Dynamic, Powerful, Entertaining, Captivating

These alluring qualities can only describe one man, E. Walter Smith. Born and reared in Shaker Heights, Ohio, E.'s relationship with music has been a never ceasing love affair. It all started while playing bass guitar with local bands in junior high school. During these years the song list ranged from Kiss to Cameo, giving a unique flavor to his style. In addition, his classmates included familiar names like, Gerald Levert, Jim Brickman, Kym Whitley (Oh, Drama, Sparks), Darryl "D Style" Swann (Macy Gray, Poetic Justice), Molly Shannon, Mike Ferguson (Levert, Rude Boys, Chakka Kahn, Luther Vandross, Sinbad), David Pogue, Steven Troy, and Chris Marcoux. As he began to focus on his vocal talents, his inspiration came from The Dazz Band, Cameo, Larry Graham, Al Jarreau, Journey and Kenny Loggins.

While attending the University of Akron, E. was a distinguished voice in the U of A Gospel Choir. Upon relocating to Atlanta, he was one of the original founders of the young adult gospel choir at St. Anthony's Catholic Church and then became the cantor for the Catholic Center at The Atlanta University Complex.

With a vocal range that dances between four octaves, E. began to establish his pop/R&B career by performing at various venues around the metro Atlanta area. As guest vocalist for the first "Weddings for Us" Bridal Expo, E. was introduced to Georgia's entertainment community. Soon after that, he was performing at social events like the Jewish National Fund's Kick-Off Gala for the Bill Cosby, Liza Minnelli, Marvin Hamlisch concert, The Africa House during the 1996 Olympics, and Alpha Kappa Alpha's Cabaret, to name a few. The success of these performances found him cast as co-host for the television pilot "Speak Up, Speak Out," and making the opening keynote address for the 35,000 attendees of the 1998 National AMWAY Convention.

Of course at age 10 and 11 I wasn't trying to hear any of that. However, as I grew older I couldn't thank her enough. All of the alliteration, imagery, and metaphors that you hear in my songs are in some form and fashion directly related to skills that I developed when having to write creative stories about the lives of Monarch butterflies, the dimples in oranges or what Robert Frost was trying to say when he wrote Birches. Quite honestly, the process is a little easier now because I am telling stories about my life experiences or sharing personal feelings about my journey."

As E. started turning his ideas into songs, songwriter/author/screenwriter Donna I. Douglas (Faith Hill, Babbie Mason, God Stories) taught him the craft of writing a hit. Song structure, fresh ideas and an original approach to human themes are the key elements in crafting a hit song. Hopefully, she thinks that he's a good student! He initially learned the art of recording and performing from Mike Ferguson (Levert, Luther Vandross, Sinbad) and then began to really hone his skills with Palmer Williams, Jr. (Can A Woman Make A Man Lose His Mind, A Good Man Is Hard to Find, LSG, Monica). All the while vocal coach, Vicky Gray (Motown), taught E. the "how to's and what not do's" as a vocalist.

"Mike was really instrumental in introducing me to how the great vocalists deliver a song. For me, it first started with listening. I was calling myself a Pop/R&B singer, but I was sounding like a "lounge lizard." Mike got me to listen to how vocalists like Luther Vandross and Eddie Levert delivered their songs. The greats have a secret weapon they can always use to captivate an audience. Other vocalists just use a lot of runs and copy the flavor of the month. The great ones use runs and other techniques to truly evoke an emotion or enhance the songs meaning, not just for a display of vocal gymnastics. Palmer Williams, Jr. really set me down and showed me how to take all of the elements of a song and make it my own. Quite honestly, I could not have done this without him. Palmer has been blessed with sonic vision and has the incredible ability to take a song to its next level. A master at vocal arranging, and creating angelic background harmonies, Palmer's influence on what I do is priceless."

Currently, E. is promoting his first release, "I DO," the quintessential wedding song of the millennium and completing the tracks for his upcoming album titled, "A Man for All Seasons." This much-anticipated album will cover an eclectic musical smorgasbord of songs and "hot spot."
 

"As the music plays and the lights illuminate his very essence, you soon become embraced by his hypnotic baritone voice, honeyed and enchanting... E. Walter Smith has just delivered another moving performance."

To order my latest release "I Do", Please Click Here or go to E-Commerce & The Wedding Store!