Gordie Sampson
Encyclopedia
Gordie Sampson is a singer-songwriter
and producer
from Big Pond, Nova Scotia
, Canada
.
He has written songs for Carrie Underwood
("Jesus, Take the Wheel", "Just A Dream", "Get Out Of This Town"), Martina McBride
("If I Had Your Name", "You're Not Leavin Me"), LeAnn Rimes
("Long Night", "Save Myself"), and George Canyon
("My Name") and produced and sound engineered for Damhnait Doyle
, Natalie MacMaster
, The Cottars
, Bruce Guthro
, and Buddy MacMaster
.
He worked on Celtic Electric (CBC TV), the Rankin Family
's Christmas special and the Cape Breton Summertime Revue.
in the late 1980s. He joined Realworld in the early 1990s with brothers Jamie Foulds and Matthew Foulds. The group released one self-titled CD that featured local radio hits "Angels", "Throwin' It All Away" and "We All Need". He was also a member of the house band on Rita MacNeil
's weekly CBC show Rita and Friends
. He has produced and co-written Damhnait Doyle
's Davnet, and Natalie MacMaster
's In My Hands albums.
Sampson has written songs which have been recorded by Faith Hill
("Paris"), Trace Adkins
("Words Get in the Way"), Carolyn Dawn Johnson
("Crybaby"), Aaron Lines
("Seeing Things"), Great Big Sea
("Lucky Me", "Let it Go") and George Canyon
("My Name", "Happy Man"). His song "Jesus, Take the Wheel
", co-written with Brett James and Hillary Lindsey
, was recorded by former American Idol
winner Carrie Underwood
and released in 2005. Sampson has commented that the song was inspired by a story told to him by an aunt regarding the death of an acquaintance in a car accident in a Nova Scotia.
Since "Jesus, Take the Wheel", Sampson has co-written songs with other Nashville performers including LeAnn Rimes
("Long Night", "Save Myself"), and Bon Jovi
("Any Other Day") for that band's 2007 album Lost Highway. He also spent time writing with Keith Urban
. Urban has recorded his song, "You (Or Somebody Like You)" on his European release of the album, "Days Go By."
Sampson has released three CDs as a solo artist. His debut solo album, Stones (1998), was nominated for a Juno Award
. He also received an East Coast Music Award for the single "Sorry", and is a former John Lennon Songwriting Contest
finalist. His second CD, Sunburn (2004), was largely written in partnership with Troy Verges and Blair Daly. Sampson produced the CD and played the majority of the instruments on Sunburn including guitars, bass, drums and piano. The album was recorded at Lakewind Sound Studios in Point Aconi, Nova Scotia
, which he co-owns with Fred Lavery
, as well as in studios in Toronto
and Nashville. For The Few And Far Between was released in 2008, and was nominated for a 2009 Juno Award and was the recipient of two East Coast Music Awards.
Sampson now resides primarily in Nashville but returns to Cape Breton regularly.
Sampson married Helen Musial, and the couple have a daughter.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
from Big Pond, Nova Scotia
Big Pond, Nova Scotia
Big Pond is a community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada on the south shore of Bras d'Or Lake. Big Pond is approximately in the center between the communities of St...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
He has written songs for Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
("Jesus, Take the Wheel", "Just A Dream", "Get Out Of This Town"), Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
("If I Had Your Name", "You're Not Leavin Me"), LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
("Long Night", "Save Myself"), and George Canyon
George Canyon
George Canyon is a Canadian country music singer. He was runner up Nashville Star 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and later lived in Hopewell, Nova Scotia before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta...
("My Name") and produced and sound engineered for Damhnait Doyle
Damhnait Doyle
Damhnait Doyle [DAV-net] is a Canadian pop singer. The phonetic spelling of her first name also serves as the title of her 2003 album. Her most recent album, Lights Down Low, is a collection of covers...
, Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
, The Cottars
The Cottars
The Cottars are a Canadian Celtic musical group originating from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia- Conception to Feast :From 2000 to March 2006 The Cottars were composed of: Ciarán and Fiona MacGillivray of Albert Bridge, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and The MacKenzies of Cape Breton. In 2006, big...
