The love of music pervades every note Annie Sampson sings. The youngest of 12 children, her early years were spent in the fertile musical climate of rural Louisiana surrounded by a family of teachers and ministers who sang together as a way of life. Her special gifts were first recognized at age five when she won a church talent show. Annie has continued to electrify, move and delight audiences ever since.

Annie Sampson's unique approach to song- whether a blues, a rock tune, a country & western ballad or a modern folk classic, was honed in the youth by singing in Bay Area church and school choirs. She landed a principal part in the hit musical Hair at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. When the popular rock group Stoneground recruited her to become lead singer, she left the show and joined the group for a series of national and international tours. Buoyed by the popularity of the four Warner Brothers albums, Annie and Stoneground played the gamut of venues- from the Fillmore West and Winterland to Oxford University and the Olympia Theatre in Paris with stops at every major American and European city and campus in between.

A big talent like Annie's did not go unnoticed by her peers. She has recorded with Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal, Buddy Miles, Maria Muldar, Eddie Money and country Joe MacDonald, as well as preformed with Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Otis Clay, Sammy Hagar, Commander Cody, Steve Miller, Nick Gravenites, Clarence Clemmons, Elvis Costello and the late Jerry Garcia- among others.

Since the mid- 1980"s, Annie has been leading her own band which performs regularly at Bay Area nightclubs such as Sweetwater's in Mill Valley, Slim's and Lou's Pier 47 in San Francisco as well as making special appearances at the San Francisco Symphony's Black & White Ball, the Domaine Chandon Musical Festival and the Oakland and Novato Art Festivals.

Under The Moon, Annie's new CD on her own Sweet Potatoes label, exudes the salt savor of her rich voice and warm presence. Backed by friends such as Elvin Bishop, Annie sculpts her own and others' blues into instant classics. Under The Moon captures Annie's definitve style- with the love of music in every note.

Created: October 24, 2001 @ 12:00 AM
Last Modified: August 17, 2005 @ 06:36 PM