Sammi gained international fame with her legendary recording of Kris Kristofferson's
"Help Me Make It Through The Night" in 1970. Her sultry rendition pushed the song to
the top of the country charts. It also became a Top 10 pop hit, earning Sammi a gold
record and a Grammy. The explicit lyrics and Sammi's seductive interpretation only
served to boost the song's popularity.
Yes, there was a life before a hit song - Sammi was born Jewel Fay Smith in California,
and spent her childhood living in various southwestern states. At age 11, she dropped
out of school and began singing professionally in clubs the following year.
Sammi married at age fifteen and had three children with her first husband. Following her
divorce, she moved to Nashville at the urging of Johnny Cash. In 1967 she signed a record
deal with Columbia, and had her first minor hit in 1968 with "So Long Charlie Brown, Don't
Look For Me Around".
Sammi moved to Mega Records in 1970. After another minor hit, she struck gold at the
end of that year with "Help Me Make It Through The Night". Sammi wrote a hit for Waylon
Jennings in 1973 titled "Cedartown Georgia".
After touring the U.S. and Great Britain, Sammi moved to Dallas in 1973. She joined
Waylon and Willie Nelson in the "outlaw" tradition. Her performances with them
inspired Waylon to give her the nickname "Girl Hero". Her close personal and
professional relationship with Willie and Waylon endured many years. In fact,
Sammi's son from her second marriage is named after Waylon. He too, is in the
music business in Nashville, and is preparing to sign his first record contract.
Sammi enjoyed several modest hits while with Mega, including "Then You Walk In" and
"Today I Started Loving You Again" before moving to Elektra in 1975. Her three year
association with them produced several chart songs such as "Loving Arms" "Days That
End In Y" and "Norma Jean". In 1979, she signed with Cyclone and had a Top 20 hit with
"What A Lie". In 1980 Sammi signed with Sound Factory and had several more hits,
including "Cheatings A Two Way Street". Her last hit was in 1986.
Her career has produced some real classics and she continues to provide sweet
memories with her latest CD - a compilation by Varese Sarabande Records titled
"The Best of Sammi Smith".
