WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR HOMETOWN: Stillwater, OK
WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE: Nashville/Hendersonville, TN
BAND NAME: The Ladd Smith Band Formerly AKA The Smithsonians
INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: I use to like to tell people "I play 142 Instruments - And that's Just the Percussion Stuff!" But Seriously, My Main Instrument is Guitar, I play nearly all commercial styles except shred metal or neo-classical metal. I play Electric and Acoustic, I'm reasonably well versed on Bass Guitar, I also play Piano/Organ/Synth, Banjo, Mandolin, Well Nearly Anything With Frets and I'm Finally Getting Back to the Drums - The Trapset and All Those Percussion Instruments!
HOBBIES: I love to read, mostly non-fiction, quote collections, how things work, 'Bathroom Readers', biographies, music industry stuff, I'm a Christian but I enjoy studying the history and theology of all religions, some astrology, personology, Chinese astrology and numerology to an extent. I don't have the time to design much anymore but I still enjoy the graphic arts, Photography, designing CD Packaging and Posters for other Artists and Bands. Because of being on the road & having eaten in nearly every restuarant on the planet at this point, I'm starting to really enjoy Cooking also-It's the perfect analogy for songwriting...
FAVORITE FOODS: South Eastern U.S. Mexican Variety
FAVORITE MOVIES: "The Jerk", "The Blues Brothers", "Office Space", "Shawshank Redemption", "Braveheart", "The Matrix", "Napoleon Dynamite", "The Usual Suspects", "Forrest Gump", "Saving Private Ryan", "The Legend of 1900", "Seven", "The Sixth Sense", "Star Wars", "The Green Mile", "Crossroads", etc.
FAVORITE TV PROGRAMMING: Survivor Man, Dirty Jobs, Fallguy, MacGyver, The History Channel, Discovery, Mythbusters, ReZoned, Extreme Homes, Animal Planet, VH1, GAC, CMT, Spongebob Squarepants, The Simpsons, Futurama (bring it back!!!), Family Guy, some Adult Swim, In The Actors Studio, A&E Biography, Tales From The Crypt, Ducktales, Quantum Leap, etc.
FAVORITE ACTORS: Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Kevin Spacey, Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, Penelope Cruz, Jim Carrey, Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Owen Wilson, Angelina Jolie, etc.
FAVORITE FEMALE SINGER: My Mother Lynetta Kay Smith(Formerly with Dominion Records), Nicolette Fontaine (My Beautiful Classically Trained Operatic Vocalist
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW: Yael Naim, Leona Williams, Allen Reynolds/Crystal Gale, Rilo Kiley, Don Schlitz, Dallas Frazier, Brice Henderson, Lee Brice, etc.
WHAT I'M READING RIGHT NOW: Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Institute Plunges Into MUSIC, Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, The Interlinear Bible, How Nashville Became Music City
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Tennessee Titans
FAVORITE SPORTS TO PLAY: Off Road Unicycling (no it's not a joke and it's really fun!), Raquet Ball, Tennis, Fishing, Trail Biking, Camping
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Pro football, Ping Pong ;-)
FAVORITE QUOTE: God gave us two ears and one mouth.-David Foster
NAME YOUR 3 DESERT ISLAND CDS: John Fogerty/CCR--Centerfield/Chronicles(I&II) Merle Haggard--"Down Every Road" Boxset The Beatles--"Magical Mystery Tour"
FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE: In My Papa's Music Store in 1983... Later; A Play at Hendersonville Elementary (now Gene Brown Elementary) in First Grade with Rachel Warren White & Molly Skaggs...
THE BAND:
My Band is a revolving door of handpicked fellow musicians from Ladd's years on the road and in the studio backing other artists. This peerless band of gypsies are some of the finest and most diverse studio musicians and stage performers in the Country/Rock/Pop Genres...
RECORDING ARTIST INFLUENCES: My Parents, Harold Morrison, The Beatles, The Eagles, Vince Gill, John Fogerty, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Rodney Crowell, Marty Robbins, Billy Joel, Jim Croce, Merle Haggard, Buddy Holly, Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, Buck Owens, Neil Diamond, Leona Williams, George Jones, Patty Loveless, Tom T. Hall, Aretha Franklin, Garth Brooks, James Taylor, Buck Owens, Alan Jackson, Loretta Lynn, Rod Stewart, Carol King, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Leon Russell, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (The Hollies-The Byrds-Buffalo Springfield), Neil Young, Carl Jackson, Elton John, Chuck Berry, Brian Wilson-The Beach Boys, Conway Twitty, George Strait, Dan Fogelberg, Dan Seals, Shendendoah, Ricky Skaggs, Sam Cooke, Bill Monroe, Bill Anderson, Waylon Jennings, John Hartford, Glen Campbell, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sun Records, Motown Records, Jerry Reed, LeeAnn Womack, Martina McBride, The Band, Marty Stuart, Mac Wiseman, Fleetwood Mac, Allison Krauss & Union Station, etc.
