Get To Know Samara Joy!

Jazz singer Samara Joy is a two-time Grammy award winner for Best New Artist and Jazz Vocal Album. From the Bronx to the big stage, the 23-year-old artist is set to change the world of Jazz with her amazing vocals!

This author is excited to introduce you to Samara Joy, who won her first two Grammys on February 5th at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

Musical Upbringing

Daughter to a musically influenced family the artist was introduced to gospel music by her father Antonio McLendon and later introduced to the Jazz genre at Fordham Highschool For the Arts located in the Bronx where she became the Jazz band vocalist for the group. She went on to compete in the Essentially Ellington festival hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center, a high school competition where she won best vocalist.

First Album

While in college, Joy released her first self-titled album, Samara Joy, on July 9, 2021, and graduated earlier that year magna cum laude at SUNY Purchase, according to her biography. With the release of her album, she gained recognition by Jazz Times as a Best New Artist 2021 and was soon interviewed by Regina Hall, who mentioned her to be “a young woman who seems like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald are both living in her body.” From there on, she began posting videos of her performances on TikTok and gained a following as well as the opportunity to tour Europe through 2021 and 2022.

@samarajoysings living my dreammm & talkin about the album in 🇮🇹 avail for preorder now! 💕 #jazz #jazztok #italy #perugia #lingerawhile #findyourgrace #nourisheveryyou #epk #behindthescenes ♬ original sound – Samara Joy

History in the Making

Samara Joy is the second Jazz artist to be nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist, following Esperanza Spalding in 2011, according to CNN. Her album “Linger Awhile” was up for consideration in October 2022 for the Grammy’s Awards and eventually was nominated on November 15, 2022, for Best New Artist and Jazz Album.

A Star is Born

As someone who went to high school with the Grammy Award winner, I can say that she was always a beautiful presence to be around. Her melodic voice would often fill the auditorium during her performances, and they were exceptional. Those who spent time with her reckon her to be a force with her voice and knew deep down that she would achieve a high level of success with her talented voice. It is with great honor we are most proud of her achievements as an artist and can’t wait to follow along her musical journey.

Don’t forget to follow along with Samara Joy’s musical journey and listen to her new album, Awhile Longer, out now!