Sammy J in Concert
Don't judge a book by its cover — with his stocky frame, buzz cut, and tattoos, Sammy Johnson (aka Sammy J) might project a tough guy image, but the moment he opens his mouth his true nature becomes apparent. When you hear the sweet, soulful voice delivering tender, downright fragile tunes full of love and joy, it's impossible not to be won over.
Johnson's alternately breezy and bouncy blend of reggae, pop, R&B, and soul creates a feel-good vibe that brings people together. When he hits the stage with a voice full of sunshine, his concerts can become a communal experience in the best sense, as he wraps the audience in his summery sound and gets them singing along, bouncing and swaying with his gently percolating grooves.
Whether the Australia-born, New Zealand-bred crooner is performing reggae-tinted tunes like "Give Me All" and "Sleepwalker" or a mellow R&B-flavored track like "Since I Met You," he always has his audience in the palm of his hand from start to finish.
Sammy J Background
The child of an Australian father and a Maori mother, crooner Sammy Johnson — born an Aussie and raised a Kiwi — laughingly refers to himself as a "Mozzie." But his sun-dappled sound suggests something like a down-under answer to Jack Johnson, with a beach-ready, good-time feel and a laid-back mixture of R&B, reggae, and pop influences.
Inspired as much by the likes of Lauryn Hill and India.Arie as he is by the reggae rhythms of Jamaica, he started making inroads with such singles as "Wishing on Your Love" and "Fall in Love" in 2012. It was the following year that he had his breakthrough hit with "Give Me All," teaming up with Fiji.
"Don't Say Goodbye," featuring Tree Vaifale, from his 2013 album 'Prelude,' became a smash not only in New Zealand but in other parts of the world as well. With subsequent albums like 'Lion Roar' and 'Sleepwalker,' he expanded his audience further than ever, and he could be found in front of adoring fans in the U.S. as well as his home base.
