Artist description Hard rock blues band incorporating classical and Celtic styles.

Music Style Hard Rock Blues

Musical Influences Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jeff Beck, Yardbirds, Beethoven, Bach, Rainbow, Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner, Queen.

Similar Artists British hard rock and blues bands, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jeff Beck, Yardbirds, Beethoven, Bach, Rainbow, Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner.

Artist History Formed in 1996 by British guitarist Stuart Smith who was originally classically trained and wwas later taught by Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple. After playing with Keith Emerson in a band called "Aliens of Extraordinary Ability" he recorded his first solo album entitled "Stuart Smith's Heaven & Earth" on the Samsung label. The album featured guest appearances by Richie Sambora, Joe Lynn Turner, Glenn Hughes, Kelly Hansen, Carmine Appice and many others. After much critical accliam which had the press comparing his technical ability and mastery of the guitar to that of Beck, Blackmore, Clapton and Page, Smith went on to form a permanent band around the project which he called Heaven & Earth. The next album entitled "Windows to the World" was produced by Howard Leese of Heart and featured Stuart on guitars, Kelly Keeling from Baton Rouge/Blue Murder on vocals, Richie Onori who was with Stuart in the Aliens of Extraordinary Ability on drums and Arlan Schierbaum on Hammond Organ. Bass duties were shared by Tony Franklin, Howard Leese, Marvin Sperling and Jason Boyleston. "Windows to the World" was released in Europe and Japan in January 2001.

Group Members Stuart Smith/Guitars. Kelly Keeling/Vocals. Richie Onori/Drums. Arlen Schierbaum/Hammond B3 Organ. Mickey D/Bass

Instruments Electric and Classical Guitars, Vocals, Hammond Organ, Drums, Bass.

Albums "Stuart Smith's Heaven And Earth" and "Heaven & Earth, Windows to the World."

