Jazz singer Samara Joy is sparking a vibrant jazz revival—her meteoric rise is a revelation of lyricism, authenticity and youthful resonance across generations. Here's all you need to know about this rising star of jazz.
How old is Samara Joy?
Born Samara Joy McLendon on November 11, 1999, in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx, New York, Samara Joy hails from a deeply musical family. Her paternal grandparents led the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father toured with the singer-songwriter Andraé Crouch.
Singing was clearly in young Samara's blood: she also served as a church worship leader for two years during high school. And, while attending Fordham High School for the Arts, she landed the “Best Vocalist” title at the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington festival.
Samara honed her craft at SUNY Purchase’s prestigious jazz program as an Ella Fitzgerald Scholar. In 2019, she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition . Still in college, she released her debut album Samara Joy in July 2021, winning JazzTimes’ Best New Artist. Shortly after, she signed with Verve and released Linger Awhile (2022), which topped the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
'Silky-voiced'
Samara has already secured five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist (2023), Best Jazz Vocal Album (twice, for Linger Awhile in 2023 and Portrait in 2025), and Best Jazz Performance three years running. She’s headlined stages at Newport, Montreal, and Monterey Jazz Festivals and at revered venues like the Village Vanguard and Apollo Theatre.
Critics have praised Samara's 'silky-voiced' tone—rich, velvety, and expressive—and have drawn comparison with some of the best jazz singers of all time, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Bassist Christian McBride has labelled her 'a once-in-a-generation talent'.
Off-stage, Samara enjoys cooking and roller-skating. In interviews, she emphasizes authenticity – “I’m just making music I’m proud to share,” resisting trend-chasing . A viral video of her singing Ella Fitzgerald’s Take Love Easy at Purchase made her a sensation, attracting record label interest.
2025 BBC Proms Performance
This summer, Samara Joy returns to London to perform at the 2025 BBC Proms. On 19 July, she'll perform songs from the Great American Songbook and more, with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Here are our full BBC Proms 2025 listings.
Woven from gospel roots into jazz sophistication, Samara Joy is redefining what a modern jazz singer can be—deeply rooted, expressive, and unflinchingly authentic. At just 25, she already stands among jazz’s most compelling voices, bridging past and present—and jazz’s future.
Main pic: Getty Images
