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Samantha Fish

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Samantha Fish
Fish performing in Zürich, 2019
Fish performing in Zürich, 2019
Background information
Born (1989-01-30) January 30, 1989 (age 35)
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • guitarist
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active2009–present
Labels
Websitewww.samanthafish.com

Samantha Fish (born January 30, 1989) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kansas City, Missouri. While often cited as a blues artist, Fish's work features and draws from multiple genres, including rock, country, funk, bluegrass, and ballads.

Early life and education

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Fish grew up in the Kansas City area. She started out playing the drums, but switched to guitar when she was 15. Fish's mother was the instructor in a local church choir, and her father played guitar with friends. Initially hearing recordings of Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughan, she later heard music from Tom Petty and the Rolling Stones and cites the Stones' album Sticky Fingers as an early influence. She and her sister were both drawn towards blues music in their teenage years.[2]

Fish regularly went to the Knuckleheads Saloon to hear touring blues artists. After turning 18, she often joined in with the singers and bands who were performing there.[3][4]

Career

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Fish at LEAF in Black Mountain, North Carolina, May 2018

In 2009, Fish recorded and produced Live Bait. The live album attracted the attention of a talent company, who recommended her to Ruf Records.[3] Ruf Records put together a record with Fish and two other female blues artists, Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde, titled Girls with Guitars. The three guitarists then toured on the Ruf Records 2011 Blues Caravan in the U.S. and Europe.[citation needed]

Fish continued touring with the Samantha Fish Band, featuring "Go-Go Ray" Pollard on drums and Chris Alexander on bass, playing in Europe and the United States. In 2011, Fish recorded Runaway with the help of her mentor Mike Zito. The album won the 2012 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist.[3]

Fish appeared on Devon Allman's 2013 album Turquoise in a duet covering the Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks' song "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around".[5] During the summer of 2013, Fish was called up on stage to play with a skeptical Buddy Guy who was so impressed with her playing on the guitar, he declared with a beaming smile to his audience, "When this kind of shit happens, I'll play all night!"[6]

In 2013, Fish released her second major studio album, Black Wind Howlin', featuring Mike Zito on guitar, Yonrico Scott on drums, Johnny Sansone on harmonica, and Paul Thorn, vocal duet on one track.[3] The album was recorded in Dockside Studios, in Maurice, Louisiana. Zito's bandmates from his group Royal Southern Brotherhood, Yonrico Scott and Charlie Wooton, were brought in to assist in the session recordings.[4] Also in 2013, Fish appeared on The Healers Live at Knuckleheads Saloon, producing a CD/DVD collaboration with Jimmy Hall, Reese Wynans, Kate Moss, and Danielle and Kris Schnebelen (sister and brother, formerly of the band Trampled Under Foot). Proceeds benefit the Blue Star Connection. The Healers occasionally perform together as their schedule permits.[citation needed]

Fish's third studio album, Wild Heart, was released on July 10, 2015. The album is more roots rock than her earlier blues rock.[citation needed] Fish wrote five songs on the record. She co-wrote five other songs with Jim McCormick in Nashville, Tennessee. Luther Dickinson produced the album, as well as played various stringed instruments (guitar, bass, mandolin, lap steel) to flesh out the sound.[7] The album was recorded in four studios, Royal Studios and Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, Zebra Ranch in Coldwater, Mississippi, and Blade Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana.[8] Other musicians on the record are Brady Blade (drums), Lightnin' Malcolm (guitar), Shardé Thomas (drums), Dominic Davis (bass), Shontelle Norman-Beatty (background vocals), and Risse Norman (background vocals).[citation needed]

Fish released her fourth solo album, Chills & Fever on March 17, 2017.[9] The album was recorded in Detroit and was recorded with members of the band The Detroit Cobras. Bobby Harlow produced the album.[10] Belle of the West followed in December 2017.