SONGWRITER INFLUENCES: My Papa, ALL ARTIST/WRITERS LISTED ABOVE, Dennis Linde, Duane Hitchings, Will Jennings, Leiber & Stoller, Irving Berlin, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George & Ira Gershwin, Carl Jackson, Dallas Frazier, Doodle Owens, Dennis Knutson, Kostas, Craig Wiseman, Skip Ewing, Tony Mullins, Paul Overstreet, Dan Seals, Leona Williams, Gary Burr, Thom Schuyler, J. Fred Knobloch, Don Schlitz, Jelly Roll Johnson, Bob DiPiero, Tony Arata, Chris Wallin, John Hobbs, Jeffrey Steele, Kevin Savigar, Carmine Appice, Rodney Crowell, John Prine, David Chamberlain, Steve Earle, Bill Shore, Victoria Shaw, Larry Cordle, David Chapell, Dave Kirby, Hank Cochran, Red Lane, Erin Enderlin, Stephen Foster, All Motown Writers, etc.
GUITAR INFLUENCES: My Brother Larran, Brent Mason, Vince Gill, John Fogerty, Steuart Smith, Danny Gatton, David Johnson, Harold Bradley, Don Rich, Gregg Galbraith, Billy Gibbons, Chuck Berry, Redd Volkhaert, Charlie Vaughn, Buddy Holly, Steve Ripley, Chris Leuzinger, Cliff Parker, Bill "Bear" Middleton, Jimmy "Duke" Dumas, Grady Martin, Dave Kirby, Harold Morrison, Danny Gatton, Merle Haggard, Roy Nichols, Lori McKenna, Stephanie Davis, Jimmy Page, Albert Lee, Ricky Skaggs, Ray Flack, Dan Tymenski, Jerry Reed, Billy Byrd, Jimmy Bryant, Lester Flatt, Marty Stuart, Chet Atkins, Steve Wariner, Carl Jackson, Boomer Castleman, Percy Hallock, Eddie Van Halen, Bob Saxton, Reggie Young, Eric Clapton, Scotty Moore, Jimi Hendrix, Django Reinhardt, Fred Newell, Rev. David Smith, Chuck Hale, George Harrison, Lee Roy Parnell, Scotty Anderson, Penn Pennington, Jimmy Capps, Dan Drilling, The Hellecasters, Biff Watson, Johnny Hiland, Steve Wilkerson, Mac Wiseman, Doc Watson, Duane Allman, Alan Collins, Gary Rossington, Steve Gaines, Doyle Dykes, Thom Bresh, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Neil Schon, Mike Baker, Andrés Segovia, Jeff Beck, Les Paul, Dicky Betts, Keith Richards, Charlie Christian, Merle Travis, Joe Maphis, Glen Campbell, Luther Perkins, Kieth Urban, Brad Paisley, B.B. King, Albert Collins, Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons, Bobbie Seymour, Paul Franklin, Speedy West, Stu Basor, Weldon Myrick, John Hughey, Michael Johnson, Tommy Hannum, Tommy White, etc.
PRODUCER INFLUENCES: Tom Dowd, Geoff Emerick, David Foster, Jerry Kennedy, Owen Bradley, Ray Baker, Don Law, Rick Rubin, Arif Mardin, George Martin, Phil Spector, Leiber & Stoller, Dann Huff, Clive Davis, Jerry Wexler, Tony Brown, Paul Worley, Glen Pace, Jeff Lynn, James Stroud, Kieth Stegall, Quincy Jones, etc.
Guitar Player's Guitar Hero 07 is Presented by Microsoft, Activision, Digidesign with additional sponsorship from Epiphone Guitars, Mesa/Boogie Amplification, Jodavi ZZYZX Snapjack Cables, Dunlop Manufacturing, Moody Leather, D'Addario/Planet Waves, X2 Wireless Technologies and Sonicbids.
The Celebrity Judges of Guitar Hero 07 Had This to Say:
"For the First time tonight the song and instrumentation was one. That was Amazing. I could never play like that in a million years. That was very entertaining. Thank you."-Joe Satriani
"ASTOUNDING! I've had the honor of working with Albert Lee and many other Nashville guitarists and you can hang with the any of them. You have a wonderful touch, all of that inside-suspended open string stuff, it's just incredible and funky as a mofo!"-Steve Lukather
"I'm going to bestow on you the greatest compliment I could ever give any guitar player and that is that I hate your @?&!% guts!"-Elliot Easton of The Cars
"Excellent Job! I Was Totally Impressed!"-Greg Howe
"You didn't play this like a competition, I felt that. My God, how much of that was improvisation anyway?"-Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme
"You're a one man Hellecasters!"-Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records
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Download the "Beautiful Thing" Ringtone to Your Phone!
