Sammy Rae
{{Short description|American singer and songwriter}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sammy Rae
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Samantha Rae Bowers
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|1|4}}
| birth_place = Derby, Connecticut, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2016–present
| background = solo_singer
| genre = {{hlist|Soul|jazz pop|indie pop}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano|ukulele|banjo|guitar}}
| label = {{hlist|Nettwerk|WMG|BMI}}
| website = {{URL|sammyrae.com}}
}}
Samantha Rae Bowers{{Cite news | url=https://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/I1568656 | title=Sammy Rae | first=Jerry | last=Nunn | work=GoPride | date=November 5, 2021}} (born January 4, 1994), known professionally as Sammy Rae, is an American musician and the leader of the band Sammy Rae & The Friends.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/07/lifestyle/conn-raised-jazz-rock-singer-sammy-rae-brings-her-friends-sinclair-this-weekend/ |last=Feldberg |first=Isaac | title=Conn.-raised jazz-rock singer Sammy Rae brings her Friends to the Sinclair this weekend | work=The Boston Globe |date=February 7, 2020| url-access=subscription}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.ballstatedaily.com/article/2020/11/artist-of-the-month-sammy-rae | last=Bastian | first=Annie | title=Artist of the Month: Sammy Rae |work=Ball State University | date=November 16, 2020}}{{Cite web | url=http://dailyorange.com/2021/10/sammy-rae-friends-set-perform-westcott-theater-sarah-gross/ | last=Shaffer | first=Delaney |title=Sammy Rae & The Friends set to perform at Westcott Theater with Sarah Gross |work=The Daily Orange |date=October 12, 2021}} She has released one album, one live album, and two EPs. Her musical style is influenced by funk, jazz, rock, folk, and pop.{{Cite news | url=https://www.mountholyokenews.com/artsandentertainment/2020/2/14/sammy-rae-talks-origins-influences-and-the-friends-announces-upcoming-performance-at-mount-holyoke | title=Sammy Rae talks origins, influences and the Friends, announces upcoming performance at Mount Holyoke | first=Lily | last=Reavis | work=Mount Holyoke College | date=February 14, 2020}}
Biography
=Early life=
Rae was born in Derby, Connecticut on January 4, 1994. Rae enjoyed singing from a very young age, starting with nursery rhymes as a toddler.{{cite news | url=https://medium.com/@elissasanci/sammy-rae-the-independent-artist-tk-3714971edf8f | title=Sammy Rae Doesn't Sugar-Coat Anything: The Not-So-Sweet Reality of Independent Artists | first=Elissa | last=Sanci | work=Medium | date=November 23, 2016 | url-access=registration}} When she was young, her parents fostered her interest in the arts, taking her to participate in a children’s theatre company in Shelton, after-school choirs, and piano lessons.{{Cite news | url=https://ctexaminer.com/2023/09/29/derby-native-sammy-rae-to-play-sound-on-sound-music-festival-on-saturday/ | title=Derby-Native Sammy Rae to Play Sound on Sound Music Festival Saturday | first=Evan | last=Schlansky | work=CT Examiner | date=September 29, 2023}} She realized that she wanted to be a songwriter at the age of 12 after watching a segment on VH1 about Bruce Springsteen.{{cite news | url=https://www.ctpost.com/entertainment/article/Derby-raised-Sammy-Rae-brings-The-Friends-to-14384301.php | title=Derby-raised Sammy Rae brings The Friends to Space Ballroom Sept. 5 | first=Joe | last=Amarante | work=Connecticut Post | date=August 28, 2019}} When she was 15, she played her first show. She attended Sacred Heart Academy, a private, all-girls Catholic high school with uniform requirements and little chance for self-expression, where she was a member of the art scene. She then attended the University of New Haven for one year studying sound engineering and audio technology.{{Cite news | url=http://wesleyanargus.com/2022/03/07/sammy-rae-sits-down-with-the-argus-and-talks-the-friends-lyrical-inspiration-and-female-empowerment/ | title=Sammy Rae Sits Down With The Argus and Talks The Friends, Lyrical Inspiration, and Female Empowerment | first=Oliver | last=Cope | work=The Wesleyan Argus | date=March 7, 2022}} In 2013, at the age of 19, Rae moved to New York City to pursue songwriting and study music and teaching at Manhattan College.{{cite news | url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/03/17/sammy-rae-friends-funk-rock-brightens-inspires-music-fans/6979462001/ |last=Doyle |first=Céilí | title=Why Sammy Rae & The Friends is the perfect band for the pandemic era | work=The Columbus Dispatch | date=March 17, 2022}} She dropped out in 2014 and worked waiting tables while pursuing music in her free time.