Fish released her sixth solo album, Kill or Be Kind, on September 20, 2019, on her new label, Rounder Records.[11] It was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by AllMusic.[12]

Fish released her seventh solo album, Faster, on September 10, 2021, on Rounder Records.[13] The album was produced by Martin Kierszenbaum, and features drummer Josh Freese and bass player Diego Navaira of The Last Bandoleros. Kansas City area rapper Tech N9ne is featured on the song "Loud".[14]

In 2022, Fish was featured in the documentary short Love Letters: Samantha Fish Live From New Orleans presented by Carl Van Productions in association with Very Productive Pictures and WYES-TV, airing in both 2022 and 2023.[15][16][17]

In May 2023, Fish released the collaborative album Death Wish Blues (Rounder Records) with Jesse Dayton, and the pair set forth on an extensive tour schedule throughout the US, UK, and Europe. Supporting them on the UK leg of their tour was Canadian roots rock band The Commoners.[18] Death Wish Blues was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2024 Grammy Awards.[19]

Personal life

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Her older sister, Amanda Fish, is a singer-songwriter as well and a multi-instrumentalist[20] who has recorded for VizzTone Records.[21]

Discography

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Albums

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Title Year Artist Label Producer
Live Bait 2009 The Samantha Fish Blues Band The Samantha Fish Blues Band Steve McBride
Girls with Guitars 2011 Samantha Fish / Cassie Taylor / Dani Wilde Ruf Mike Zito
Runaway 2011 Samantha Fish Ruf Mike Zito
Girls with Guitars Live CD/DVD 2012 Samantha Fish / Dani Wilde / Victoria Smith Ruf Uwe Treskatis, Thomas Ruf
Black Wind Howlin' 2013 Samantha Fish Ruf Mike Zito
The Healers (CD/DVD) 2013 Jimmy Hall / Reese Wynans / Samantha Fish / Kate Moss / Danielle Schnebelen / Kris Schnebelen Blue Star Connection Stellar Press
Wild Heart[22] 2015 Samantha Fish Ruf Luther Dickinson
Chills & Fever 2017 Samantha Fish Ruf Bobby Harlow
Belle of the West 2017 Samantha Fish Ruf Luther Dickinson
Kill or Be Kind 2019 Samantha Fish Rounder Scott Billington
Faster 2021 Samantha Fish Rounder Martin Kierszenbaum
Death Wish Blues 2023 Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton Rounder Jon Spencer

Awards

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Blues Blast Music Awards

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Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2017 Contemporary Blues Album Chills & Fever Won [23]

Blues Music Award

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Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2018 Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year Won [24]

Independent Blues Awards

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Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2016 Artist of the Year Won [25]
Best Independent Blues Contemporary CD Wild Heart Won [25]
Best Independent Female Blues Artist Won [25]
Road Warrior Award Won [25]
Best Modern Roots Song "Go Home" Won [25]
2017 Best Independent Female Blues Artist Won [26]
Road Warrior Award Won [26]
2018 Best Modern Roots CD Belle of the West Won [27]
Best Independent Female Blues Artist Nominated [27]
Best Independent Blues-Soul Artist Won [27]
Independent Blues Artist Gateway Award Nominated [27]
Best Independent Blues Stage Performance Won [27]
Road Warrior Award Won [27]
Best Contemporary Blues Song "Don't Say You Love Me" Nominated [27]
Best Song for the Common Good "American Dream" Won [27]
2020 Artist of the Year Won [28]
Best Independent Female Blues Artist Won [28]
Independent Blues-Soul Artist Won [28]
Best Independent Blues R&B/Soul CD Kill or Be Kind Won [28]
Best Modern Roots Song "Kill or Be Kind" Won [28]
Best Music Video "Kill or Be Kind" Nominated [28]
Best Music Engineer/Producer Won [28]
Independent Blues Artist Gateway Award Won [28]
Road Warrior Award Won [28]
2021 Gateway Artist Won [29]
2022 Best Music Video "Twisted Ambition" Won [30]

Living Blues Awards

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Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2018 Readers' Poll: Blues Artist of the Year (Female) Won [31]

OffBeat's Best of the Beat Awards

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Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2017 Best Blues Band or Performer Won [32]
Best Blues Album Belle of the West Won [32]
2018 Artist of the Year Won [32]
Best Blues Band or Performer Won [32]
Best Female Vocalist Won [32]
Best Guitarist Won [32]
2019 Best Blues Band or Performer Won [32]
Best Blues Album Kill or Be Kind Won [32]
Best Guitarist Won [32]
2023 Best Blues Artist Won [32]
Best Guitarist Won [32]
Best Music Video "Deathwish" (with Jesse Dayton) Won [32]
Best Blues Album Deathwish (with Jesse Dayton) Won [32]

