Sam Woolf

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For the British actor, see Sam Woolf (actor).
Sam Woolf
Background information
Birth nameSamuel Joseph Woolf
Born (1996-04-19) April 19, 1996 (age 27)[1]
West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States
GenresIndie folk, folk-pop, folk rock, indie pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2013–present

Samuel Joseph Woolf (born April 19, 1996) is an American singer-songwriter from Bradenton, Florida,[1] who finished in fifth place on the thirteenth season of American Idol. Shortly after his participation on the series, he released the EP Pretend, which reached the top ten on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Since then, he has released several non-album singles and collaborated on several songs with The Como Brothers.

Early life[edit]

Sam Woolf was born on April 19, 1996, in West Bloomfield, Michigan to Mary and Scott Woolf.[2][3][4] His great-grandfather, Sammy Woolf, was a well-known Detroit bandleader, his uncle is composer Randall Woolf, and pianist Kathleen Supové is his aunt (by marriage). His great-uncle, Mickey Woolf, was a musician prominent in Detroit's Jewish community.[5] Woolf was a student at the Scotch Elementary School in West Bloomfield, but moved to North Port, Florida in 2006 when he was 9.[5][6] When he was 13, his mother remarried and moved to another city in Florida, and Woolf and his older sister Emily remained in North Port with their father. Woolf and his father moved to Bradenton just prior to his second year of high school, where he attended Braden River High School. At the beginning of his junior year, he moved in with his grandparents who also live in Bradenton.

Woolf's first live public performance was at his sixth grade talent show where he performed The Beatles' "Hey Jude."[7] Woolf later became interested in music as a career, took singing lessons from an opera teacher, Bob Lischetti, and performed locally in Bradenton.[2] He also was mentored at the Del Couch Music Education Foundation and went to Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan for four weeks the summer after his second year of high school. In the summer of 2013, Woolf completed a five-week program at the Berklee College of Music and was selected as one of the top four songwriters for their singer showcase, where he performed an original song, "The Same."[6] While he was in Boston, the audition for the thirteenth season of American Idol was held near Berklee College of Music and at his mother's suggestion, he decided to attend the audition.[2] He attended Berklee College of Music, briefly, before pursuing his full time career as a singer songwriter.[1]

American Idol[edit]

Main article: American Idol (season 13)

Woolf auditioned in Boston, singing "Lego House" by Ed Sheeran. He sang "Waiting on the World to Change" on the first round in Hollywood, and his original composition entitled "I Tried" in the final solo of the Hollywood Round.

Episode Theme Song choice Original artist Order Result
Audition Auditioner's Choice "Lego House" Ed Sheeran N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 1 A Capella "Waiting on the World to Change" John Mayer N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 2 Group Performance "Treasure"
with Kristen O'Connor 		Bruno Mars N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 3 Solo "I Tried" (original composition) Sam Woolf N/A Advanced
Top 31 (10 Men) Personal Choice "Babylon" David Gray 4 Advanced
Top 13 This Is Me "Unwell" Matchbox Twenty 12 Safe
Top 12 Home "Just One" Blind Pilot 9 Safe
Top 11 Songs from the Cinema "Come Together" The Beatles 1 Bottom 31
Top 10 Billboard Top 10 "We Are Young" Fun feat. Janelle Monáe 10 Safe
Top 9 I'm with the Band! "Hey There Delilah" Plain White T's 5 Bottom 32
Top 8 Back to the Start Solo "Lego House" Ed Sheeran 4 Saved3
Duet "Lucky"
with Malaya Watson 		Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat 8
Top 84 Songs from the 1980s Duet "The Girl Is Mine"
with Alex Preston 		Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney 3 Safe
Solo "Time After Time" Cyndi Lauper 7
Top 7 Competitors' Choice Duet "Let Her Go"
with Alex Preston 		Passenger 3 Safe
Solo "Sail Away" David Gray 8
Top 6 Rock 'n' Roll "It's Time" Imagine Dragons 2 Safe
Country "You're Still the One" Shania Twain 7
Top 5 America's Requests Trio "Best Day of My Life"
with Jena Irene & Alex Preston 		American Authors 3 Eliminated
Solo "Sing" Ed Sheeran 5
Solo "How to Save a Life" The Fray 10
  • ^Note 1 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results in this particular night, Woolf was among the bottom 3, but was declared safe first, as Ben Briley was eliminated.
  • ^Note 2 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results in this particular night, Woolf was among the bottom 3, but was declared safe, as Majesty Rose was eliminated.
  • ^Note 3 Woolf received the lowest number of votes; however, the judges decided to use their one save of the season to allow him to remain in the competition.
  • ^Note 4 Due to the judges using their one save on Woolf, the top 8 remained intact for another week.

