Samara Joy McLendon, better known as Samara Joy, is an American jazz singer. Joy was born in the Bronx’s Castle Hill neighborhood in 1999 into a musical family. Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, her paternal grandparents, founded the Philadelphia gospel group The Savettes.
Joy’s father, a bassist who has toured with gospel singer/songwriter/producer Andraé Crouch, introduced her to gospel greats such as The Clark Sisters, and soul and Motown were also strong influences in her upbringing.
Joy performed at Carnegie Hall’s 16th Annual Notable Occasion on June 15, 2022, and the Newport Jazz Festival. Linger Awhile, her second album was released on Verve Records on September 16, 2022. Kenny Washington, guitarist Pasquale Grasso, pianist Ben Paterson, and bassist David Wong all appear on the album.
Joy won two Grammy Awards in 2023, one for Best New Artist (she was the second jazz singer to win the award, the first being Esperanza Spalding in 2011) and one for Best Song Written for a Visual Work.
How Much Is Samara Joy Worth?
Samara Joy has a net worth of $4 million.