Press Reviews STUART SMITH'S HEAVEN & EARTH REVIEWSThese days, Ritchie Blackmore, who was his teacher, must be very proud of Smith, considering the way the latter's first solo album, Heaven & Earth turned out. On songs like the opener "Don't Keep Me Waiting," the acoustic/electric title track, and the bluesy "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean," Smith's axework makes for a sizzling sonic centerpiece that's garnished with passionate vocals and steller instrumentation. A tasty debut, indeed.(Jeff Perler, Guitar Magazine).OVERALL SCORE: 96%Stuart Smith is an English guitarist residing in Los Angeles, who has assembled one of the finest casts of musicians to ever grace a single album, and all I can say there is that this album is crammed with some of the most inspiring, technically brilliant, passionate, absorbing and stylish playing that I have ever heard.Andrew McNeice. (www.melodicrock.com)Stuart has got together some great talent and all the musicians on this album are outstanding, none more so than Stuart himself who is a great guitarist! My favourite out of all of them, "Dreams of Desire". Inspired by J.S. Bach, this is Stuart in his element. It is an instrumental piece and it is nothing short of absolutely incredible. I would go as far as saying that it is probably one of the best pieces of music I've ever heard!By Liv G. Whetmore (Editor of "Impressions" the ELP fan magazine)Though my search was a long one, it was well worth the wait! Remember that look on Harrison Ford's face in 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark'? That look of euphoria he had on his face when he found the Ark. This was the way I felt as soon as I hit play and the opening track, "Don't Keep Me Waiting", came on. I knew I was in for one hell of a listen! Listening to Stuart Smith play will, without a doubt, leave your senses feeling like HEAVEN ON EARTH! Definitely a contender for 'Best Rock CD Of The Year', and one release that comes highly recommended!Tony Sison. The Atomic Chaser e-zine.http://www.atomicchaser.comLet me say that I haven't been as bowled over by the sheer power of a new CD for a long time. I hope you can catch a bit of my excitement here... this is a major work that hopefully will receive the attention it deserves in the press. Driving hard rock with echoes of Clapton, Beck, Blackmore and Page...with a new name to add to the list: Stuart Smith. Remember, I told you so!Dave Linck. Deep Purple Web page.There are different degrees of excellence. Smith has achieved the upper crust of that excellence. He is superlatively ingenious as an artist. He knows what he likes and his confidence makes him unafraid to express his music. He is capable of totally absorbing you into that music. Crank this stuff up - Loud! It's the best way to enjoy it.Tammy Childs, Music Reviewer.www.cybercitymag.comSongs: 20 Newcastles out of 20. 20 Newcastles you say? Listen to this guy play guitar. I'm talking to you Blando and C.C. This is simply the best blues rock album in the last 10 years, so it gets 20 Newcastles. There's two instrumentals, the best of which is called 'Dreams of Desire' inspired by Bach. The first time I heard this song I just kept asking myself what the hell am I doing with my life? I'll never do anything as great as this.Dick Encyder, Music Reviewer.www.metalsludge.comHEAVEN & EARTH “WINDOWS TO THE WORLD” REVIEWSDude!!! What a great album. I gotta tell you, “Dogs of War” incinerated my CD player. Great stuff.Long Paul, Program Director. (KNAC.Com)This is another great album by Stuart Smith, doing just what I hoped it would - it takes the best aspects and personality of the debut and uses them to built the new album in a more consistent and better flowing form. This album has it's own personality, musically and stylistically and is an album that I think that will gather as many fans as the debut did. The first big surprise of the album comes as early as track 2 - “World's Apart”, written with the assistance of the great Jamie Kyle. This is a pure AOR anthem and melodic bliss for anyone who reads this site. It's a uptempo acoustic driven anthem ballad. The hooks and chorus are simply sensational, surrounded by a subtle organ accompaniment. And to be perfectly frank, this song contains my favorite Kelly Keeling vocal performance ever. This is a great bluesy hard rock album. There is more here this time to please AOR fans and possibly more for hard rock fans with the inclusion as Kelly Keeling on vocals and some fine guitar work by Stu. His best to date in fact.Rating 96%Andrew McNiece, (Melodicrock.com)I was greatly anticipating this and luckily received an advance copy even before it was released as a promo. Having him stand alone was probably the best thing that could have happened to him. Instead of having to deal with over-inflated Rock star egos Stuart was able to weave this incredible tale. The results are nothing short of incredible. While all the guests of the first CD may have thrust him in the spotlight it's Stuart's prowess as a songwriter and guitarist that really shines and so it shines brightly on here. This is single-handedly the BEST Hard Rock CD I've heard in a decade and I highly recommend it.Jeff Rappaport, (Editor, Metal Rules Magazine)Here it is, the long announced and awaited new studio album by HEAVEN & EARTH! I was really hot to hear “Windows To The World” as Stuart told me over months, that it will become a great album. Now that I have listened to the album a several times I can only say, that he was totally right. To sum it up: HEAVEN & EARTH’ “Windows To The World” is a must for all fans of classic Hard Rock music! Rating: 92 %Marco Spaeth, (Melodic Journey Magazine)Deep Purple and Rainbow fans will really get off on this opening cut. Yngwie wishes in his dreams he could come up with this type of song. Kelly Keeling's vocals are amazing on this cut. You talk about power and range. This guy has it. You talk about EXPLOSIVE!!!!!! Man, can Stuart play. I promise you this CD will be on your playing list for quite a long time. What I enjoy most about this CD is not only does it have hard rock, it has AOR, blues rock and other types of different styles of music. My advise to everyone who knows about H&E and for the people who are not aware of this great band. BUY THE CD, See H&E live. Request H&E and enjoy most of all this great earcandy.Tommy (Hittman) Fiore, (Deep Purple Web page)Well as you may have gathered I rather liked 'Windows To The World'. Stuart Smith has shown again that he is a superb guitarist and songwriter. The partnership of Smith and Keeling looks like its soon to be a partnership spoken of in the same terms as Blackmore/Dio and Malmsteen/Soto etc. The sound of the album is great with the Stuart's guitar sounding awesome whilst Arlen Schierbaum proves he's a world class player with a firm grasp of what's needed in a Classic Rock setting. 'Windows To The World' is a 'must have' release for any fan of classic rock.Andy Craven. (Rainbow Flames Metal Domain)Many times, reviews herald a new band or album as the 'return of hard rock' only to be disregarded by the public as nothing more than rehashed, overblown hype. This is NOT the case with Heaven & Earth! This is the REAL THING! The music on this CD has what it takes to bring hard, melodic rock back to the forefront. They only thing lacking is support. Instead of just reading this review and whining about how nobody supports classic hardrock, get off your butts and BUY THIS CD. Trust me. You will not be disappointed.Jeb Wright. (www.Classicrockrevisited.com)To be honest ,this is maybe the best "Classic Rock" album I´ve heard in ten years or even more? I can´t praise this album enough and all I can really say is ... buy or die dude !!! OK ... you might not like it, if you can´t stand that someone else are doing better music than your old heroes from the 70´s.Urban "Wally" Wallstrom. (http://welcome.to/catchyhooks)'Windows to the worlds' is a truly tremendous album, its rich sound layers of emotion underpinned by rock sold beats and bass that pulsates like a racing heart on Valentines day. But for me what really makes this album special is the guitar histrionics and the vocals, 'Stuart smith delivers the goods, with sweat and emotion dripping to the floor with every string, with every note played. 'Kelly Keeling' really has surpassed himself with these vocal performances, what range and power yet when needs be he could soothe the savage beast. Heaven & Earth take you on a rock roller coaster ride to heaven, one of the best albums I've heard in years. Lisa Abbott (Blistering Metal Online Magazine)"Windows To The World" by Heaven & Earth is more than good...it's spectacular. It's an honest, melodic, AOR rock 'n' roll album with absolutely no cheese. Just well written songs, high quality musicianship. There's a good deal of variety on this release and it should appeal to a wide audience. This is one for the history books. But, why wait until it's considered a "classic," check it out now while it's still fresh and, I promise you, after one listen, your head will be spinning. It will make a difference in your listening pleasures. Paul Autry (Ballbusterhardmusic.com)Well, your favorite axe-slinging black belt is back with a brand new album. Stuart Smith's new album is a band effort this time around. The songs themselves have a much more classic feel than the hard rock feel of the debut. Stuart still shreds on guitar and the band is as tight as a virgin on prom night as usual. Stuart's solo on the opening track 'Dogs of War' made me take my guitar out back and burn it out of the knowledge I could never play that solo if I tried.Dick Encyder (www.metalsludge.com)

Location Woodland Hills, CA - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).