Samuel Picou

Samuel Picou
Samuel Picou

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Background
Stage name Sammy C
Born [YEAR — fill in]
Origin [HOMETOWN — fill in]
Based in Los Angeles, California
Genres Pop, R&B, Contemporary
Occupation(s) Vocal coach, singer, recording artist
Years active [YEAR–present]
Website samuelpicoumusic.com

Samuel “Sammy C” Picou is an American vocal coach, singer, pastor, worship leader, author of The Vocal Win Book (Amazon #1 New Release in Voice) and Beyond The Cover, and former contestant on the fifth season of The Voice (NBC), the American singing competition broadcast in 2013. Based in Los Angeles, California, Picou is the founder of Samuel Picou — Voice Training for Kids, an online vocal training platform that teaches children ages 6 to 16 the same warm-up, breath-control, and performance techniques used by professional recording artists.

Picou is known for his approach to teaching children who are nervous or shy about singing, focusing on confidence-building through short, daily warm-up routines that take under five minutes. His methodology has been adopted by parents across the United States, particularly in the Los Angeles area, where many of his students audition for performing arts programs, school musicals, and television opportunities.

Contents

  1. Early life
  2. Career
  3. NBC’s The Voice (2013)
  4. Teaching and coaching
  5. Online presence
  6. Performances and discography
  7. Ministry and faith work
  8. Bibliography
  9. References
  10. External links

Early life

Samuel Picou, known professionally as “Sammy C,” was raised in Newport Beach, California. He was diagnosed with alopecia as a child, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss, which he has spoken about publicly during his time on national television. He began performing as a teenager and developed a versatile vocal style that combined singing and rap delivery, which would later define his audition on NBC’s The Voice.

Career

Picou began performing professionally as a teenager, performing under the stage name Sammy C. [Fill in: notable early gigs, local performances, when he moved to LA, any record labels, managers, etc.]

NBC’s The Voice (2013)

In 2013, at age 16, Picou appeared on the fifth season of NBC’s The Voice, the American adaptation of the international singing competition franchise. [Fill in: which coach turned around, which team he joined, song(s) performed in blind audition, which battle/knockout/live round he reached, notable moments.] His Blind Audition aired on September 24, 2013, during Night 2 of the Season 5 Blind Auditions. Picou performed the Black Eyed Peas hit “Where Is The Love?”, handling both the rap and singing sections of the song. The performance was covered by The Hollywood Reporter, which noted coach Cee Lo Green commended his “emcee abilities,” remarking he “was actually confused about whether or not it was a duo up there.” In December 2015, Picou performed alongside Bree Morse — the reigning Miss California 2015 — at an alopecia awareness event in Garden Grove, California. The performance was covered by the Orange County Register, which described Picou as “an entertainer who performed on the television show ‘The Voice’ and who has alopecia.”

His appearance on the show brought national attention to his vocal style and led to subsequent performance opportunities. [Fill in: post-show tours, performances, releases.]

Teaching and coaching

After his time on The Voice, Picou transitioned into vocal coaching, focusing specifically on children ages 6 to 16. He founded Samuel Picou — Voice Training for Kids, an online platform offering a structured four-level video curriculum covering beginner technique through advanced performance.

Picou’s curriculum emphasizes:

  • Short daily warm-up routines (under 5 minutes)
  • Age-appropriate song selection and range matching
  • Confidence-building exercises for shy or nervous young singers
  • Performance preparation, including audition coaching for school programs and talent shows

His teaching philosophy is summarized in a quote frequently shared on his platform: “Your child’s shyness is not a talent problem. It’s a confidence problem — and confidence is trainable.”

Notable students and testimonials

“Julie finally sings without being nervous. I’ve never heard her this confident before.”
— Jen, parent of a student

“Marz used to hold back a lot. Now he actually performs in front of people.”
— Chris, parent of a student

“Kenzie stopped doubting herself. She actually believes she can sing now.”
— Kenya, parent of a student

Online presence

Picou maintains an active social media presence, primarily on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where he posts vocal warm-up demonstrations, student progress clips, and educational content for parents of young singers. His content has reached audiences across Los Angeles and the broader United States.

Performances and discography

[Fill in: any released singles, EPs, albums, notable live performances, tours, festival appearances, collaborations.]

Ministry and faith work

In addition to his work as a vocal coach, Picou is a pastor, worship leader, and recording artist. He has led worship for audiences numbering in the thousands and has spoken in arenas, churches, and schools. His artistic work blends Christian rap, gospel music, and worship, and he has described his message as being rooted in turning personal struggle — including his lifelong experience with alopecia and bullying — into purpose and faith. He has participated in international mission work, with engagements in Ecuador, Panama, and Guatemala.

In May 2024, Picou was featured on Speak Life on Praise Hits, a podcast produced by Praise Hits radio, in an episode titled “Trials To Triumph” alongside Kris Gunewardena. In the conversation, he discussed his personal story, his experience living with alopecia, his musical journey, and his calling to use his platform to share faith.

Bibliography

Picou is the author of Beyond The Cover (ISBN 9798747448896), a memoir reflecting on his experience growing up with alopecia and how his faith shaped his journey through bullying, self-acceptance, and the public spotlight of The Voice. The book is available in paperback and Kindle editions through Amazon.

  • Picou, Samuel Christopher. Beyond The Cover. Independently published, 2021. ISBN 9798747448896. Amazon listing

References

  1. NBC, The Voice, Season 5 (2013). Official NBC episode listings.
  2. Lee, Ashley. “‘The Voice’ Recap: Jamaican Rocker and Indie Introvert Top Blind Auditions Night 2.” The Hollywood Reporter, September 24, 2013. hollywoodreporter.com
  3. Samuel Picou — Voice Training for Kids. Official website: samuelpicoumusic.com

External links

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