About

American Roots Music for Hire

Country, Blues,Americana, and Rock”n”roll

🎶 Sweet Sam Kisling & The Sweet Sam Band

Sweet Sam Kisling is a Portland-raised guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose music bridges the grit of old-school blues, the soul of classic R&B, the fire of early rock ’n’ roll, and the truth-telling spirit of outlaw country. His sound carries a timeless American roots character — warm, raw, and honest — shaped by years of immersion in the artists who defined those traditions.


 

Born in Salt Lake City and raised in Southwest Portland from age four, Sam grew up surrounded by two powerful musical influences. His grandpa Mallory encouraged him early, always pushing him to keep playing and to trust in the joy he found in the guitar. His uncle “Rad Brad,” a working L.A. musician, mailed Sam handwritten letters, stories from the road, and stacks of blues and soul CDs that became a roadmap to the artists who shaped his musical identity: Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Booker T & The MG’s, Van Morrison, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers, and the outlaw and traditional country greats — Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Guy Clark, and Hank Williams.


 

Those roots stayed with him as he developed his craft. As a teenager he spent years taking guitar lessons, volunteering at Old Library Studio, and soaking in every chance to learn from working musicians. He later studied in PCC’s Professional Music Program, sharpening his skills in performance, music theory, audio, and industry fundamentals — then took to stages around the region, gigging steadily while mentoring younger musicians and honing his own voice.


 

What emerged is a heartfelt Americana sound that’s equal parts soulful grit and road-tested storytelling. Sam performs both as a solo artist and with The Sweet Sam Band, a four-piece lineup that blends blues, R&B, rock ’n’ roll, and country-roots energy into something unmistakably their own. Whether onstage in a bar, brewery, festival, or intimate acoustic setting, Sam brings connection, grit, and sincerity — the feeling of classic American music carried forward with heart.


 

Today, Sweet Sam Kisling continues to expand his presence throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, building a reputation for authentic songwriting, warm stage presence, and a deep love for the musical lineage he comes from. Every performance is a bridge between the old sounds that raised him and the new stories he’s living and telling.


 

📍 Based in Salem, Oregon

🌐 sweetsamkisling.com | 📱 @sweetsamkisling

📧 sweetsammusic@gmail.com | 📞 503-816-9101


 

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