Samuel Tsui (born May 2, 1989[1]) is an American singer, songwriter and video producer. He rose to fame as an internet celebrity known for doing covers and musical medleys of songs by pop artists.[2] He has since released original songs and expanded to mashups.
As of June, 2021, Tsui had received over 3.18 million subscribers.[4]
Early life and education
Tsui was born on May 2, 1989.[1] His father is from Hong Kong and of Cantonese descent, while his mother is an American from Iowa.[5] He has one brother.[6] He grew up in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, a street away from Kurt Schneider, his producer and accompanist, with whom he attended Wissahickon High School.[7][8][9] Tsui attended weekend Chinese school as a child and can speak some Cantonese.[10]
Kurt Schneider produced the musical web seriesCollege Musical, a parody of the High School Musical film series, in fall of 2008.[2] Four episodes were released, with Tsui playing the lead role of Cooper. Following the popularity of the series, it was announced that a film would be made based on the series. College Musical: The Movie premiered online in September 2014.[15]
In 2010, Tsui released his first cover album, The Covers. The album, released on February 9, 2010, features covers of hits from Michael Jackson, Journey, Beyoncé, Jason Mraz, and Lady Gaga among other artists. On February 22, 2010, Tsui appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show with his producer Kurt Schneider.[16] The two were interviewed, and Tsui performed his medley of Michael Jackson songs. In November 2010, Tsui collaborated with fellow YouTube singer Christina Grimmie, singing "Just a Dream", which is the most viewed video on the YouTube channel "KurtHugoSchneider", with more than 200 million views.[17] On December 2, 2010, Tsui gave an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and performed a mashup of Katy Perry's "Firework" and Bruno Mars' "Grenade" with Schneider.[18][19]
2011–2012: YouTube and rise in popularity
In 2011, Tsui debuted his own YouTube channel, apart from his collaboration with Kurt Schneider. On February 3, 2011, Tsui was featured on Britney Spears' official website, along with his cover of "Hold It Against Me".[20]
In March 2011, lyrics from Tsui's song "Start Again" was featured in the novel Seeker by Andy Frankham-Allen.[21]
Tsui was mentioned three times by Tom Hanks when he addressed the Yale class of 2011.[22] Tsui was also featured in the 2010 Yale Admissions video. The video, entitled "That's Why I Chose Yale",[23] reveals information about the college with students and admission officers breaking out into song across the campus. In 2017, he co-starred in a new admissions video entitled "That's Why I Toured Yale".[24]
In fall 2011, Tsui was a digital correspondent for the third season of NBC's a capella competition show, The Sing-Off.[25] He recorded a "Judges Medley" that included Sara Bareilles' "Love Song", Ben Folds' "Gone" and Shawn Stockman's (Boyz II Men) "On Bended Knee".[26]
2013–present: Album, tours, future projects
Tsui released his first full-length original album, Make It Up, in May 2013 after a raising more than $64,000 through the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. The project was produced by Kurt Schneider.[27]
In summer 2013, Tsui and Schneider toured across Canada and the US with Alex Goot, Against the Current, Landon Austin, Luke Conard, and King the Kid.[28]
Tsui continues to make covers of popular music on his YouTube channel while also collaborating with other YouTubers. In September 2013, Sam published a duet with Elle Winter entitled "Unsinkable (Music Is Medicine)" online. The proceeds of the single went towards pediatric cancer research as a part of the Music Is Medicine's Donate a Song project.[29]
Tsui's vocals were featured in a promotional video for Coca-Cola that premiered on January 14, 2014. In 2013, Kurt Hugo Schneider and Coca-Cola teamed up to create music videos featuring creative covers of two 2011 hits namely Calvin Harris' "Feel So Close" and Of Monsters and Men's "Little Talks" for a campaign called "The Sounds of AHH". The commercial edits of both premiered on the inaugural episode of season 13 of American Idol on January 14, 2014, on FOX with "Feel So Close" featuring the vocals of Tsui whereas Schneider makes music playing only Coca-Cola bottles, glasses and cans.[30]
In 2016, Tsui starred in an episode of Bones as collegiate acappella singing group member Jake Eisenberg.[31]
Personal life
On April 15, 2016, Tsui posted a coming out video on his YouTube channel in which he announced that he is gay and in a long-term relationship with fellow musician and collaborator Casey Breves.[32] They met while they were both at Yale (Tsui a freshman and Breves a junior) and were both part of an a cappella group on campus.[33] The couple got married on April 16, 2016. They have adopted a daughter, named Elaia. [34]
