Debut & Music Journey
Sam Lee's vocal talent was evident since his student days. In high school, he competed in various singing competitions. As a sophomore in college, he participated in the early show 'Super Newcomer' and won the weekly championship with the song 'I Swear', catching the attention of host Jacky Wu and judge Chris Babida. Both wanted to sign him, and he chose Babida, launching his singing career. The road wasn't smooth; during the wait for his album release, he sang in pubs, making his debut at 'D&F' behind Ming Yao Department Store.
In 1999, Sam debuted under the stage name 'Li Jie' with his first album 'Cold Coffee', custom-made by Chris Babida, capturing the rich, touching signature style of Sam's love songs. Although they tried to conquer the adult contemporary market, poor sales led to the album being shelved and Sam being frozen by the label. Yet, he never gave up his dream, continuing to sing in famous pubs like EZ5 and Hard Rock to hone his live performance skills. Three years later, he finally released his second album, 'Devotion' (癡心絕對).
The release of 'Devotion' marked a major turning point in Sam's career. Although initial sales were slow and contract issues temporarily stalled it, the title track 'Devotion' inexplicably became massive in Taiwan and mainland China a year later. From then on, Sam's voice—warm yet characteristic, powerful yet restrained—made him a regular on the charts.
Two years after the classic 'Devotion', he released his third album, 'Let Go' (手放開), which was met with overwhelming enthusiasm. The hit tracks 'Let Go' and 'Fly Away' cemented his status as the king of love ballads. In 2006, his fourth album 'A Song for You' (關於妳的歌) shipped an astonishing 80,000 copies in its first batch. Instead of resting on his laurels or letting contract disputes break him, Sam began thinking beyond being just a singer-songwriter and decided to start his own music company to fully control his creative process.
In 2008, Sam founded his own music label, Zoommuzik (錞藝音樂). The label's debut release, 'So Free' (收放自如), dominated download charts, with the hit 'Pass By' (擦肩而過) achieving spectacular success. Sam became widely celebrated as the 'Ballad Master' and the 'Karaoke King' in fans' hearts.
After years of perseverance, Sam achieved his ultimate dream in 2008: hosting his first solo ticketed concert. He expressed his deepest gratitude to his fans through his authentic voice, hoping his music would continue to accompany them through their special moments. In 2009, he released his first greatest hits compilation, marking his 10th anniversary in the industry.
