New Zealand Singer/Songwriter Sammy Johnson Commemorates 10th Anniversary Of Debut Album ‘Prelude’

Multi-platinum New Zealand singer-songwriter Sammy Johnson is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his now classic debut album ‘Prelude’. The album produced massive hits like “Give Me All,” “Don’t Say Goodbye,” and “Fall in Love” for Sammy, and it has become a streaming juggernaut with nearly 100,000,000 streams

Australian native, Sammy Johnson (a.k.a Sammy J) embraces his Maori and Polynesian roots to create positive and uplifting music. Blending island reggae, soul, and jazz vibes with heartfelt lyrics, Sammy’s sound is exhilarating and intoxicating. Now based in the U.S., Sammy has seemingly exploded on the market selling out venues across the West Coast and Hawaii. This success can be attributed to his relentless hard work and dedication to his craft.

Sammy Johnson has been waving the flag for the Pacific Island sound and has quickly become a leader in the scene alongside new school artists like J Boog and veterans like Katchafire. The Native-Kiwi-now-Los-Angeles-resident, Sammy J, got his big break via YouTube after his video for “Don’t Say Goodbye” became a viral sensation, racking up over 31,000,000 plays. Sammy, who was working as a social worker at the time, made the decision to pursue music full-time following the newfound popularity of the song that soon became a staple of modern era Island sound. Not too long after, a Hawaiian-based producer contacted him to work on an album, and he was offered a record deal with Island Empire Records, home to groups like Common Kings, Tenelle and Fiji.

With his music spreading like wildfire, Johnson said his move to California in 2014 and musical quest to spread positive vibrations across the country has gone beyond what he could have ever imagined. Sammy J has released two full-length albums, his debut ‘Prelude’ in 2013 and a self-titled album in 2014. In 2016, he returned with a brand new EP entitled ‘Lion Roar’ on Island Empire, which debuted on the Billboard Reggae charts in America. Sammy quickly capitalized on the success by embarking on a sold-out tour across the country with labelmates, Common Kings. With a powerful fan following, Sammy Johnson returned to New Zealand at the tail end of 2016 as one of the headliner’s of One Love Music Festival, captivating a crowd of over 15,000 in attendance.

Sammy Johnson will close out the remainder of 2023 touring the West Coast.