Grant Maloy Smith

Grant Maloy Smith (born August 28, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and former businessman from Jacksonville, Florida.

Grant Maloy Smith
Background information
Born (1957-08-28) August 28, 1957
Jacksonville
GenresAmerican Roots music
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter, musician
Years active1981–present
Labels
  • Small Dog Records
  • Chinese Sock Puppet Records
  • Suburban Cowboy Records
Websitewww.grant-maloy-smith.com

Early life

Smith was born in Jacksonville, Florida and started playing songs of The Beatles with the guitar at an early age.[1] He attended the Rhode Island School of Design but did not complete his tenure there, opting to focus on music.

Early music career

Smith’s first band was called Britannia (1981-1984). Based in Rhode Island, Britannia played around New England, opening for national acts like Elvin Bishop, Steppenwolf, and The Guess Who. Britannia played all original music, written by Smith; one Smith’s songs “I’m A Loaded Gun” was included on the 1981 album “Southern New England's Best Rock From JB 105”.[2]

Smith was married in 1985 and he continued writing music. The family moved to California in 1991, and Smith joined the Songwriters Guild of America, attending song pitching meetings at their Hollywood offices.

Filmography

Film scoring

After returning to Rhode Island in 1995, Smith began scoring indie films, including “Code Of Ethics” starring Melissa Leo, an Academy Award-winning actress. He also scored “Pray for Power,” starring Lisa Boyle. He worked frequently with directors Christian de Rezendes and Dawn Radican Natalia.[3]

Full-length movies
  • 1997 Night of the Beast
  • 1998 Boxed Man
  • 1998 Code of Ethics
  • 2001 Serial Intentions
  • 2003 Extra Credit
  • 2008 Solitaire
  • 2010 The Rich and the Poor Are Naked
  • 2011 Pledging Allegiance

Short films
  • 2008 PC Noir
  • 2010 Thinking Through the Drink
  • 2010 Duet
  • 2012 Nijinsky's Room
  • 2012 Cat Scratch

Video feature-length films
  • 2001 Pray for Power
  • 2002 Hope High

As an actor
  • 2003 Extra Credit (feature film) as Jake Lawrence[4]

Television
  • 2009 Mythbusters (Season 7, ep 1) as himself[5]

Pop/rock album period

From 2008 to 2012, Smith wrote and self-produced with his own label, Small Dog Records, several albums of pop/rock music. The first was Already August, (2008),[6] which blended elements of folk and Americana music with pop and rock ballads.

In 2010 Smith released Big Bowl of Courage,[7] with songs that were generally more rock and roll than the previous album.

The next album was American Merman (2011),[8] where Smith experimented with reggae structures in several tracks.

His final pop/rock album came in 2012, Mister Sparklepants.[9]

Americana music period

In 2012 Smith transitioned to Americana, or American roots music, a subgenre of country music. He wrote and produced the album “Yellow Trailer”[10][11] originally released on Smith’s own Chinese Sock Puppet Records in 2013, but was remastered and re-released in 2015 on Suburban Cowboy Records. That album was entered into the Grammy Awards that year.

In 2014 Smith was asked by producer Art Greenhaw to sing on several tracks of a Roots Gospel album. He contributed with lead vocals and with one original song of his own “Where Main Street Ends,” a gospel version of a song that he had written. This album was entered into the roots gospel category of the Grammys in 2014.[12]

At the end of 2014, Smith was invited by New York producer Perry Margouleff to travel to England and assist him in several shows that singer Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, Free) was doing at the Royal Albert Hall. Smith worked behind the scenes on the entire tour.[1][13]

In 2015, Smith was asked to narrate a song on a spoken word album that was being produced by Hawaiian-based DJ Cindy Paulos, called Arise Above Abuse: Artists Speak Out for Women. He co-narrated the track “One in Five” with Hawaiian Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.[14] He also provided the music for this track and contributed an original song about the kidnapping of women and girls in Africa called “She Would Not Bow Her Head.” (from Smith’s 2012 Album “Mister Sparklepants”).[15]

His next album, “Dust Bowl - American Stories,”[16][17] was released on Suburban Cowboy Records in 2017 and features bassist William Wittman of Cyndi Lauper, and drummer Skoota Warner, as well as keyboardist Tommy Mandel, formerly of Bryan Adams and Dire Straits,[18] who performed on the basic tracks of the album. Production then moved to Nashville, where additional tracks were recorded by IBGMA award-winning dobro player Rob Ickes, fiddle player Steve Stokes of Alabama, cellist Tim Lorsch of Keith Urban, Percy Sledge,[19] accordion player Jeff Taylor of The Time Jumpers, percussionist and drummer Matt Burgess of Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jewel,[20] pedal steel player Mike Johnson, of Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton, violinist Lorenza Ponce of Bon Jovi, Adele, Sam Smith, and violinist Rocio Marron of The Voice, under the supervision of co-producer Jeff Silverman.[21]

