Artist description An astounding three-octave range and a stellar songwriting talent are the cornerstones of a solo career that continues to gain momentum as Debi Smith captivates crowds all over the U.S. Playing guitar, bodhran or piano, Debi is just as versatile stylistically as she is instrumentally, moving from the contemporary to the traditional and punctuating the whole show with warmth and humor. Her shows have included repeated appearances on "Prairie Home Companion" (where her amazing voice has made Garrison Keillor weep), "All Things Considered" on National Public Radio, "Mountain Stage", "New Country" on TNN, "CBS Sunday Morning" and "Good Morning America" on ABC. She has performed at festivals, universities and concert halls across the continent, including Edmonton (Canada), Kerrville (TX) and the Philadelphia Folk Festivals, the Epcot and the Kennedy Centers, the Birchmere and the Bottom Line in New York. Her original songs have been recognized by the American Song Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, Billboard Song Contest and ASCAP songwriter awards. Her Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES) include Best New Artist, Best Female Vocalist and Best Folk Artist and Best Contemporary Folk Recording. Her song, "Virginia" was selected as a finalist for the Virginia state song. Many of her songs are being performed and cut by a growing number of recording artists. Its no surprise that she has been in demand to work with others. She has been a member of the Hags (an all-female Celtic group), and still periodically appears with sister Megan as The Smith Sisters. Three of the four Smith Sisters albums with Flying Fish Records featured instrumental greats Doc and Merle Watson (Merle was the Smith Sisters producer and mentor until his untimely passing in 1985). She tours regularly as one of the Four Bitchin' Babes with Sally Fingerett, Suzzy Roche and Camille West. Debi has recorded three albums with The Four Bitchin' Babes, on Shanachie Records. She participated in the Christine Lavin compilation "Laugh Tracks" and the Prime CD tribute album for Christine Lavin, "Big League Babe." On her first solo Amerisound release, "In My Dreams" Debi solidly emerged as a songwriter to be reckoned with, having penned ten of the twelve tunes. Her songs speak to strong, pure sentiment without ever crossing over into sentimentality. The album lineup includes Award-winning producer John Jennings (M. C. Carpenter), Al Petteway and Dan Green. The critics could not get enough. Debi released her second solo album, "More Than Once" on Shanachie Records in May 1998. All Music Guide says of the album, "A multi-instrumentalist with a three-octave vocal range, Smith writes songs with the craftsmanship of an artisan and the insight of a poet." Music Monthly says, " a pure piece of beauty... clear, strong, and just downright beautiful vocals... a true gift as a songstress." "More Than Once" won the Washington Area Music Award (WAMMIE) for "Best Contemporary Folk Album." In 2001, Debi got together with a stellar group of Nashville musicians to create her third solo album, "Red Bird Red" released once again on the Shanachie label. The album was produced by Ronn Price (Four Bitchin' Babes), with the help of Ed Seay (Emmy Lou Harris, Martina McBride), who directed a veritable "hit list" of Nashville's best studio musicians, creating a rockin' new country backdrop that brilliantly displays this stellar collection of well-crafted jewels. Guitarist Pat Buchanan (Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks) and keyboardist Tim Lauer (Beth Nielson Chapman, Rodney Crowel) joined bassist Alison Prestwood (Emmy Lou Harris, Steuart Smith), mandolin/fiddle player Tammy Rogers (Tricia Yearwood, Patty Loveless) and others to create a CD that promises to become a "must have" among those who know their music. Mastered by Billy Wolf (Alison Krauss, Linda Ronstadt, Shawn Colvin), this project is a worthy successor to Debi's Wammie-winning album, "More Than Once," and amply shows that "Smith is one of the most promising new singer-songwriters on the contemporary American music scene." - MUSIC HOUND Time stands still in elegant ballads such as "Slipping Away" and "Marry Me Again" (co-written with folk legend Tom Paxton). But hang on tight as the traffic-stopping, Cajun-flavored, good time car song, "Chevy Impala," takes you on a journey into the deep south. Next there's you-go-girl attitude rocking in "You Don't Listen" and "Kiss The Clouds." Debi Smith's story songs invite you on a journey of life's ever-changing delights, with trips to "Niagara Falls," and a clear view into what a solid marriage can look like in these difficult times in "Myrta and Emory."

Music Style Singer/songwriter folk, country and soft rock

Instruments Vocals, acoustic guitar, bohdran, keyboards

Albums Smith Sisters - Bluebird, 1984; Smith Sisters - Mockingbird, 1986; Smith Sisters - Roadrunner, 1989; Smith Sisters - I See The Moon, 1991; Smith Sisters - A Canary's Song, 1993; Solo - In My Dreams, 1994; Four Bitchin' Babes -- Fax It! Charge It! Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner!, 1995; Four Bitchin' Babes -- Gabby Road, 1997; Solo - More Than Once, 1998; Four Bitchin' Babes -- Beyond Bitchin', 2000; Four Bitchin' Babes - Meet the Babes Live in Concert (video), 2000; Solo - Red Bird Red, 2001

Press Reviews "Smith is one of the most promising singer-songwriters on the contemporary American Music scene..." - MUSIC HOUND "A multi-instrumentalist with a 3-octave range, Smith writes songs with the craftsmanship of an artisan and the insight of a poet." - ALL MUSIC GUIDE "Hers is a voice that seems to reach beyond what one imagines is possible, far beyond" - KALAMAZOO GAZETTE "Her originals soar with an ethereal grace and beauty" - THE WASHINGTON TIMES "...and include "very funny songs, dead-on modern satires with real meat on them" - NEW ENGLAND FOLK ALMANAC "When Smith displayed her humor... the audience roared with laughter. She then displayed her remarkable vocal range. Her song sung to the Irish drum was stunning.." - GRAND RAPIDS PRESS On the title cut, Debi "creates a mesmerizing vibe when accompanying herself on drum" - LOS ANGELES VIEW "the effect is readily visceral... going for the emotional jugular" - PERFORMING SONGWRITER

Additional Info For information on upcoming performances, visit http://www.musi-cal.com/search?performers=debi+smith&supp=noma. To buy CDs visit http://www.cdstreet.com. For booking information visit http://www.mcnote.com.

Location Washington, DC - USA

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