Sam Verlinden of Auckland New Zealand has been a featured regular on Rivenmaster’s Place almost since its conception. In fact, Sam was featured for the entire month of October in 2009. Since that time Sam’s popularity on YouTube and at home in New Zealand has grown exponentially and now his acting prowess has captured the eye of both media professionals and a film graduate.
Sam is an amazing young man with exceptional musical skills. His vocals caught my attention long before his voice showed any signs of deepening. Sam’s greatest musical influence at an early age was Michael Jackson and he quickly learned and performed exceptional covers of Michael’s earlier songs like “I’ll be Thereâ€, and “Benâ€. The whole time, Sam was simultaneously developing his stage acting abilities appearing in musicals at some of the larger venues in Auckland along with performing at a variety of singing engagements and shows in the city.
Most recently, Sam and his newly formulate band “Red Letter†entered the Battle of the Bands Competition where they performed to screaming young fans. I was very impressed by this young bands performance. Not only were the guitar solos dead on, but each of them played like professionals bringing everyone in the auditorium to their feet! While the band did not move into the final’s this year Sam still captured “Best Vocalist†and was invited back to sing with another band at the Bruce Mason Theatre where he received a standing ovation for his performance of “Stairway to Heavenâ€.  Sam’s immediate passion is to keep working with the band, polishing their act and abilities in order to obtain more gigs during these coming summer months in New Zealand. Continue reading “Sam Verlinden Singer, Showman, Actor, Star!”
