Sammi Kao

Sammi Kao (, Bunun: Malas Kao; born 27 January 1969) is a Taiwanese singer. In 1992, she won the Best Female Mandarin Singer at the 4th Golden Melody Awards for Selected Classics 1.

Early life
Kao was born on 27 January 1969 in Fengshan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Her father was a Special police. She is the youngest of four children. Her family moved around Fengshan until she was 5, when they settled in Gangshan.

After graduating from Kaohsiung Municipal Gangshan Junior High School, she joined her older sister, also a singer, in Taipei to pursue a music career. In 1987, she accompanied a friend to audition for the newly-formed recording company What's Music. The executive noticed her and asked her to audition as well. The company ended up signing her as their first singer.

Career
In 1987, she released her first album Yuan.

In 1988, her album Speak of My Dream gained popularity in both Taiwan and Mainland China. The album Where Seagulls Fly, Colorful Clouds Fly was published in February 1989.

In December 1992, she released The New Legend of White Snake, the soundtrack for the TV series New Legend of Madame White Snake. The main theme song Waiting For A Thousand Years was particularly popular.

In 1992, she won Best Female Mandarin Singer at the 4th Golden Melody Awards for her compilation album Selected Classics 1.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Kao recorded the themes to several TV shows adapted from Chiung Yao's romance novels, such as the song Where Seagulls Fly, Colorful Clouds Fly. Chiung once asked Kao to play the lead in her show, but she declined by saying "[she's] afraid that acting would distract her from singing at full strength". Since 8 p.m. is a popular time block for these to air, she earned the nickname "Eight o'clock Kao".

In June 2005, she held a solo concert in Beijing.

In 2016, she performed at the 51st Golden Bell Awards. Besides singing classic TV show theme songs, she also performed with Kumachan, Bii, and No Solution.

Personal life
Her niece Sharon Kao is an actress.