About Samuel
Stage. Studio.Page. Microphone.One message.
Samuel Picou is a speaker, author, audiobook narrator, and musician from Southern California who helps young people discover who they are and why their lives matter. Diagnosed with alopecia as a child and bullied for looking different, he went on to sing on Season 5 of NBC's The Voice at sixteen and to keynote the National Alopecia Areata Foundation conference the same year. He is the author of Beyond The Cover, the voice of several Audible titles, and the creator of the Finding Your Purpose school assembly, which he brings to schools, conferences, and youth and community events across the country.
The story so far
- 01
The kid who looked different
Diagnosed with alopecia as a child, Samuel lost all of his hair — and learned early what it feels like to be stared at, talked about, and left out. Music became the place he could breathe.
- 02
A national stage at sixteen
Performing as “Sammy C.,” he sang “Where Is the Love?” on Season 5 of NBC’s The Voice — rapping and singing both parts. No coach turned a chair. Hearing “no” on national TV, and getting back up, became the story he tells students about setbacks.
- 03
A keynote at sixteen
That same year Samuel gave the keynote at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation’s conference in Texas — the first time he understood that his story could be someone else’s hope. [NEED: year + link]
- 04
The performer
As a teen rapper and singer — sometimes billed as “the OC Fella” — Samuel performed at SXSW and became a voice for anti-bullying and alopecia awareness. [NEED: SXSW year + what he did there]
- 05
Teacher & founder
He founded The Christian Music Academy, helping students learn to sing and play with confidence through the 123 Sing and 123 Piano courses.
- 06
The microphone
In the studio, Samuel narrates and produces audiobooks for authors and publishers — including titles on Audible such as Guaranteed Growth, The Joy of Prayer, and The Joy of Suffering.
- 07
Today
Based in West Covina, California, Samuel also runs a small AI and web business, 3 In 1 AI — but his heart is here: through Finding Your Purpose, keynotes, youth and community events, and his book Beyond The Cover, he helps the next generation discover who they are — and why their life matters.
Media background
Built formore thanone stage.
Built for more than one stage16
Samuel’s age when he sang on Season 5 of NBC’s The Voice.
The Voice — Season 5 clip
Embedded from Samuel's unlisted YouTube link. Add the video ID in site.ts.
At sixteen, Samuel sang “Where Is the Love?” for millions on national television — rapping and singing both parts. No chair turned.
He heard “no” in front of the whole country and kept going. That moment is now one of the most important stories he tells students: a setback doesn’t decide your future — your response does. The full story →
“This guy’s good.”
— Blake Shelton, NBC’s The VoiceVerify wording
Featured on & performed at
- NBC’s The VoiceFeatured on · Season 5
- The Hollywood ReporterFeatured in
- NAAFKeynote speaker
- SXSWPerformed at
What Samuelbelieves about people.
Every life carries weight.
No student is background noise. Every person in the room was made on purpose.
Differences are not defects.
The thing that made you a target can become the thing that gives you a platform.
Words build or break.
Culture changes when ordinary people decide to speak life.
Now booking