, Bruce Guthro
Bruce Guthro
Bruce Guthro is a Canadian singer / songwriter, from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Guthro has recorded as a solo artist, and in 1998 also joined Scottish folk rock band Runrig, whilst still pursuing his solo career...
, and Buddy MacMaster
Buddy MacMaster
Hugh Alan "Buddy" MacMaster, is one of the most renowned artists in the tradition of Cape Breton fiddle music.-Early life:...
.
He worked on Celtic Electric (CBC TV), the Rankin Family
The Rankin Family
The Rankin Family is a Canadian musical family group from Mabou, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. The group has won many Canadian music awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four SOCAN Awards, three Canadian Country Music Awards and two Big Country Music Awards.- Career...
's Christmas special and the Cape Breton Summertime Revue.
Music career
Sampson attended Riverview Rural High SchoolRiverview Rural High School
Riverview Rural High School is a secondary school located in Coxheath, Nova Scotia, Canada, a suburb of Sydney, Nova Scotia. It is attended by approximately 1000 students in grades 10 to 12...
in the late 1980s. He joined Realworld in the early 1990s with brothers Jamie Foulds and Matthew Foulds. The group released one self-titled CD that featured local radio hits "Angels", "Throwin' It All Away" and "We All Need". He was also a member of the house band on Rita MacNeil
Rita MacNeil
Rita MacNeil, CM, ONS is a Canadian country and folk singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray the following year, although she has had hits on the country...
's weekly CBC show Rita and Friends
Rita and Friends
Rita and Friends is a Canadian television variety show, which aired on CBC Television from 1994 to 1997. The show was hosted by Canadian country/folk singer Rita MacNeil...
. He has produced and co-written Damhnait Doyle
Damhnait Doyle
Damhnait Doyle [DAV-net] is a Canadian pop singer. The phonetic spelling of her first name also serves as the title of her 2003 album. Her most recent album, Lights Down Low, is a collection of covers...
's Davnet, and Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster
Natalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
's In My Hands albums.
Sampson has written songs which have been recorded by Faith Hill
Faith Hill
Faith Hill is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S...
("Paris"), Trace Adkins
Trace Adkins
Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations...
("Words Get in the Way"), Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Carolyn Dawn Johnson is a Canadian Juno Award winning country music singer-songwriter. Johnson first rose to fame by co-writing Chely Wright's 1999 Number One single, "Single White Female," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in September 1999...
("Crybaby"), Aaron Lines
Aaron Lines
Anthony Aaron Lines is a Canadian country musician. Active since 2001, he has recorded for RCA, BNA and On Ramp Records, and has charted three singles on the Hot Country Songs charts in the United States.-Love Changes Everything:...
("Seeing Things"), Great Big Sea
Great Big Sea
Great Big Sea is a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year-old Irish, English, and French heritage...
("Lucky Me", "Let it Go") and George Canyon
George Canyon
George Canyon is a Canadian country music singer. He was runner up Nashville Star 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and later lived in Hopewell, Nova Scotia before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta...
("My Name", "Happy Man"). His song "Jesus, Take the Wheel
Jesus, Take the Wheel
"Jesus, Take the Wheel" is a song written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. It is the second single from Carrie Underwood's debut album, Some Hearts....
", co-written with Brett James and Hillary Lindsey
Hillary Lindsey
Hillary Lindsey is a country music singer-songwriter. As a songwriter, she has written songs with or for Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, and Tim McGraw. One of her compositions, Underwood's Number One hit "Jesus, Take the Wheel",...
, was recorded by former American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
winner Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
and released in 2005. Sampson has commented that the song was inspired by a story told to him by an aunt regarding the death of an acquaintance in a car accident in a Nova Scotia.
Since "Jesus, Take the Wheel", Sampson has co-written songs with other Nashville performers including LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
("Long Night", "Save Myself"), and Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
("Any Other Day") for that band's 2007 album Lost Highway. He also spent time writing with Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
. Urban has recorded his song, "You (Or Somebody Like You)" on his European release of the album, "Days Go By."
