site.btaSix-Time Grammy Winner Samara Joy to Perform in Sofia in November

Six-time Grammy Awards winner Samara Joy will perform in Sofia on November 8. The concert will take place in Hall 3 of the National Palace of Culture, organizers BG Sound Stage said on Wednesday.

At just 26, Joy has already established herself among the leading names in jazz, carrying forward the legacy of generations of legendary performers while bringing new life to the American vocal tradition, the organizers said. Critics have frequently compared her to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

Joy won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2019. One of the competition's judges, acclaimed bassist Christian McBride, described her as a once-in-a-generation talent.

According to BG Sound Stage, Joy's rich contralto voice, exceptional musicianship and artistic maturity make each performance "an intimate journey through the finest pages of jazz history," while bringing a contemporary sound, elegance and distinctive style.

Joy was born on November 11, 1999, in the Bronx. Her paternal grandparents, Elder Goldwire McLendon and Ruth McLendon, founded the Philadelphia gospel group The Savettes. Her father, Antonio McLendon, is a vocalist and bassist who toured with gospel artist Andrae Crouch.

Joy released her self-titled debut album in 2021 and was later named Best New Artist by JazzTimes. Her second album, Linger Awhile, topped the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. She has won six Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 2023, three awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album (2023, 2025 and 2026), and three awards for Best Jazz Performance (2024, 2025 and 2026).