Post-Idol[edit]

After his appearance on Idol, Woolf deferred for one year an offer of admissions to Berklee College of Music until fall 2015.[8][9] Woolf performed nationally in the American Idol season 13 tour,[10] then held a 'Welcome Home' concert in Bradenton, Florida at IMG Academy Stadium on September 27, 2014.[11] He opened a similar homecoming concert for his fellow American Idol season 13 finalist, Alex Preston, at the Capitol Center For the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire on November 8, 2014,[12] and on February 28, 2015, he performed in Lakewood Ranch, Florida's Winterfest, along with The Doobie Brothers, War, Jefferson Starship, Matt Walden and performers from the Del Couch Music Education Foundation.[13][14][15]

Woolf wrote and recorded a five-song EP, Pretend, which he self-released on December 18, 2014.[16] The album was funded in part by crowdfunding, and was produced by Danny Blume who co-wrote some of the songs with Woolf.[17]

On September 1, 2016, Woolf released the standalone single "Stop Thinking About It",[18][19][20] and on January 1, 2017, he released the standalone single "Fast 'n' Dirty".[21][22][23] Music videos were released for both singles.[20][22] Woolf co-wrote "Fast 'n' Dirty" with Orion Meshorer and Stephen Puthon. Explaining the song, he said, "Never in a million years did I think I'd have a song called 'Fast and Dirty'...I'd just like to say that this song/video is supposed to be a joke, in a way...don't take it seriously."[22] On April 19, 2017, he released the standalone single "Call Me Crazy", which features Christina Galligan.[24][25][26] Woolf co-wrote "Call Me Crazy" with Meshorer and Parker James.[27] On August 25, 2018, he released the standalone single "You",[28][29] on August 12, 2020, he released the standalone single "Ease My Mind",[30][31][32] and on October 1, 2021, he released the standalone single "Good Ol Times".[33] On June 17, 2022, he released a cover of "Danny's Song" by Kenny Loggins.[34] On January 1, 2023, he released the standalone single "Worst Thing", which he described as "the most honest song" he had "ever written",[35][36] and on February 24 of that year, he released the standalone single, "Light Me Up".[37]

Live at 89 North, a 2015 EP by the Como Brothers, features Woolf on a cover of "Hey Jude". Woolf and the Como Brothers have since continued to collaborate. In 2018, they released the single "On It" and announced an upcoming six-track EP titled Backbeat in the Morning.[26] Leading up to the release of their EP, they have released three more tracks: "Diamonds on my Chain" in 2019, "Twisted" in January 2020, and "Coming Home" in September 2020.[38][39][40][41][42] Backbeat in the Morning was recorded with Grammy-winning engineer Kenta Yonesaka at Germano Studios in New York City.[43][44] Music videos have been released for all four songs.[44] In 2022, Woolf and the Como Brothers released the song "Give a Little Love".[45]

Woolf has opened multiple concerts for We The Kings.[46][47] He has also performed at Dream Fest in Tampa, the Warwick Summer Concert Series in New York, the Boston Arts Festival, and the Riverwalk Regatta in Florida. He often performs at events, both public and private, in Florida, the Midwest, and the Northeast.[15]

Discography[edit]

Extended plays[edit]

Title Details Peak chart positions
US Heatseeker[48]
Pretend
  • Released: December 18, 2014
  • Self-released
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 9

Singles[edit]

Year Song Album
2016 "Stop Thinking About It" Non-album single
2017 "Fast 'n' Dirty"
"Call Me Crazy"
(featuring Christina Galligan)
2018 "You"
2020 "Ease My Mind"
2021 "Good Ol Times"
2022 "Danny's Song"
2023 "Worst Thing"
"Light Me Up"

As featured artist[edit]

Year Song Album
2015 "Hey Jude"
(The Como Brothers featuring Sam Woolf) 		Live at 89 North
2018 "On It"
(The Como Brothers featuring Sam Woolf) 		Backbeat in the Morning
2019 "Diamonds On My Chain"
(The Como Brothers featuring Sam Woolf)
2020 "Twisted"
(The Como Brothers featuring Sam Woolf)
"Coming Home"
(The Como Brothers featuring Sam Woolf)
2022 "Give a Little Love"
(The Como Brothers featuring Sam Woolf) 		N/A

American Idol digital singles[edit]