Sampson has released three CDs as a solo artist. His debut solo album, Stones (1998), was nominated for a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
. He also received an East Coast Music Award for the single "Sorry", and is a former John Lennon Songwriting Contest
John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
finalist. His second CD, Sunburn (2004), was largely written in partnership with Troy Verges and Blair Daly. Sampson produced the CD and played the majority of the instruments on Sunburn including guitars, bass, drums and piano. The album was recorded at Lakewind Sound Studios in Point Aconi, Nova Scotia
Point Aconi, Nova Scotia
Point Aconi is a rural community in Nova Scotia at the northeastern tip of Boularderie Island. It derives its name from the headland of the same name, Point Aconi....
, which he co-owns with Fred Lavery
Fred Lavery
Fred Lavery is a music producer, singer-songwriter, and co-owner of Lakewind Sound. He was born and raised in Cape Breton. In 1978 he released "Song For Noel". In 1981 the artist's full length album “First Impressions” was released on Glencoe Records, produced by Paul Mills and engineered by...
, as well as in studios in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Nashville. For The Few And Far Between was released in 2008, and was nominated for a 2009 Juno Award and was the recipient of two East Coast Music Awards.
Personal life
Gordie Sampson is the son of Frank and Flo (Ley) Sampson. His sister, Amy Sampson, is a former member of the Cape Breton band Ashego.Sampson now resides primarily in Nashville but returns to Cape Breton regularly.
Sampson married Helen Musial, and the couple have a daughter.
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN AC RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 1999 | "Sorry" | 20 | Stones |
| 2004 | "Sunburn" | * | Sunburn |
| 2005 | "Hangin' by a Wire" | * | |
| "You (Or Somebody Like You)" | * |
Awards and nominations
- GrammysGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
- 2006Grammy Awards of 2007The 49th Annual Grammy Awards was a ceremony honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning September 15, 2005 and ending September 14, 2006 in the United States. The awards were handed out on Sunday February 11, 2007 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dixie Chicks...
- Song of the Year, "Jesus, Take the WheelJesus, Take the Wheel"Jesus, Take the Wheel" is a song written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. It is the second single from Carrie Underwood's debut album, Some Hearts....
" (Nomination) - 2006Grammy Awards of 2007The 49th Annual Grammy Awards was a ceremony honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning September 15, 2005 and ending September 14, 2006 in the United States. The awards were handed out on Sunday February 11, 2007 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dixie Chicks...
- Best Country Song, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (WON)
- 2006
- Juno Awards
- 2009 - Songwriter Of The Year, "Davey Jones" (For The Few and Far Between),"When I Said I Would - Duncan Whitney (Nomination)
- 2007 - Songwriter Of The Year, "Jesus Take The Wheel" (WON)
- 2005 - Songwriter Of The Year, "Sunburn", "Paris" and "You (Or Somebody Like You)" (Nomination)
- 2000 - Best Instrumental Album, In My Hands - Natalie MacMaster, (WON)
- 1999 - Best Roots & Traditional Album - Solo, Stones (Nomination)
- CMA
- 2006 Song of the Year for "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (WON)
- Nashville Songwriters Association
- 2006 - International Songwriter Achievement Award "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
- ASCAP Award
- 2007 - Christian Award - Top 25 Song "Jesus Take The Wheel"
- Canadian Country Music Award
- 2006 - Songwriter of the Year, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Carrie Underwood) (WON)
- 2006 - Songwriter of the Year, " Crybaby" (Carolyn Dawn Johnson) (Nomination)
- Academy of Country Music Award
- 2006 - Single of the Year - Carrie Underwood - "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (WON)
- 2006 - Song of The Year, "Jesus Take The Wheel" (Carrie Underwood) (Nomination)
- Great American Song Contest
- 2005 Pop/Contemporary, "Paris" (WON)
- 2005 Pop/Contemporary, "Sunburn" (WON)
- CCMA AwardCanadian Country Music AssociationThe Canadian Country Music Association was founded in 1976 as the Academy of Country Music Entertainment to organize, promote and develop a Canadian country music industry. The association changed its name to the Canadian Country Music Association in 1987.-Awards:The CCMA held the first Canadian...
