Sam Phillips (singer)
| Sam Phillips | |
|---|---|
Phillips on stage in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Leslie Ann Phillips |
| Born |
January 28, 1962 Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | Myrrh, Virgin, Nonesuch |
| Associated acts | T Bone Burnett, Eric Gorfain |
| Website | www |
Sam Phillips (born Leslie Ann Phillips January 28, 1962) is an American singer-songwriter. She began her career in the contemporary Christian music industry but, uncomfortable with that image and industry, she re-branded herself as "Sam"—transitioning into the mainstream market after meeting producer T Bone Burnett. Her albums include the critically acclaimed Martinis and Bikinis in 1994. She has also composed scores for the television shows Gilmore Girls and Bunheads.
Phillips was born in Glendale, California, the second of three children, and has a brother and a sister.
She began her musical career in the early 1980s, singing background vocals for Christian artists Mark Heard and Randy Stonehill. Phillips was signed to a solo contract with Myrrh Records – under her given name – and recorded four Christian pop albums, Beyond Saturday Night, Dancing with Danger, Black and White in a Grey World and, finally, The Turning, which teamed her with producer and future husband, T Bone Burnett. Several became Top 10 singles on Christian radio and Myrrh records promoted her as "the Christian Cyndi Lauper". Phillips was never comfortable with this image, and it was a bone of contention between her and her label. She began using the name "Sam" professionally in 1988 when she left Myrrh Records and signed with Virgin Records in order to distance herself from her prior persona.
With The Indescribable Wow Philips moved into mainstream music. The album featured the orchestrations of Van Dyke Parks. Cruel Inventions was released in 1991, and included a guest performance by Elvis Costello. 1994's Martinis and Bikinis was widely praised by music critics and was nominated for a Grammy Award; her second nomination (the first was as Leslie Phillips).
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