Here's my Question! AskE@ewaltersmith.com
Q. I see you went school with Gerald Levert. Do you think you guys will do a project together?
A. I thought about that when I saw his dad at the airport last week. In high school I was a bass player in a rock 'n roll band called ATTIC. He asked me if I wanted to join Levert, but I made the "wise" decision and went to college. Now that the word is out that I put down the bass and picked up the mike, anything is possible!
Q. I love I DO! (especially the Gen X version) Did you ever have a Batman cape?
A. Many!!! All the towels in the linen closet!
Q. I saw you in the Showcase of the South a few years ago. You sang an original song that had a great hook. Are you ever going to release that?
A. The name of that song is Gonna Love You Forever. I know that it will be on the CD, but I don't know if it'll be released as a single. I'm flattered that you remembered that performance. You should have been at the rehearsals!
Q. I live in the Chicago area. Will you ever be in the midwest?
A. A lot of appearances are being scheduled at this time and I can only imagine that Chicago and the midwest will be on the itenerary. Check "E" vents and News for updates and tour schedules.
Q. I DO is a beautiful song! Are you married?!?
A. That seems to be the million dollar question! No. Never been married and I have no kids. Are you?
Q. Hey E, you probably don't remember me, but I remember you from the Open Mic Nights at Akron U. (remember Robertson Cafeteria!) You and James Black seems to be putting Akron U. on the map. Do you guys ever talk? You two are so fine!!
A. It is really amazing how many people have "come out of the wood works" since I've released this song. I've got a lot a great memories in that cafeteria! I've not talked to James since Akron, however, I saw him on Sheena last week and h's doing a car commercial now. (seems like he's found his motivation!) Maybe he'll look me up for a co starring role in his next movie!
Q. You sing too??? My girlfriend told me about your site. I love it! We know you from the Salsa clubs. (Celebrity Rock, T&G, Kaya, Sanctuary) Anyway, are you going to have any Latin music on your CD? Since I'm buying a copy of I Do, you owe me dance! A. Thanks for buying the CD. I hope you enjoy it! As it stands right now, the title track on the full CD,
A. Man for All Seasons, is blend of Salsa, R&B and Hip-Hop. We are planning on releasing a Spanish version of I Do. Audi Lopez of Mezcolanza at the Studioplex did the translation. Actually, I want to do that version as a duet. What do you think? The next time you see me out introduce yourself and let's Salsa!
Q. Do you still sing at weddings? I'm getting married in August in Cancun and would love to have you sing I DO at the wedding. My fiance loves the song and I think it would be a nice wedding gift for her.
A. I do a lot of weddings and wedding related events. Scheduling might be an issue, but I will definitely dust off my passport! Call the office and I'm sure that we can work out the details. Now that I have The Wedding Store, I'll even bring a gift!
Q. E. Walter Smith, will you marry me?
A. Well, I'm available, but let's meet first!
Q. I love "Oh, Drama!" Was Kym Whitley as crazy in high school as she is now?
A. Absolutely! We actually go back to junior high. Believe it or not she was on the track team with me. She was a hoot! I have not seen her since we did the Electric Slide at one of my best friends wedding. We sat at the same table and she told me about a new show that she was taping called Sparks! She said it was going to be hit! Well, the rest is history!
Q. What are your main influences when writing a song? Every time I listen to I Do I just cry! How do you do that to me?
A. When I write a song, I write for the original video, the one in the listener's head. I try to paint a picture that is so clear that a TV video is not even needed. My first major influence comes from my language arts teacher in elementary school. At the time, I knew that I was going to be a pro basketball player and nothing else really mattered. Well, she made it quite clear (as did my parents), that I was not going to be "a dumb jock that couldn't read or write!" So she told me to write a creative story about a basketball. To make a long story short, I realized that I was pretty good at writing and anything that I write has to pass the Jean Hudson test. As far as style is concerned, I like songs from the 60's and 70's because they seem to tell a better story and evoke a deeper emotion than more recent tunes. Where nowadays it's more about the hook and the track, back then it was about the song and its production. Horns, strings, percussion - all of those instruments tap into one of our emotions, thus giving the song more appeal and life. It's hard to do that with just an MP and a keyboard. I think we used roughly 87 track s on I Do. Most songs are done with 24 - 48. You probably cry every time you hear it because you hear something new and it evokes another emotion that makes this song more meaningful to you.