Moonglow

Samara Joy McLendon was born in 1999 in The Bronx. Her father is a professional bassist and her paternal grandparents started a gospel group in Philadelphia. She attended Fordham High School for The Arts. She won Fordham University's Best Vocalist competition and was named an Ella Fitzgerald scholar at SUNY's Purchase College. In 2019 she won the Sarah Vaughan International Voice Competition. She released her first album while still in college. She has already toured extensively in the USA and Europe, and was named best young artist by Jazz World. A second album followed in 2021 earning her two Grammy nominations in 2022. She is booked at Lincoln Center Jazz Festival.