=Career=
Rae took up a six-month residency at the Cotton Club jazz lounge in Harlem, while regularly singing at open mic shows and writing and recording her own songs.{{cite news | last=Pollauf |first=Colette |title=More than a band: Sammy Rae & The Friends creates community for queer youth | url=https://huntnewsnu.com/68469/lifestyle/more-than-a-band-sammy-rae-the-friends-creates-community-for-queer-youth/ | work=The Huntington News |date=April 9, 2022}} It was during this period that she met the six other musicians who became her bandmates in 2016. At this time, she was also a member of folk-rock band "Newcomers Club".{{cite web |title=Keeping it Colorful and Communal With Sammy Rae |url=https://www.peoplewhodo.co/stories/2018/10/15/keeping-it-colorful-and-communal-with-sam-bowers |website=people who do. |access-date=21 January 2025}} In November 2016, she released her first album, Sugar, with 10-tracks recorded at Flux Studios on the Lower East Side. She later deleted the album, claiming it was "off-brand".
In 2018, her band, Sammy Rae & The Friends, released their EP The Good Life, followed in 2021 by their EP Let's Throw a Party.{{cite web | url=https://americansongwriter.com/sammy-rae-the-friends-were-throwing-a-party-youre-invited/ | first=Catherine | last=Walthall |title=Sammy Rae & The Friends: We're Throwing a Party & You're Invited | work=American Songwriter | date=April 16, 2022}} In 2021, the band was selected for the American Music Abroad program.{{Cite web | url=https://americanmusicabroad.org/artist/sammy-rae-and-friends/ | title=Sammy Rae and Friends | publisher=American Music Abroad}} Through 2021 and 2022, the band gained popularity on Spotify, partly due to being featured on the platform's "Discover Weekly" playlist.
The band released their debut studio album, Something For Everybody, on September 20, 2024.{{cite news | url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Sammy-Rae-The-Friends-to-Release-Debut-Album-Lead-Single-Available-Now-20240515 | title=Sammy Rae & The Friends to Release Debut Album; Lead Single Available Now | first=Josh | last=Sharpe | work=Broadway World | date=May 15, 2024}}
Influences
Rae stated she was influenced by church music (particularly gospel music) and classic rock, as well as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon for vocals, and the E Street Band for their group dynamics.{{cite web | url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/10/16/sammy-rae-the-friends-ready-to-change-the-world/ | title=Sammy Rae & The Friends ready to change the world | first=BRETT | last=MILANO | work=Boston Herald | date=October 16, 2022}} The band's style is influenced by the diverse musical backgrounds of all its members, with genres such as jazz, rock, funk, folk, theater, and world music.
Personal life
Sammy Rae identifies as queer. As such, her music often includes themes of queer and female empowerment. This is most apparent in their song "Jackie Onassis," which Rae has stated is "a love song to my first crushes, and it’s also a love song to all young women."{{Cite news | url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2022/11/11/sammy-rae-the-friends-bring-musical-effervescence-to-la/ | last=Watson |first=Rob |title=Sammy Rae & The Friends bring musical effervescence to LA | work=Los Angeles Blade | date=November 11, 2022}}
Discography
=EPs=
| class="wikitable"
!Release Date !Name |
| July 20, 2018
|The Good Life |
| January 22, 2021
|Let's Throw A Party |
=Albums=
| class="wikitable"
!Release Date !Name |
| May 27, 2013
|Celebrate my Heart |
| November 4, 2016
|Sugar |
| August 11, 2023
|The If It All Goes South Tour (Live) |
| September 20, 2024
|Something For Everybody |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" |Title
! rowspan="2" |Year !Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" |Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US AAA |
| scope="row" | "Thieves" {{small|(with The Friends)}} |2024 |34 |Something for Everybody |
Tours
Headlining
- Follow Me Like The Moon Tour (2021){{cite web | url=https://news.pollstar.com/2022/03/09/how-sammy-rae-the-friends-have-fans-following-them-to-the-moon-rae-co-manager-doug-shaw-paladin-artists-seth-rappaport-break-it-down/ |title=How Sammy Rae & The Friends Have Fans Following Them To The Moon: Rae Co-Manager Doug Shaw & Paladin Artists' Seth Rappaport Break It Down | first=ANDY | last=GENSLER | work=Pollstar |date=March 9, 2022}}
- If It All Goes South (2022){{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/sammy-rae-the-river-of-dreams-billy-joel-cover-performance-video-and-friends-tour-reimagined-at-home | title=ReImagined At Home: Sammy Rae Scats Through A Bouncy Rendition Of Billy Joel's "The River Of Dreams" | first=TAYLOR | last=WEATHERBY | work=Grammy Awards | date=October 19, 2022}}
- CAMP: The Tour! (2023){{Cite news | url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2023/10/08/ae/concert-meets-camp-at-sammy-rae-the-friends-camp-the-tour/ | title=Concert meets camp at Sammy Rae & The Friends' 'Camp: The Tour' | first=Emily | last=Lichty | work=The Daily Northwestern | date=October 8, 2023}}
- Something For Everybody (2024-2025)
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rae, Sammy}}
Category:21st-century American women singers