{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{short description|Samoan musician}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = Sam Ah Chookoon | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = | alias = Mr Cowboy 62 | birth_date = | birth_place = Western Samoa | death_date = | origin = | instrument = Guitar | genre = Country | occupation = Farmer, musician | years_active = 2018-present | label = | website = | current_members = | past_members = }}
'''Sam Ah Chookoon''', also known as '''Mr. Cowboy 62''', is a country singer from Western Samoa. He attracted attention following a guest appearance on the Ray Hadley show on Radio 2GB.
==Background== A banana farmer from Vaitoloa in Apia, Western Samoa,<ref>''Northern Daily Leader'', January 22, 2020 - [https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/6589916/from-the-banana-farm-to-the-festival-mr-cowboy-is-here/Tamworth Country Music Festival: Mr Cowboy debuts at TCMF - Madeline Link]</ref><ref>tvnz.co.nz, Thursday, December 19 - [https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/entertainment/samoas-mr-cowboy-holding-hawkes-bay-fundraising-concert-measles-crisis-gripping-island-nation Samoa's 'Mr Cowboy' holding Hawke's Bay fundraising concert for measles crisis gripping island nation - Sean Hogan]</ref> Ah Chookoon first fell in love with country music at the age of eight after his father introduced him to it.<ref>''The New Zealand Herald'', Dec 17, 2019 - [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12294490 (''Hawkes Bay Today''), Samoan Cowboy headlines Flaxmere benefit concert By: Shannon Johnstone]</ref> Johnny Cash is one of his influences.<ref>''Northern Daily Leader'', January 22, 2020 - [https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/6589916/from-the-banana-farm-to-the-festival-mr-cowboy-is-here/Tamworth Country Music Festival: Mr Cowboy debuts at TCMF - Madeline Link]</ref> Other music he listened to when he was young were artists such as Jim Reeves, Dwight Yoakam, Charley Pride, George Straight and Patsy Cline.<ref name="The Coconet">The Coconet, February 8, 2019 - [https://www.thecoconet.tv/songbook/islandjams/e-leo-au-se-fufulu-ulo-mr-cowboy/ E le'o a'u se fufulu ulo - Mr Cowboy]</ref> In October 2019 , he made an appearance with guitarist Josh Mase on Radio 2GB show hosted by Ray Hadley. While there Sam with instrumental accompaniment by Josh, he did a cover of Grandpa" which was originally done by The Judds. He made a big impression on the host who said "I’m overwhelmed". Hadley also predicted big things for his future.<ref>2GB 873 AM, October 17, 2019 - [https://www.2gb.com/im-overwhelmed-ray-hadley-gets-his-favourite-musician-to-perform-live-in-the-studio/ News, ‘I’m overwhelmed’: Ray Hadley gets his Samoan discovery to perform live in the studio]</ref><ref>WORKING BULL Country Music & Life, October 22, 2019- [https://www.workingbull.com.au/news/meet-mr-cowboy-62/ Meet Mr Cowboy 62 by Mindy]</ref> By December that year he had already attracted millions of views online and thousands of followers across the world with his music.<ref>tvnz.co.nz, Thursday, December 19 - [https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/entertainment/samoas-mr-cowboy-holding-hawkes-bay-fundraising-concert-measles-crisis-gripping-island-nation Samoa's 'Mr Cowboy' holding Hawke's Bay fundraising concert for measles crisis gripping island nation - Sean Hogan]</ref> In an interview with The Coconet, he said that he never intended to be the Pied Piper of country but since sharing his music on social media, he was encouraged to see a lot of fellow pacific islanders supporting the genre. By early 2019, he had recorded and released a country song in Samoan.<ref name="The Coconet"/> He was one of the first Polynesian artists to play at Tamworth.<ref>''Daily Telegraph'', January 24, 2020 - Samoan cowboy trades banjo for ukulele at Tamworth</ref>
Along with Uili Lafaele Junior who is a former Pesega College music teacher, Chookoon has set up a recording studio in Samoa to work with aspiring artists.<ref>''Samoa Observer'', April 21, 2020 - [https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/61618 Former teacher, student give artists exposure By Vaelei Von Dincklage]</ref>
==Venues== He appeared at the Penrith Hotel on October 19, 2019.<ref>2GB 873 AM, October 17, 2019 - [https://www.2gb.com/im-overwhelmed-ray-hadley-gets-his-favourite-musician-to-perform-live-in-the-studio/ News, ‘I’m overwhelmed’: Ray Hadley gets his Samoan discovery to perform live in the studio]</ref> He appeared at the 2020 Tamworth Country Music Festival with his nine-piece band The Western Samoans which is made up of Samoan musicians.<ref>''The Daily Telegraph'', January 24, 2020 - Samoan cowboy trades banjo for ukulele at Tamworth Country Music Festival [https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Mr.+Cowboy+62%22&ei=uwMQX8bWOYOY4-EPjIWw6AY&start=10&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwiGoOrnodHqAhUDzDgGHYwCDG0Q8NMDegQIChA1&biw=1920&bih=933#spf=1594885063737]</ref>
He is to appear at the 2021 Tamworth Country Music Festival event as part of an International Showcase.<ref>Tamworth Country Music Festival - [https://www.tcmf.com.au/toyota-park Toyota Park, International Showcase]</ref>
He appeared at the Tamworth festival in January 2023.<ref>ABC, 18 Jan 2023 - [https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/yee-haw-samoan-country-music-mr-cowboy-rides-high-at-tamworth/101868794 Yee-haw! Samoan country music artist Mr Cowboy rides high at Tamworth]</ref>
He was booked to play the 2023 Polyfest in Auckland New Zealand in March, 2023.<ref>''New Zealand Herald'', 11 Mar, 2023 - [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/talanoa/polyfest-2023-sun-comes-out-to-shine-on-last-day-of-festival/YO2I3GECFVCZDLDCXLDKGDKBNI/ Polyfest 2023: Sun comes out to shine on last day of festival By Vaimoana Mase]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.2gb.com/im-overwhelmed-ray-hadley-gets-his-favourite-musician-to-perform-live-in-the-studio/ ‘I’m overwhelmed’: Ray Hadley gets his Samoan discovery to perform live in the studio] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqVEbyf7dAg Mr Cowboy - Am I That Easy To Forget COVER (Original by JIM REEVES)] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uirKxSTfZfY Tamworth Festival 2020 LIVE]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ah Chookoon, Sam}} Category:Samoan singers Category:People from Apia Category:Country singers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people