- 2005 - Single of the Year - George Canyon - "My Name"
- 2005 - Song of the Year - George Canyon - "My Name"
- 2000 - Vocal/Instrumental Collaboration
- ECMA Awards
- 2009, 2005, 2004, 2000 - Songwriter of the Year
- 2009, 2005, 2000 - Single of the Year
- 2009 - FACTOR Recording of the Year (Nomination)
- 2009 - Male Solo Recording of the Year (Nomination)
- 2009 - Pop Recording of the Year (Nomination)
- 2005 - Album of the Year (Sunburn)
- 2005 - Male Artist of the Year (Sunburn)
- 2005 - Pop Recording of the Year (Sunburn)
- 2002. 2001 - SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
- 2000 - Video of the Year
- 1999 - New Artist of the Year
- International Songwriting Competition
- 2008 - Folk Category, "Davey Jones" (WON)
- 2005 - Performance Category, "Paris" (WON)
- MIANS Awards
- 2004 - Album of the Year
- 2004, 2000 - Male Artist of the Year
- 2004 - Pop/ Rock Artist of the Year
- 2004 - SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
- 2003 - Producer of the Year
- 2000 - Songwriter of the Year
- 1999 - Producer of the Year
- SOCAN Awards
- 2006 - Most Country Airplay, "My Name"
- 2006 - Outstanding Success Airplay, "Jesus Take The Wheel"
- 2002 - Most Country Airplay
- Canadian Radio Music Awards
- 2000 - Pop Adult Best Solo Artist (Nomination)
- John Lennon Songwriting ContestJohn Lennon Songwriting ContestThe John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
- 2000 - Pop Category Finalist
Singles written by Sampson
These are singles that Sampson wrote for other artists.- "That Kind of Beautiful" - Emerson DriveEmerson DriveEmerson Drive is a country music band founded in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada in 1995. The band is Brad Mates , Danick Dupelle , Mike Melancon , Dale Wallace , and David Pichette .Early on, the band found minor success in Canada, releasing two albums under the name of 12 Gauge, the first Open...
- "When I Said I Would" - Whitney DuncanWhitney DuncanWhitney Duncan is an American country music artist, who was the fifth place finalist on the fifth season of Nashville Star. She has released one studio album and has charted on the U.S...
- "Jesus, Take the WheelJesus, Take the Wheel"Jesus, Take the Wheel" is a song written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. It is the second single from Carrie Underwood's debut album, Some Hearts....
" - Carrie UnderwoodCarrie UnderwoodCarrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005... - "Just a Dream" - Carrie Underwood
- "Measure of a Man" – Jack IngramJack IngramJack Owen Ingram is an American Texas Country artist signed to Big Machine Records, an independent record label. He has released eight studio albums, one extended play, six live albums and eighteen singles. Although active since 1992, Ingram did not reach the U.S. country Top 40 until the late...
- "Get Me Through December" - Natalie MacMasterNatalie MacMasterNatalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
with Alison KraussAlison KraussAlison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in... - "Cry Baby" – Carolyn Dawn JohnsonCarolyn Dawn JohnsonCarolyn Dawn Johnson is a Canadian Juno Award winning country music singer-songwriter. Johnson first rose to fame by co-writing Chely Wright's 1999 Number One single, "Single White Female," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in September 1999...
- "Seeing Things" - Aaron LinesAaron LinesAnthony Aaron Lines is a Canadian country musician. Active since 2001, he has recorded for RCA, BNA and On Ramp Records, and has charted three singles on the Hot Country Songs charts in the United States.-Love Changes Everything:...
- "My Name" - George CanyonGeorge CanyonGeorge Canyon is a Canadian country music singer. He was runner up Nashville Star 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and later lived in Hopewell, Nova Scotia before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta...
- "Followed Her Around" - Jimmy RankinJimmy RankinJimmy Rankin is a Canadian country and folk artist. A member of The Rankin Family, Rankin has also released four solo studio albums. As a solo artist, Rankin was named Roots Artist of the Year in 2002 by the Canadian Country Music Association...
- "Maybe You're Right" - The Rankin FamilyThe Rankin FamilyThe Rankin Family is a Canadian musical family group from Mabou, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. The group has won many Canadian music awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four SOCAN Awards, three Canadian Country Music Awards and two Big Country Music Awards.- Career...
- "My heart beats for love" - Miley Cyrus