Because "Dust Bowl - American Stories" is a theme album related to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Smith was invited to perform the album at the Kern County Museum, which he did on January 14, 2018.[22] He also performed the entire album for the Bakersfield High School on January 17, 2018.[23] and at the Centennial Rodeo Opry in Oklahoma City in August 2017.[24]

Smith toured the USA, Europe[25][26][27] and Mexico.[28] Although primarily a headliner, he sometimes opened for other artists during 2015-2016, including Rita Coolidge,[29] Jon Pousette-Dart,[30] and John Ford Coley.[31] He has performed at The Bitter End[32] in New York, The Clive Davis Theatre at The Grammy Museum,[33] the Troubadour in Hollywood,[34] The National Sylvan Theatre in DC,[35] and The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.[36] In April 2018 Smith performed on Song Of The Mountains,[37][38] which is recorded before a live audience and also syndicated on PBS television[39] throughout North America.[40][41] In August he performed on Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour,[42][43] which is carried by more than 500 radio stations and also broadcast on PBS television.[44]

As An Author

In September 2018 Smith released a Christmas single[45] and children's book that he wrote, called "Fly Possum Fly."[46][47][48] He enlisted country prodigy EmiSunshine to be the featured vocalist on the song.[49][50]

Before His Music Career

Before focusing on his musical career, Smith worked in the scientific measuring equipment industry in various positions.[51] He eventually started his own company, Dewetron America, Inc, which he sold to Dewetron GMBH of Austria, leaving completely in 2017.[13][27] Smith and his company provided numerous systems to NASA for the Constellation Program.[52] The company won the NASA Tech Briefs Product of the Year Award four times under his leadership, in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015.[53][54][55][56] In 2016 he was requested by MEDICAL DESIGN BRIEFS to write an article outlining his perspective on the future of measuring instruments.[57]

Achievements
  • 2017: named the Best Male Americana Artist at the Indie Music Channel Awards, and performed during the awards ceremony at the Troubadour In Los Angeles.[58]
  • 2017: won two Grammy participation certificates[59] for his work as co-producer on the Grammy-award-winning album “Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom,” by jazz artist Ted Nash.[60]
  • 2016: named the Best Folk Artist, and won for the Best Americana Roots Song (Old Black Roller)[61] at the Indie Music Channel Awards, and performed during the awards at The Clive Davis Theatre at The Grammy Museum
  • 2015: winner of the Singer Universe “Best Vocalist of the Month” competition.[62]