Charts

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  • Black Wind Howlin'[33]
    • Top Heatseekers at No. 47 (2013)
    • Top Blues Albums at No. 7 (2013, 2014)
  • Wild Heart[34]
    • Top Heatseekers at No. 14 (2015)
    • Top Blues Albums at No. 1 (2015)
  • Chills & Fever
    • Top Heatseekers at No. 7 (2017)
    • Top Blues Albums at No. 3 (2017)
  • Belle of the West [35]
    • Top Heatseekers at No. 2 (2017)
    • Top Blues Albums at No. 1 (2017)
  • Kill or Be Kind
    • Top Heatseekers at No. 1 (2019)
    • Top Blues Albums at No. 1 (2019)
  • Faster
    • Top Heatseekers at No. 18 (2021)
    • Top Blues Albums at No. 1 (2021)

Notes

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  1. ^ Wynn, Ron (December 8, 2021). "Samantha Fish: The Cream Q&A". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  2. ^ Tudhope, Andrea. "Kansas City Sisters Amanda And Samantha Fish Sing The Blues". Kcur.org. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d Crawford 2014.
  4. ^ a b Anderson 2013.
  5. ^ Jurek 2013.
  6. ^ Abbate 2014.
  7. ^ Nash 2015.
  8. ^ Finn 2015.
  9. ^ "Chills & Fever – Samantha Fish". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  10. ^ "Chills & Fever". Epoginis. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  11. ^ Maxwell, Jackson (July 11, 2019). "Samantha Fish Premieres New "Bulletproof" Music Video". Guitar World. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  12. ^ "Favorite Blues Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  13. ^ Maxwell, Jackson (July 9, 2021). "Samantha Fish announces new album, Faster, releases explosive first single, Twisted Ambition". Guitar World. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Maxwell, Jackson (July 9, 2021). "Samantha Fish Announces New Album, 'Faster'". Guitar Player. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  15. ^ "Love Letters: Samantha Fish Live from New Orleans Documentary and Concert Special to Air on WYES - OffBeat Magazine". www.offbeat.com. April 21, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Staff, B. R. R. (April 28, 2023). "Samantha Fish documentary to be released". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  17. ^ Christopher ScapellitiContributions from Rod Brakes (June 8, 2023). "Watch the Essential 'Love Letters: Samantha Fish Live from New Orleans' Documentary Concert Special". Guitar Player. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Connor, Stevie (n.d.). "Toronto-Based Roots Rockers The Commoners To Support Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton On UK Tour". The Sound Cafe. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  19. ^ "Artist: Samantha Fish". Grammy.com. Recording Academy. n.d. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "Review: Free by Amanda Fish". Rockandbluesmuse.com. September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  21. ^ "Amanda Fish to bring her roots-rock 'n' soul sound to Star Sessions". Kansascity.com. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  22. ^ Redley 2015.
  23. ^ "2017 BLUES BLAST MUSIC AWARDS". Blues Blast Magazine. June 26, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  24. ^ "Blues Music Awards winners announced; Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo's 'TajMo' wins seven awards". Blues Foundation. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  25. ^ a b c d e "Independent Blues Awards Announced". Making A Scene!. June 29, 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Independent Blues Awards 2017 WINNERS". Making A Scene!. August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h "Independent Blues Awards 2018". Making A Scene!. August 2018. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Independent Blues Awards 2020". Making a Scene!. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021.
  29. ^ L'Hommedieu, Richard (September 15, 2021). "Independent Blues Awards 2021 Winners Announced!". Making A Scene!. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  30. ^ L'Hommedieu, Richard (October 4, 2022). "Independent Blues Awards 2022 Winners Announced!". Making A Scene!. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "25TH ANNUAL LIVING BLUES AWARDS (2018)". Living Blues. Living Blues Magazine. August 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Best of the Beat Award Winners:Complete List - OffBeat Magazine". www.offbeat.com. September 8, 2011. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  33. ^ "Samantha Fish: Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  34. ^ "Blues Music: Top Blues Albums Chart". Billboard. January 14, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  35. ^ "Blues Music: Top Blues Albums Chart". Billboard. November 25, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018.

References

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