User:Drswims/Samantha Fish

Samantha Fish (born 1989) is an American blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kansas City, Missouri.

History
Fish started to play the drums when she was about 13. After a couple years, she switched to guitar, subsequently teaching herself the instrument and worked hard to perfect her guitar skills which she continues to this day. She also went to a vocal coach to improve her singing.

Fish was brought up in a household that was always filled with classic rock music such as The Rolling Stones and Tom Petty and cites songwriting influences in John Hiatt and Tom Waits with Angus Young and Stevie Ray Vaughan as early influences on the guitar. Kansas City is known as a blues town (Kansas City Blues) and when Fish realized that she wanted to make a living as a musician, she reluctantly began incorporating blues standards into her shows. She ended up falling in love with the genre however, creating a basis for inspiration early in her musical life. She then proceeded to do her homework listening to blues musicians further back in time, including Skip James, Son House and Charlie Patton.

As a teenager, she would sneak into Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City checking out shows with her father as musicians toured through while she worked other jobs. In fact, club owner Frank Hicks and soundman Pete Saiger played an important role in her development encouraging her to play with national acts as they came through, one of which became her mentor, Mike Zito.

In 2009, Live Bait was recorded live which features eight Fish-penned tunes and six blues covers. The CD was recorded at Hannibal's Waldo Bar and Grill in Kansas City, Mo and the CD was produced by Steve McBride and is currently only available at her live shows as of 2014. Fish puts her own spin on blues and blues rock music, as noted by her cover version of "Roll and Tumble Blues" originally recorded by Hambone Willie Newbern which was later popularized by Muddy Waters as Rollin%27 and Tumblin%27. There are several youtube videos available of her performance of this venerable classic, a version of which is available on Live Bait.

In 2010, Tina Terry of Piedmont Talent connected Fish with Thomas Ruf of Ruf Records who was looking to fill a spot with a Girls with Guitars trio (along with Dani Wilde and Cassie Taylor, daughter of bluesman Otis Taylor (musician)) for Ruf's annual Blues Caravan Tour. Mike Zito encouraged her to do this and also produced the record, recorded at Studio Erde, Berlin, Germany. The resulting 2011 European and US tour expanded Fish’s audience furthering her career.

After that tour, Mike Zito produced Fish’s official debut solo record in 2011, Runaway also on Ruf Records (which garnered her a Blues Music Award (formerly W.C. Handy Award) for Best New Artist in 2012 ), which was also recorded at Studio Erde, Berlin, Germany.

In 2012, Dani Wilde, Samantha Fish and Victoria Smith toured and was recorded live in Germany for a subsequent Girls with Guitars Live CD and DVD.

Fish appeared on Devon Allman's 2013 record Turquoise (album) in a duet covering the Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks' song "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"

During the summer of 2013, Fish was called up on stage to play with a skeptical Buddy Guy who was so impressed with her playing on the guitar, he declared with a beaming smile to his audience, "When this kind of shit happens, I'll play all night!"

In 2013, Black Wind Howlin’, Fish’s second official solo record was released and also produced by Mike Zito (also on Ruf Records). This record was recorded at the renowned Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana. Fish stated that this record has a closer connection to who she is as an artist than previous records and was able to focus more on the production due to the pastoral surroundings of the studio.

Also in 2013, Fish appeared on The Healers Live at Knuckleheads Saloon recorded November 2012 producing a CD/DVD collaboration with Jimmy Hall, Reese Wynans, Kate Moss (not the model), Danielle Schnebelen and Kris Schnebelen (sister and brother, formerly of the band Trampled Under Foot (band)). Proceeds benefit the Blue Star Connection. The Healers occasionally perform together as their schedule permits.

As of 2015, Fish is on an extensive tour with her band in support of Black Wind Howlin’.

Musical Equipment
Fish uses a custom made Telecaster made by Delaney Guitars that she calls a "Fish-o-caster". She also uses a Stogie Box cigar box guitar obtained at a vendor in Helena, Ark. She uses Category 5 amps and uses minimal effects. As of 2014, she is also using an oil-can guitar in her shows (as noted in the picture on this page).

Discography
2009 Live Bait

2011 Girls With Guitars

2011 Runaway

2012 Girls with Guitars Live CD/DVD

2013 Black Wind Howlin’

2013 The Healers CD/DVD (Blue Star Connection)

2015 Wild Heart (June 2015)

Billboard Charts
2014 Blues albums at #7

2013 Heatseeker at #47

Billboard Blues Chart

Awards
2012 Blues Music Award Best New Artist Debut

2013 Bluess411 ‘Jimi’ Awards Electric Guitar Heroine