About Sammy
Sammy’s direct ancestor was the Duke d’ Avalon of Palermo, Italy. Ever since the 1400s, the Cortino family tradition remains that the eldest son of the eldest son receives the title of Duke. Sammy found this fitting for his title, Magic’s Royal Duke. Sammy Cortino has been performing magic since he was 2 - when he made a coin appear and then mysteriously vanish. At age 6, Sammy received 3 magic sets for Christmas and began to perform for family, friends, school talent shows, and his church. At age 11, he began to perform professionally for birthday parties, churches, schools, and other community events. At the age of 12, Sammy was endorsed into one of the world’s largest magic organization - the International Brotherhood of Magicians - by none other than Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton, and Terry Evanswood. That year, Sammy also became a member of the Young Magicians Club. This organization is the youth initiative of the world-famous Magic Circle in London. At ages 14 and 15 respectively, Cortino performed two runs at the Hickory Community Theatre. At age 16, he traveled 1,200 miles promoting reading at libraries all over North Carolina. A year later, at age 17, Sammy made his break into professional theatre by performing a Vegas style show at the 1,000 seat Broyhill Civic Center for the “Hometown Homegrown Talent Show” which opened the center’s 06-07 season. This engagement, along with his sold out debut at the Hayes Center in Blowing Rock a year later, started Sammy’s current main focus of performing magic in a grander scale at performing arts centers and television. Sammy realizes the importance of giving back to the community. In 2006, he was presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award through the Points of Light Foundation and an award from Charlie’s Chaplains on behalf to his 10 years of service to the creative hospital ministry housed at Frye Regional Medical Center in his home area of Hickory. His image and his writings have graced international magic publications for several years - including a couple of covers. He has also traveled the globe studying and the country performing the art he loves so much. Sammy is even a graduate of the prestigious “Masters Class”. This seminar is taught by world-renowned magicians Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger in Las Vegas. He was, by unanimous vote, inducted into London’s Magic Circle. This prestigious international organization has only 1,500 members worldwide, of whom include David Copperfield, Lance Burton, and Siegfried and Roy. Sammy’s magic is hailed as “out of sight” by the Charlotte Observer. Master Magician Lance Burton calls Sammy “a dedicated student of magic”. Sammy says, “I wish to perform for mass audiences and continue to share my magic with the world - to touch people.”