Year Song Album
2014 "We Are Young" Non-album single
"Hey There Delilah"
"Lego House"
"Time After Time"
"Sail Away"
"You're Still the One"
"How to Save a Life"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Tatangelo, Wade (February 25, 2014). "'American Idol' finalist and Bradenton student Sam Woolf says confidence will show: interview". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Fred Bronson (March 20, 2014). "'American Idol' Season 13: Sam Woolf Explains the Magic of 'Hey Jude'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^ Roger C. Pettingell. "Sam Woolf Continues on American Idol".
  4. ^ Brian McCollum (February 20, 2014). "'American Idol' sends 3 Michigan-born contestants onto the big stage for finals". Detroit Free Press.
  5. ^ a b Brian McCollum (February 20, 2014). "Michigan singers are a wonder as 'American Idol' enters semifinals". Detroit Free Press.
  6. ^ a b "Before the 'Woolfpack,' he was just shy Sam Woolf". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
  7. ^ Jay Handelman (January 15, 2014). "Bradenton student Sam Woolf advances to Hollywood Week on 'American Idol'". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
  8. ^ "About Same Woolf". samwoolfmusic.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015.
  9. ^ Walt Belcher (July 16, 2014). "'Idol' tour brings Bradenton's Woolf home". The Tampa Tribune.
  10. ^ Michele Amabile Angermiller (July 10, 2014). "'American Idol' Live Tour 2014: No Band, No Problem". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "Sam Woolf in Concert". IMG Academy. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  12. ^ Reid, Matthew. "Alex Preston Is Coming Home". Mix104.1. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  13. ^ Marty Clear (November 11, 2014). "Doobie Brothers, Sam Woolf to play at Winterfest at Lakewood Ranch". The Bradenton Herald. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  14. ^ Shellie Terry Benson (May 29, 2015). "Rising Stars: A wave of hot young artists is rocking the Manatee County music scene". LWR Life Magazine. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  15. ^ a b "Sam Woolf – Bio". samwoolfmusic.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  16. ^ "Sam Woolf releases new EP". WWSA MySuncoast. December 24, 2014.
  17. ^ Marty Clear (December 23, 2014). "Bradenton's Sam Woolf releases EP The 'American Idol' finalist wrote all five songs on 'Pretend'". Bradenton Herald.
  18. ^ Sam Woolf (August 31, 2016). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  19. ^ Sam Woolf (September 1, 2016). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Mark Franklin (September 6, 2016). "Check Out the New Music Video From Former Idol Standout Sam Woolf". Idol Chatter. The York Dispatch. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  21. ^ Sam Woolf (January 1, 2017). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  22. ^ a b c Mark Franklin (January 7, 2017). "Sam Woolf Goes 'Fast n Dirty" on His New Single". Idol Chatter. The York Dispatch. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  23. ^ "Live Music w/ Sam Woolf" (Press release). Lansing, Michigan: Lansing Brewing Company. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  24. ^ Sam Woolf (April 18, 2017). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  25. ^ Sam Woolf (April 19, 2017). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Mark Franklin (February 21, 2018). "Season 13 Standout Sam Woolf Plans EP as Part of a Trio". Idol Chatter. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  27. ^ ""Call Me Crazy" featuring Christina Galligan by Sam Woolf and Orion". samwoolfmusic.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  28. ^ Sam Woolf (August 25, 2018). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  29. ^ Mark Franklin (December 30, 2018). "2018 Post-American Idol Singles". Idol Chatter. The York Dispatch. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  30. ^ Sam Woolf (August 2, 2020). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  31. ^ Sam Woolf (August 12, 2020). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  32. ^ Mark Franklin (August 24, 2020). "Lauren Alaina, Graville Automatic, Sam Woolf Release New Music". Idol Chatter. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  33. ^ Sam Woolf (October 1, 2021). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  34. ^ Sam Woolf (June 17, 2022). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  35. ^ "Sam Woolf, American Idol at the Crossroads - NYS Music". nysmusic.com. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  36. ^ "Worst Thing". Worst Thing. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  37. ^ Woolf, Sam (February 24, 2023). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  38. ^ "The Como Brothers Release "Diamonds On My Chain"". Buzz-Music. March 29, 2019. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  39. ^ Denise Sherod (February 25, 2020). "The Como Brothers has released an awesome new track called "Twisted" (featuring Sam Woolf)". Reignland. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  40. ^ "Sam Woolf and The Como Brothers Team-up to Produce the Timeless and Spirited Single, "Coming Home"". Buzz-Music. October 9, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  41. ^ Sam Woolf (January 5, 2020). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  42. ^ Sam Woolf (September 17, 2020). "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  43. ^ TV News Desk (February 2, 2018). "Sam Woolf and The Como Brothers Join Forces and Release New Single ON IT". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  44. ^ a b "Collaborations – Como Brothers". comobrothersband.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  45. ^ "@SamWoolfMusic". Twitter. February 1, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  46. ^ Vicky Sullivan (December 29, 2016). "We the Kings Celebrate Coming Home". The Suncoast Post. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  47. ^ Mark Young (December 18, 2018). "We the Kings are coming home to headline Bradenton Area River Regatta". Bradenton Herald. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  48. ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard.

External links[edit]

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