Celebrity Voice Coach Platform Showcase to light up Playhouse stage on May 20
Danbury resident and Southampton native, Samantha Cole has earned fame and notoriety as an international recording artist. Her debut single "Happy With You" peaked at #78 on the Billboard Hot 100. Originally discovered by Universal Music's Doug Morris and Daniel Glass, Cole promptly signed to Universal Records.
She has worked with a plethora of musical superstars including David Foster, Richard Marx, Diane Warren, Shaggy, and Nile Rodgers. Her second single produced by David Foster and co-written by Cole, "Without You" reached #1 internationally. This song went on to be covered by American Idol stars Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke. Cole is also featured on a very well known massive hit "Luv Me' Luv Me' a duet that went top 5 with international superstar Shaggy off of his 12 million selling hotshot album.
After leaving an indelible mark on the music industry, seven years ago, Cole decided to use her talent as well as her connections as a singer, songwriter, and producer, to coach budding and talented vocalists. She quickly earned acclaim in this arena and has successfully trained and vocalists for NBC’s The Voice, American Idol, The Four, and America’s Got Talent. Cole was successful in helping many of these artists complete their first albums and EP's.
Lucky for Ridgefield, Cole, who brings her top students together twice a year for a Showcase, one in NYC and one in the CT area, will debut her 10th Bi-Annual Celebrity Voice Coach Platform Showcase at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Sunday, May 20.
We sat down with Cole to learn more about her career as a voice coach and her upcoming Ridgefield Playhouse Showcase.
How did your career as a voice coach come about?
Seven years ago, I placed an ad in the paper to see if anyone needed a voice coach. I quickly landed my first coaching job - a student in Brookfield. I picked up more and more students traveling to their homes at first and worked with them. I began my Showcase a little over a year into my coaching career and it’s grown tremendously! This was where I’m meant to be - everything about music I loved came rushing in when I began coaching - I knew I was truly in my element! Helping amazingly talented and passionate artist achieve their musical goals as well as helping gain confidence, is truly incredible.
How do you help aspiring performers?
I don’t just coach. I produce and write and I help musicians hone these skills as well. Because I’m still very connected in the business, I am instrumental in aligning them with the right people, moving them in the right direction. It’s unique to have a coach that has been in front of, and behind the microphone. I believe my background is very unique - for a vocal coach, unmatched in this area - I actually come from, and have personally lived this life! I also teach my students the importance of marketing and self-promotion - it’s part of the journey and they need to learn how to do this.
Tell me a bit about the Celebrity Voice Coach Platform Showcase on May 20 at The Ridgefield Playhouse. Are any locals performing?
Yes! There are many locals! From Ridgefield, there are a few, Barbara Young, Tatiana Carmona, Trey Stylez and Ben Sulzinski (our keyboardist and musical director). We’ll have about 25 performers from the tri-state area who range in age from 10 to 60 years old. The goal here is to give students the real-life experience and allow them to showcase their talent in front of live audience and in a professional show setting. They will perform originals as well as covers.
Among the performers: Long Island students Chris Milo, New Haven residents Kiameesha Holland and T'Arra Groom, Samantha Murphy from Hartford, Daryel Pratt and Jake Sliech from Brookfield, Samantha Smith from Monroe, Olivia Hirsch and Maggie Dalton from Bethel, Dan Tennenbaum from Milford, Jada Torres and Shelby Cohen from Danbury, Brianna Barbosa from Brewster NY, Lindsey DiTullio from Bristol, Amanda Colonel and Greg Simoneou (student and co host) from Newtown, Bailey Lewark from Mystic, Joan Dickinson Danbury, Michelle Fugure from New York, and Mel V Blaze from Waterbury.
Any memorable stories about vocalists you’ve trained?
I groomed a talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Wilton named Jerome Gooseman. It was an amazing transformation. He grew so much. I was the first person to bring him into the studio and get him to play out his original music. I introduced him to Russ DeSalvo (guitar) who has been featured on Celine Dion's album and many more. He was such a talented writer but was flying under the radar. He is now on tour with Sawyer Fredrick, winner of NBC’s The Voice. Jerome has come full circle and I am proud that was able to groom him early on his musical journey. He also has been one of our musical directors since the beginning of the Showcase Platform Show
Future of Celebrity Voice Coach Platform Showcase?
This is our first Showcase at The Ridgefield Playhouse. I’d love a home for the Showcase to grow and flourish and I’d love for this to become a Ridgefield Playhouse tradition! We have partnered with nonprofits, to bring awareness to their good works and I would like to continue to use the Platform to give back.
For Tickets ($40) call or visit the box office, 203-438-5795 or click HERE. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge in Ridgefield, CT.
Look for Samantha Cole’s 6 week Voice Workshop, coming to the Playhouse this fall (9/26—11/7). Registration will open this summer. Check ridgefieldplayhouse.org for updates.