heatseekers Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=November 21, 2015}}

! width="65"| US
Indie
{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2017-05-06|title=Independent Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media}}

! width="65"| UK
Country
{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/country-artists-albums-chart/20160415/21/|title=Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20 – 15 April 2016 – 21 April 2016 |work=Official Charts Company}}{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/country-artists-albums-chart/20170421/21/|title=Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20 – 14 April 2017 – 20 April 2017 |work=Official Charts Company}}

scope="row"| Angeleno

Release date: June 9, 2015
Label: Six Shooter Records

| 22

| —

| 4

scope="row"| Tenderheart

Release date: April 14, 2017
Label: Six Shooter Records

| 17

| 42

| 3

| —

scope="row"| Hat Acts (EP)

Release date: May 3, 2019
Label: Black Hills Recordings

| —

scope="row"| Popular Mechanics

Release date: November 12, 2021
Label: Black Hills Recordings

| —

scope="row"| Terra Cotta

Release date: March 15, 2024
Label: Black Hills Recordings

| —

colspan="7" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart

=Promotional Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="1" style="width:21em;"\| Title ! rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"\| Details
scope="row"\| "Love Is On A Roll" \| Release date: March 29, 2019 Label: Black Hills Recordings
scope="row"\| "Forever and Always" (Duet with Sarah Darling) \| Release date: July 26, 2019 Label: Black Hills Recordings

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="1" style="width:21em;"| Title

! rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Details

scope="row"| "Love Is On A Roll"

Release date: March 29, 2019
Label: Black Hills Recordings

scope="row"| "Forever and Always" (Duet with Sarah Darling)

Release date: July 26, 2019
Label: Black Hills Recordings

=Music videos=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Year ! style="width:10em;"\| Video ! Director
2014 ! scope="row"\| "Cry for Me"{{Cite web\|title = Sam Outlaw {{!}} Cry for Me {{!}} Music Video\|url = http://www.cmt.com/videos/sam-outlaw/987244/cry-for-me.jhtml\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306110329/http://www.cmt.com/videos/sam-outlaw/987244/cry-for-me.jhtml\|url-status = dead\|archive-date = March 6, 2016\|website = CMT\|access-date = 2016-02-23}} \| Matt Wignall
2015 ! scope="row"\| "Ghost Town"{{cite web\|url=http://www.cmt.com/videos/sam-outlaw/1255888/ghost-town.jhtml\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121215229/http://www.cmt.com/videos/sam-outlaw/1255888/ghost-town.jhtml\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=November 21, 2015\|title=CMT : Videos : Sam Outlaw : Ghost Town\|publisher=Country Music Television\|accessdate=November 21, 2015}} \| Vern Moen
2016 ! scope="row"\| "Angeleno"{{cite news\|last1=Lewis\|first1=Randy\|title=Premiere: L.A. country artist Sam Outlaw hits the rodeo in 'Angeleno' video\|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-sam-outlaw-angeleno-video-premiere-country-20160225-story.html\|accessdate=February 29, 2016\|work=Los Angeles Times\|date=February 26, 2016}} \| Max Cutrone
2017 ! scope="row"\| "Trouble" \| Chris Phelps

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Year

! style="width:10em;"| Video

! Director

2014

! scope="row"| "Cry for Me"{{Cite web|title = Sam Outlaw {{!}} Cry for Me {{!}} Music Video|url = http://www.cmt.com/videos/sam-outlaw/987244/cry-for-me.jhtml|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306110329/http://www.cmt.com/videos/sam-outlaw/987244/cry-for-me.jhtml|url-status = dead|archive-date = March 6, 2016|website = CMT|access-date = 2016-02-23}}

| Matt Wignall

2015

! scope="row"| "Ghost Town"{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/videos/sam-outlaw/1255888/ghost-town.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121215229/http://www.cmt.com/videos/sam-outlaw/1255888/ghost-town.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 21, 2015|title=CMT : Videos : Sam Outlaw : Ghost Town|publisher=Country Music Television|accessdate=November 21, 2015}}

| Vern Moen

2016

! scope="row"| "Angeleno"{{cite news|last1=Lewis|first1=Randy|title=Premiere: L.A. country artist Sam Outlaw hits the rodeo in 'Angeleno' video|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-sam-outlaw-angeleno-video-premiere-country-20160225-story.html|accessdate=February 29, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 26, 2016}}

| Max Cutrone

2017

! scope="row"| "Trouble"

| Chris Phelps

=Producer Discography=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"\| Artist ! rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"\| Title ! rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"\| Label ! rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"\| Release Date ! rowspan="1" style="width:25em;"\| Notes
scope="row"\| Michaela Anne ! scope="row"\| Desert Rose ! scope="row"\| Yep Roc ! scope="row"\| September 27, 2019 ! scope="row"\| Co-produced with Kelly Winrich

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"| Artist

! rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"| Title

! rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"| Label

! rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"| Release Date

! rowspan="1" style="width:25em;"| Notes

scope="row"| Michaela Anne

! scope="row"| Desert Rose

! scope="row"| Yep Roc

! scope="row"| September 27, 2019

! scope="row"| Co-produced with Kelly Winrich