Sammy Rae & The Friends

Sammy Rae & The Friends is a Brooklyn-based jazz-pop collective led by singer-songwriter Samantha Bowers. The American jazz-pop band, based in Brooklyn, New York City, is fronted by Bowers, who is known professionally as Sammy Rae. Bowers began her career with a six-month residency at the Cotton Club jazz lounge in Harlem, performing at open mic shows and writing and recording original songs. During this period, she met the six musicians who would become her bandmates.

After relocating to New York City from Connecticut in her early 20s, Bowers built her own community, forming the group that would become The Friends. The name "Sammy Rae & The Friends" was chosen to emphasize the collective nature of the band, with equal importance placed on both the lead singer and the ensemble.

The seven-piece funk and jazz-rock band includes C-Bass Chiriboga on drums, James Quinlan on bass, Will Leet on guitar, Debbie Tjong on keys, Max Zooi on tenor saxophone and synths, and Kellon Reese on alto saxophone. The group’s style is shaped by the diverse musical backgrounds of its members, incorporating elements of jazz, rock, funk, folk, theater, and world music. Bowers has cited classic big-band rock acts such as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, as well as Queen, Fleetwood Mac, and the Beatles, as formative influences. This eclecticism results in a sound that blends multiple genres.

Sammy Rae & The Friends began performing in small New York venues like Rockwood Music Hall before gaining wider recognition with their debut EP, "The Good Life." The track "Kick It To Me" achieved significant streaming success. The band was selected for the American Music Abroad program and expanded its audience through features on Spotify playlists. Their second EP, "Let's Throw a Party," and their debut studio album, "Something for Everybody," released via Nettwerk, further established their presence in the jazz-pop and funk scene.

The band has performed sold-out shows across North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe, and has appeared at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Sound on Sound, and All Things Go. Sammy Rae & The Friends is known for its energetic live performances, which foster a sense of community and inclusivity. Representation is a core value for the band, with Bowers openly identifying as queer and exploring LGBTQ+ themes in her music. Sammy Rae & The Friends has become recognized not only as a band but as a movement, resonating with a diverse and growing audience in the contemporary jazz-pop and funk music landscape.