Samantha Cole

Samantha Cole first saw the light of day in Southampton, New York, where music lessons and band performances occupied her from her early teens onward. An appearance on the MTV dance program The Grind supplied her decisive opening, which soon translated into steady stage time at Tatou in New York City. While performing there she met EMI executives, prompting her to record several demos. Within a fortnight she had secured a contract with Universal, and her self-titled debut appeared in 1997. Striking looks, a wide vocal range, and the involvement of proven hitmakers such as David Foster, Nile Rodgers, and Diane Warren positioned the release for strong results. Instead it generated little momentum and failed to deliver the expected run of chart singles, after which Cole quickly slipped from view. Four years later she returned to prominence on Shaggy’s chart-topping album Hot Shot, and her song “Bring It To Me” was placed on the 2002 soundtrack for the series Dark Angel.