Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Stephanie Samuels lifelong dream was to sing professionally. At the tender age of 6 Stephanie began singing in the Echoes of Joy junior choir at Olivet Institutional Baptist church where Dr. Otis Moss Jr Pastored. And from then on Stephanie’s love for music and performance grew. She went on to join the Youth and Young Adult choir at 11 years old, and shortly after transitioned to the Adult Combined Mass Choir where she consistently led powerful and uplifting gospel songs lifting the souls of hundreds of members, Sunday after Sunday.
In high school Stephanie was very much so involved in choir and even became an assistant director. In her high school years, she had the honor of performing in many professional musical theater productions at Cleveland Ohio’s Playhouse Square where she held leading roles. Stephanie starred as Aunt Em in the 2002 Broadway Musical “The Wiz”. As well as the 2004 Production of Carmen Jones where she starred as Pearl Bailey’s role Frankie. Stephanie’s outstanding performance landed her a once in a lifetime opportunity of performing for one of the original cast members of this 1954 film, Harry Belafonte. In 2005, Stephanie’s senior year she was also cast in the Cleveland Municipal School district All City Musical the Hot Mikado as the sassy and seductive Katisha. That year she was interviewed and published in the city’s local newspaper The Plain Dealer because of her astounding performance. It was her range and belting church inspired notes that stole the hearts of hundreds, receiving standing ovations at each and every show.
In that same year, Stephanie was blessed to receive the opportunity to work for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theater department where she toured North East Ohio, and even Hollywood California, Performing the hit stage play, “Secrets”. Directed by Karamu Houses own Tony Sias. This production taught the importance of practicing safe sex and knowing your status as well as the transmitting of AIDS/HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. This was her first paid gig. These experiences made Stephanie fall that much more in love with music and solidified music and performance as her calling.
After high school Stephanie was accepted into the Kent State University’s theater studies program where she wanted to learn as much as she could about the craft. That same year she landed another role in The Motown Story with a private theater company, this was her second paid gig. But soon after she took a hiatus due to becoming a proud mother for the first time.
During this time, Stephanie joined Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist church where she really began to strengthen her faith after all the turmoil she experienced in her personal life, she drew closer and closer to God. And it was God who kept tugging and pulling at her heart strings to get back into her calling of music and performance. During this time, she continued singing in her church choir as well as the praise and worship team where she slowly regained the confidence to dream again. During these years Stephanie married, and bore another child, divorcing shortly after. It was her life’s up’s and down’s such as abuse, and addictions that almost faded her childhood dreams. But it wasn’t until the death of her mother in 2020 that caused her to realize just how precious time really is. When her dear mother transitioned, she realized that death doesn’t wait on dreams, and that there were plenty of graves full of dreamers, and unfinished work. Since then, Stephanie was determined to not be a victim but a victor.
She also saw the significance of her pain as she turned it into music. Standing on the truth that all things both good and bad work together for them that love the Lord and are called according to His great purpose.
That same year, Stephanie was offered an opportunity to ghost write for a producer in New York. This opportunity led her back into the studio recording music for various artist on a more consistent basis. This allowed Stephanie to re-discover her own soulful, sultry sound. Experiencing the freedom to write heartfelt-real life music. Sharing the many stories of her life experiences along the way; in both the Gospel, and R&B genre.