Samsong
Encyclopedia
Samsong is an award winning Nigerian gospel
artist, based in Abuja, Nigeria. He has had a successful recording career with radio hits like Bianule, and a handful of accolades such as The Psalmist Award in 2000, and recently being nominated as "best Gospel Artist" by Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) in New York in 2008. He has graced the stage with Gospel greats like Marvin Winans
, Donnie McClurkin
and Panam Percy Paul, as well as successful mainstream artists like Donell Jones
, Kenny Latimore, 112
, TuFace, D’Banj, Faze
, and Styl Plus.
The group however broke up, and Samsong became a solo artist, releasing his debut cd in 2002, titled "Count Your Blessings". His album was a success, garnering airplay, and resulting in winning The Psalmist Award that same year. (1)
His sophomore cd was released in 2004, titled "Still Counting". He continued his award winning streak, snagging The Best Male Vocalist of the Year Award at Today's Music Award in 2004, and Best Male Vocalist of The Year Award in 2005 at The Amen Awards.
Samsong had become a bona fide celebrity and gospel star at this point, having songs and video in rotation radio and TV, and receiving top billing in concerts. At The Vigoma Awards in 2005, he received The Best Video of The Year Award.
His third release titled "The World of My Dreams" was issued in 2007, and was his most ambitious release yet. It featured a remake of the mega hit "One Love" by music icon Onyeka Onwenu
, in which he performed a duet with her. The cd also featured a duet with international superstars Styl-Plus
titled Live Right. His ambitious output was recognized with and he was awarded with The Grace Honorary Award for Excellence, that same year. In 2008, he was nominated for The Best Gospel Artist at The Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) held in New York city.
He embarked on an international tour to promote his cd, with stops at South Africa
, the United Kingdom
and Germany
. In Germany, he had recorded and performed with Chris Lass, the famous German gospel producer and artist.
His most recent headlining tour was in August 2009. He toured the island of Seychelles
, and was privileged to have dinner with the Vice President, Joseph Belmont
.
Samsong is currently working on a summer release of his new cd.
Nigerian gospel
Gospel music is a kind of African, motivational Christian music that has become a major part of Nigerian music. In the 1960s the Evangelical Church of West Africa Choir was popular, and in the early 1970s Bola Aare, Sola Rotimi, Good women Choir, Ebenezer Obey and later, Panam Percy Paul, Onyeka...
artist, based in Abuja, Nigeria. He has had a successful recording career with radio hits like Bianule, and a handful of accolades such as The Psalmist Award in 2000, and recently being nominated as "best Gospel Artist" by Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) in New York in 2008. He has graced the stage with Gospel greats like Marvin Winans
Marvin Winans
Marvin Lawrence Winans is an American gospel singer and member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.-Personal life:...
, Donnie McClurkin
Donnie McClurkin
Donald Andrew McClurkin, Jr. is an American gospel music singer and minister. He has won three Grammy awards, ten Stellar awards, two BET awards, two Soul Train awards, one Dove award and one NAACP Image award for his work....
and Panam Percy Paul, as well as successful mainstream artists like Donell Jones
Donell Jones
Donell Jones is an American R&B singer, songwriter and record producer.He is most notable for the hits "U Know What's Up," "Where I Wanna Be," and his cover of Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me Off My Feet"...
, Kenny Latimore, 112
112
Year 112 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Cornelius...
, TuFace, D’Banj, Faze
Faze
Faze means to frighten or cause hesitation to someone.Faze may also refer to:* Faze , a Canadian magazine* Faze , a Nigerian musician* FaZe , a trickshotting team in Call of Duty...
, and Styl Plus.
Biography
He was born Samson Uche Mogekwu in Delta State, Nigeria. He discovered his talent for singing while in high school. It was also in high school he was monikered Samsong. . (1)Career
He attended college, and majored in Accounting. In 1991, he formed a quartet known as Praise Creation. They were signed to Ivory Music Label, and released their debut album in 1996 titled "Best of Life".The group however broke up, and Samsong became a solo artist, releasing his debut cd in 2002, titled "Count Your Blessings". His album was a success, garnering airplay, and resulting in winning The Psalmist Award that same year. (1)
His sophomore cd was released in 2004, titled "Still Counting". He continued his award winning streak, snagging The Best Male Vocalist of the Year Award at Today's Music Award in 2004, and Best Male Vocalist of The Year Award in 2005 at The Amen Awards.
Samsong had become a bona fide celebrity and gospel star at this point, having songs and video in rotation radio and TV, and receiving top billing in concerts. At The Vigoma Awards in 2005, he received The Best Video of The Year Award.
His third release titled "The World of My Dreams" was issued in 2007, and was his most ambitious release yet. It featured a remake of the mega hit "One Love" by music icon Onyeka Onwenu
Onyeka Onwenu
Onyeka Onwenu is a Nigerian singer, actress and politician. In 2006 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a supporting role. She is currently the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture.-Filmography:...
, in which he performed a duet with her. The cd also featured a duet with international superstars Styl-Plus
Styl-Plus
The group Styl-Plus is a Nigerian gospel and pop musical group / quartet. The founding members were Shifi Emoefe, Tunde Akinsanmi, Yemi Akinwonmi, and Lanre Faneyi and the name STYL was adopted by combining the first letters of the first names of the founding members.In 1999 Lanre Faneyi died and...
titled Live Right. His ambitious output was recognized with and he was awarded with The Grace Honorary Award for Excellence, that same year. In 2008, he was nominated for The Best Gospel Artist at The Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) held in New York city.
He embarked on an international tour to promote his cd, with stops at South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In Germany, he had recorded and performed with Chris Lass, the famous German gospel producer and artist.
His most recent headlining tour was in August 2009. He toured the island of Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
, and was privileged to have dinner with the Vice President, Joseph Belmont
Joseph Belmont
Joseph Belmont is a Seychellois politician who was the Vice President of the Seychelles from 16 April 2004 until his retirement on 30 June 2010. He took office after President France-Albert René stepped down and the previous Vice-President, James Michel, replaced René as President...
.
Samsong is currently working on a summer release of his new cd.
Discography
- Best of Life (with Praise Creation) (1996)
- Count Your Blessings (2002)
- Still Counting (2004)
- The World of My Dreams (2007)
- Church Boy (2010)
External links
- Official Website
- Samsong on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Samsong on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....