Sammy Jackson is a Jamaican-Canadian singer-songwriter who is recognized for her distinct sound fusing elements of jazz, R&B, and pop. Jackson was born and raised in Toronto. As a child, she would sing along to the radio, trying to emulate her favourite pop & R&B hits. She began singing seriously as a teenager, with dreams of being enrolled into the University of Toronto’s music program. She completed her Music Bachelor’s degree at U of T, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Spanish, which she completed in 2016.

That same year, she released her first EP, Take Me Back – a collection of original songs weaving together pop, R&B, and jazz with personally historic song writing. Her second EP, With You (2020) – a collaborative effort between Jackson and fellow Toronto vocalist Jaqueline Teh, won her the Juno for Vocal Jazz Album of the year in 2021. The EP features musicians Tom Fleming (guitar), Chris Pruden (piano), Mark Godfrey (bass), and Ian Wright (drums).

Jackson has collaborated with some of Canada’s finest musicians, such as Barbra Lica, Robi Botos, Rich Brown, and Larnell Lewis, and has performed at prestigious venues and festivals, including the Glenn Gould Studio, Koerner Hall, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, and Westben.

She has many new projects and releases on the horizon, and continues to write, perform, and teach regularly.

Awards

• Juno for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year (2021)