Biography
Samantha Fish, born January 30, 1989, in Kansas City, Missouri, grew up immersed in music influenced by her mother's role as a church choir instructor and her father's casual guitar playing with friends. Initially playing drums, she switched to guitar at age 15 after discovering artists like Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Petty, and the Rolling Stones, particularly their album Sticky Fingers. As a teenager, she frequented Knuckleheads Saloon to hear touring blues acts and, after turning 18, began sitting in with performers, honing her skills across blues, rock, funk, and other genres.
Fish launched her career in 2009 with the self-produced live album Live Bait, which led to a deal with Ruf Records and the collaborative project Girls with Guitars (2011) alongside Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde. Her solo breakthrough came with Runaway (2011), produced by mentor Mike Zito, earning her the 2012 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist. Subsequent releases like Black Wind Howlin' (2013), Chills & Fever (2017), Kill or Be Kind (2019), the collaborative Death Wish Blues with Jesse Dayton (2023), and Paper Doll (2025) showcased her evolving style blending blues rock with country, funk, and ballads, garnering two Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Fish's legacy includes over 20 awards, performances with icons like Buddy Guy, Slash, and The Rolling Stones, and headlining major festivals. Her powerful guitar work, visceral rhythms, and emotive vocals have established her as one of the foremost guitarists of her generation, with a career marked by relentless touring and critical acclaim.
Fun Facts
- Fish began sitting in with blues bands at Knuckleheads Saloon at age 18, learning diverse styles from touring artists like Buddy Guy and Tab Benoit before releasing her debut album.
- She opened for The Rolling Stones on their final 2024 U.S. tour date and toured with Slash, also sharing a Guitar World cover with him.
- At age 20, she independently recorded and produced her debut live album Live Bait (2009), which caught the attention of Ruf Records.
- She was honored at the 2025 NAMM Show She Rocks Awards and performed at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads LA Festival.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Mike Zito - Mentor who produced her early albums and helped launch her career (Runaway (2011), Girls with Guitars (2011), Black Wind Howlin' (2013)) [2011-2013]
Key Collaborators
- Jesse Dayton - Frequent collaborator on albums and tours (Death Wish Blues (2023), Grammy-nominated project with US/UK/Europe tours) [2023-2025]
- Cassie Taylor - Co-artist on Ruf Records project and Blues Caravan tour (Girls with Guitars (2011))
- Dani Wilde - Co-artist on Ruf Records project and Blues Caravan tour (Girls with Guitars (2011))
- Go-Go Ray Pollard - Longtime band member on drums (Samantha Fish Band tours and albums) [2010s]
- Chris Alexander - Longtime band member on bass (Samantha Fish Band tours and albums) [2010s]
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Samantha Fish has been played 19 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.