Sam Plotkin
Sam Plotkin is a 16-year-old from Somers, Connecticut with a soulful passion for singing, songwriting, and performing. He has been a featured soloist since the age of 8 with a steadily growing fan base, and has performed in many venues including the MassMutual Center, Six Flags New England, Springfield Symphony Hall, the Iron Horse Music Hall, Theodores, the Majestic Theater, and the Big E ~ Eastern States Exposition.
Sam performed for many years with the Dan Kane Singers, and at the age of 12, he recorded a popular CD entitled "Stepping Out" with a band of several local musical legends, selling out his CD release concerts.
In 2007, he recorded a debut album of original songs entitled "Give Me a Sign", produced by Cliff Downs in Nashville, Tennessee with a band of some of Nashville’s finest musicians. The CD received a “Live Wire” Award from the Republican newspaper as one of the top local albums of 2007. (See press quote below).
In 2008, Sam completed the filming of his "Run Away" music video in Nashville with Glenn Sweitzer of Fresh Design + Film, part of which was filmed in Reba McEntire’s studio. The video can be seen on YouTube, as well as on Sam’s website (www.samplotkin.com) and MySpace (www.myspace.com/samplotkin).
"Underground", just released on December 11, 2008 at the Iron Horse Music Hall, is Sam’s newest album, an enhanced CD that is a complete collection of his original songs and videos, including his newest compositions produced by Cliff Downs.
Sam continues to perform for local events and benefits in between his songwriting and recording. He is a popular entertainer with a powerful presence as an emerging pop/rock singer and songwriter. The following reviews by music writer Donnie Moorhouse, noted Nashville record producer / songwriter Cliff Downs, and musical critics underscore Sam’s depth as a young performer, songwriter, and ‘pop star in the making’:
Sam Plotkin receives a "LiveWire" Award!
“Sam Plotkin, “Give Me a Sign” – Maybe you have seen him perform at one of the Dan Kane Singers spectacular shows (the final Christmas show was televised on WGGB-TV, abc40). Those performances only hint at the potential star power of Plotkin. The CD contains original compositions and belies a surprising maturity and yearning. Plotkin would have been a finalist in any of the last few “American Idol” series with this work. Plotkin is a pop star in the making and it will be fun to watch the process.” – Donnie Moorhouse, the Republican, January, 2008.
Sam Plotkin headlines Iron Horse
“I saw a huge potential in Sam’s writing as well as his potential as a vocalist…I was very impressed with his talent at such a young age…Sam tends to write and think beyond his years…the fact that he plays piano gives him the opportunity to write songs and connect with his audience in a unique way” -- Producer Cliff Downs…
… “That potential has been realized with “Underground”, Plotkin’s new 10 song CD recorded at Northbeach Studios in Franklin, Tennessee. Despite his relatively tender age of 16, Plotkin is able to delve effectively into themes of love, loss, and relationships with his writing. Plotkin celebrates the release of the disc with a show at the Iron Horse this evening.” – Donnie Moorhouse, the Republican Entertainment Desk, December 11, 2008.
Dan Kane Singers show thrills sell-out audience
“The vocal highlight of the evening, the electrifying moment that raised instant goose bumps, was young Sam Plotkin’s account of “From a Distance”…He delivered Gold’s profound lyrics with utterly pure, unmannered vocal tone and a visible, sincere connection to their meaning in his eyes…With the right training and the right breaks, Plotkin could be following in the footsteps of Josh Groban in a few years.” -- Clifton J. Noble. Jr., the Republican, December 5, 2005.
“Stepping Out” CD release concerts sell out Majestic Theater
“Sam is not good, not decent, but exceptional beyond his years…He has a very old musical soul in a very young person’s body…I think that’s just a gift from God.”—Dan Kane, the Hartford Courant, October, 2004.
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