The music of singer-songwriter Sandy King
By Kastle Waserman
Take a bit of smooth jazz, a touch of earthy blues, some pop and a hint of rock, and you have the sound that best describes local singer-songwriter Sandy King. From boppy, good-time songs about summer vibes to more emotional songs about complicated relationships and self-reflection, King has been making music for decades in what she calls the “vibrant” Denver music scene.
She knew early on she had a gift for music and was encouraged by her family. “I got a ukulele at four. My parents had a piano, and I started playing at seven. Then, I got a guitar at age thirteen. I think I wrote my first song at age fifteen,” King recalls. “From there, I played multiple instruments and sang through high school.”
She started singing and performing with bands in her 20s, including the popular Denver party band The Legendary 4-Nikators. Now in her mid-60s and having played on stage for much of her life, she says she’s ready to leave regular live performances and touring behind.
“I’m married. I have kids and grandkids, so it’s difficult for me to commit to anything,” she says. “I don’t want to be gone on important days like New Year’s Eve.”
She says she might do shows a couple of times a year, but she’s more focused on having her music heard by people around the world, which means spending a lot of time marketing on the internet.
Her music has been heard from Brazil to India and Europe to New Zealand. “I work with music aggregators like CD Baby that put my songs on Spotify, Apple and Amazon,” she says. “And I make lyric videos that I put on YouTube.”
Managing online marketing and social media is a major effort, but King feels it’s worth it as she has complete control of her music career. “I don’t have a label. I’m self-published, so I own all the rights to everything I do.”
King also doesn’t have any industry stylists telling her how she should present herself, which in the music business often means sex sells. “I’m more conservative. I’m probably more like an Adele than a Dua Lipa,” she says. “I’m really into writing very thoughtful lyrics that people can relate to with music that’s aesthetically nice to listen to.”
While she best describes herself as soft rock, she’s also not afraid to do a cover and put her own spin on it. One was “Life Is a Highway,” and she enjoys sharing a story about meeting the song’s writer, Tom Cochrane.
“We were out to dinner, and a guy my husband knew was sitting across the restaurant. They started talking, and I realized this guy was having dinner with Tom Cochrane!” she says. “So, I got to meet him. I gave him my card and told him I had recorded a jazzy, bluesy version of his song, and it was so fun to do.” She doesn’t know if Cochrane ever listened to her version, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her.
Ultimately, King feels grateful for having been able to pursue music her whole life. “Songwriting is a wonderful way to express yourself,” she says. “This is not a money-making proposition for me, but it’s a passion, and I’m lucky to have that gift.”
Learn more and hear her music at sandykingmusic.com