Discography

Albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US
Heat
[63]		 US
Folk
[64]		 US
Indie
[65]
American Merman[8]
  • Released: January 28, 2001
    September 20, 2011[66]
  • Label: Small Dog
 — — —
Already August[6]
  • Released: January 28, 2008
  • Label: Small Dog
 — — —
Big Bowl of Courage[7]
  • Released: December 1, 2009
  • Label: Small Dog
 — — —
Yellow Trailer[67]
  • Released: August 16, 2013
  • Label: Chinese Sock Puppet
  • Format: CD, digital download
 — — —
Dust Bowl: American Stories[68]
  • Released: June 1, 2017
  • Label: Suburban Cowboy Records
  • Format: CD, Digital download, streaming
 2 22 10
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References
  1. "Grant Maloy Smith: Man of Many Small Horses". www.shadesofsolveig.com. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  2. "Various - Southern New England's Best Rock From JB 105". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  3. "Grant Maloy Smith". IMDb. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  4. Extra Credit (2003), retrieved 2017-06-25
  5. "MythBusters" Demolition Derby Special (TV Episode 2009), retrieved 2017-06-25
  6. "Already August - Grant Maloy Smith | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  7. "Big Bowl of Courage - Grant Maloy Smith | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  8. "American Merman - Grant Maloy Smith | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  9. "Album Mr. Sparklepants — Grant Maloy Smith 2012". mp3red.me. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  10. "Yellow Trailer - Grant Maloy Smith | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  11. "Grant Maloy Smith: Yellow Trailer". The Aquarian. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  12. "The Light Crust Doughboys & Grant Maloy Smith - Roots Gospel 'Round The USA: From Texas To New York". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  13. "Grant Maloy Smith: Man of Many Small Horses". Solveig Whittle. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  14. TuneGenie. "One in Five by Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard & Grant Maloy Smith". B103 FM. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  15. "Artist & Sample Tracks". Arise Above Abuse. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  16. "Expressive Original Songs Steeped In the Dirt & Reality of the Dust Bowl-Depression Era". No Depression. 2017-05-22. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  17. Desk, BWW News. "Grant Maloy Smith's New Album 'Dust Bowl - American Stories' Celebrates the Nation's Resilience". Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  18. Frometa, RJ (March 15, 2017). "American Roots Artist Grant Maloy Smith revives US history with new album Dust Bowl – American Stories". Vents Magazine.
  19. Billboard Charting Americana Artist Grant Maloy Smith celebrates his roots with video "I Come From America", retrieved 2017-12-30
  20. "HOME". Matthew Burgess | Percussionator.com. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  21. "Dust Bowl: American Stories - Grant Maloy Smith | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  22. Californian, CESAREO GARASA For The. "CESAREO GARASA: Performer pulls Dust Bowl out of the history books, onto the stage". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  23. [email protected], HAROLD PIERCE. "Dust Bowl singer offers Bakersfield High students a musical lesson of their town's history". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  24. "Singer-songwriter Grant Maloy Smith breathes new life into history on Dust Bowl: American Stories". okgazette.com. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  25. "Grant Maloy Smith". Eventful. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  26. Bess, Porgy en. "Herman Brock Jr & Friends - Grant Maloy Smith" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  27. Editor, Helena Touhey/ Features. "Back to his roots". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-10-05.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  28. "CROSSING THE BORDER ~ Grant Maloy Smith". allevents.in. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  29. Editor, Helena Touhey/ Features. "Back to his roots". The Independent. Retrieved 2017-06-24.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  30. "Grant Maloy Smith- Jon Pousette- Dart". Eventful. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  31. "Grant Maloy Smith- John Ford Coley". Eventful. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  32. "Sunday, July 12 – Geena Renee, Kelly Barber, Martha Reich, Grant Maloy Smith, The Galactic Cats, The Bitter End All Star Jam!NY Singer Songwriter Sessions. Be Seen. Be Heard". nysongwriters.com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  33. "Grant Maloy Smith @ Clive Davis Theatre at the Grammy Museum". Bandsintown. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  34. "Grant Maloy Smith". Boston.com. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  35. "Commercial Artist". Lois Bliss Herbine. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  36. Grant Maloy Smith (2015-05-12), "Your Fire" - Grant Maloy Smith at the Bluebird Cafe, retrieved 2018-01-24
  37. "Song of the Mountains". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  38. Desk, TV News. "Jesse McReynolds, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley to Headline SONG OF THE MOUNTAINS April 14". Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  39. "Public Television Affiliate Stations - Song of the Mountains". Song of the Mountains. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  40. COURIER, TOM NETHERLAND SPECIAL TO THE HERALD. "Grant Maloy Smith performs at the Lincoln Theatre on April 14". HeraldCourier.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  41. "Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley live in Marion, VA - April 14". allevents.in. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  42. "WoodSongs: The Farm Hands/ Grant Maloy Smith". Smiley Pete Publishing. 2018-07-30. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  43. Hour, WoodSongs Old-Time Radio. "WoodSongs O.T. Radio Hour- Grant Maloy Smith, The Farm Hands - 6 August 2018". Evensi. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  44. Desk, BWW News. "WoodSongs To Present The Farm Hands And Grant Maloy Smith". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  45. "Grant Maloy Smith - Fly Possum Fly (feat. EmiSunshine) - Daily Play MPE®". Daily Play MPE®. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  46. "Fly Possum Fly". Headline Books. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  47. Smith, Grant Maloy (2018-09-17). Fly Possum Fly. S.l.: Headline Books. ISBN 9781946664341.
  48. Noble, Barnes &. "Fly Possum Fly". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  49. "Fly Possum Fly - song and children's book from Grant Maloy Smith and Emi Sunshine - Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. 2018-08-23. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  50. "New Christmas Song 'Fly Possum Fly' to Feature EmiSunshine and Grant Maloy Smith - Guitar Girl Magazine". Guitar Girl Magazine. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  51. "Grant Maloy Smith: Best Vocalist Of The Month Winner". Singeruniverse. 2015-01-08. Retrieved 2017-06-25. ...after college he landed a fulltime job at a company which made data recording equipment. Smith did sales and marketing, and eventually started his own data recording company which became successful, with 20 employees.
  52. "Data Acquisition System Captures Machine Performance". spinoff.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  53. Group, Techbriefs Media. "2006 Product of the Year Awards and Design Contest Winners". www.techbriefs.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  54. Group, Techbriefs Media. "2009 Product of the Year Winners". www.techbriefs.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  55. Group, Techbriefs Media. "NTB Readers Select 2012 Products of the Year". www.techbriefs.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  56. "How we developed NASA's Product of the Year for the 4th time - World Usability Congress". World Usability Congress. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  57. Group, Techbriefs Media. "Executive Perspectives: Data Acquisition & Sensing - Tech Briefs :: Medical Design Briefs". www.medicaldesignbriefs.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  58. "imca5americananoms". The Indie Music Channel. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  59. "Ted Nash Big Band - Presidential Suite: Eight Variations On Freedom". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  60. "Ted Nash Big Band - Presidential Suite: Eight Variations On Freedom". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  61. "imca5americananoms". The Indie Music Channel. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  62. "Grant Maloy Smith: Best Vocalist Of The Month Winner". Singeruniverse. 2015-01-08. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  63. "Grant Maloy Smith: Chart History: Heatseeker Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  64. "American/Folk Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 29, 2017.
  65. "Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 29, 2017.
  66. "American Merman CD: Grant Maloy Smith". CD Universe.
  67. "Yellow Trailer". CD Universe.
  68. "Dust Bowl by Grant Maloy Smith". Major Hit Records.
  69. Bjorke, Matt (October 24, 2017). "TOP 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: October 24, 2017". Roughstock.
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