Sam Letric

By:"Billboard Discoveries"
SAM LETRIC, "LifeLuvNMusik"
Sam Letric's full-length "Nothing On the Radio," introduced the soul-soaked prodigy to a select audience in 2007. Four years later, it's time for the mainstream to bow down to the masterful singer, songwriter and instrumentalist's second love child, "LifeLuvNMusik." The pastor's son was listening to Sam Cooke and Al Green at age 4, playing guitar by 6 and named music director at his church at 13. Here, Letric wears his heroes on his sleeve, conjuring Prince and Terence Trent D'Arby with as much ferocity as old-school legends from the 1960s and 1970s. In skilled slow jams "Mrs. Right" and "Genesis," he is as smooth and sensuous as high-end silk; while he harkens decades past in the delightfully retro "Acrophobia" or "G&S"; gives Stevie Wonder a run for his money on spiritual Kissed By the Sun"; and offers a shout-out to Simon & Garfunkel on "Innocent." But title cut "LifeLuvNMusik" is all Letric's, and an ideal opening track, with its urgent click-clack groove and uptempo fervor, truly worthy of launching the singer to a national following. Letric says he's performed blues, rock, acoustic, R&B, jazz and gospel for audiences of all sizes at coffee shops, birthday parties, church events, clubs and jam sessions. One listen and you'll know that Sam Letric is ready to graduate from wedding halls to Radio City Music Hall. He's that accomplished.