"Ladd Smith - Town & Country"
AND Brand New Re-Release
"Ladd Smith - Sixteen"
Now Available on: iTunes, Musicnet, Napster, Sony Connect, eMusic & Rhapsody!
OLD SOUL
Ladd Smith was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma September 21/22 at Midnight in 1982. But To hear Ladd Smith sing & play, your ears will tell you that you’re hearing a veteran singer/songwriter, a master guitar virtuoso and an experienced performer who can reach out and effortlessly touch your soul. From a young age, Ladd was always exhuberated at the opportunity to perform spot on renditions of classic tunes and artful originals in his own unique style. It’s hard to believe that someone so young could possess the musical acumen and professional poise of Ladd Smith, hard to believe until you know just how much time and effort Ladd has put into honing his natural talents.
IN HIS BLOOD
Born into a musical family, both of Ladd’s parents were professional singers and musicians, touring extensively throughout the Midwest. They eventually settled in Hendersonville, TN and opened Argill’s Music Store where Ladd grew up. Hendersonville being the place where many session player & country music royalty alike call home, Ladd had racked up hundreds of impromptu music lessons by the tender age of five.
PAYING DUES
Ladd began playing guitar at age 4. He began to write songs at the age of 9 and had written over 350 by the time he reached 19. Along the way he managed to record 3 original albums, play on nearly 400 sessions and perform at over 1,000 live shows. Ladd spent his teenage years working on Music Row learning all aspects of the business inside and out, known for saying “If there are any mistakes that are going to be made in my career, I want to be the one to make them.” Artist Sheila Aldridge took Ladd to meet John Briggs at Ascap when Ladd was only 15 and John Signed him to ASCAP on the spot. Considered a prodigy by his studio mentors, Ladd was personally sponsored into the Local 257 Musicians Union by President Harold Bradley at age 15. Ladd has spent the last ten years writing songs, playing guitar and singing back-up live and in the studio for tons of Nashville artists and producers. Ladd is often noted as being reminiscent of a young Vince Gill. The kind of artist that his ardently dedicated to being a consumate musician. In turn, with a repertoire of lyrics and music of over 2000 songs Ladd is known by fellow musicians as a “Human Jukebox” and is consistently ranked in the Top 3 Musicians and 1 Guitarist in Nashville by his peers on TheReferralList.com. Ladd has performed in over 17 countries including Kuwait where he was honored to play for our troops. As a Performing Artist and/or Member of the Band, Ladd has shared the stage and/or studio with Blake Shelton, Heartland, Phil Vassar, Merle Haggard, Confederate Railroad, Mustang Sally, Clay Walker, Jeanie Sealy, Deborah Allen, Helen Cornellius, Josh Turner, Vern Gosdin, Tanya Tucker, Trick Pony, Scout Cloud Lee, Dr. Hook, Leona Williams, Charlie Louvin, Josh Gracin, Aaron Pritchett, Duane Hitchings, Joe Melson, Ron Williams, Ferlin Husky, Jack Green and many, many others.
HIS SOUND
At this time, we would like for you to take a moment to listen to the media clips provided. It’s been said that if Billy Joel & Dolly Parton were to have had a lovechild his name would be Ladd Smith. You’ll hear a distinct voice and style that is both grounded in his country roots and yet breaks down the barriers of genre segregation. You will hear Ladd forge new path through familiar territory, as it were.
Ladd Smith Proudly Endorses; G&L Electric Guitars, Fender Amplification, DirtBag Apparel, Mesa/Boogie Amplification, X2 Digital Wireless Systems, Greg Bennett by Samick Guitar, Yamaha Guitars & Keyboards, GHS Guitar Strings, George L’s Pro Cables, Dunlop Accessories, Ultex Picks, MXR Effects, Wampler Effects/IndyGuitarist.com, Coffin Cases, BBE Sound, G7th Capos, Line6 Electronics, Gator/Gigbox Cases, Stetsbar Tremolo Systems, CMAT Mods Effects, Robert Keeley Electronics, Takamine Guitars, LM Straps, Argill’s Music Store, Voyage-Air Guitars, Creation Audio Labs Effects, Toadworks Effects, Visual Sound Effects
Ladd! How are you my brother!!! I hope everything is going as goos as always man! I got some new music up if you want to check it out! when are we going to work on something together? cheers www.juancoronado.com
Aaron Koppel Quartet @ Andy's Jazz Club 11/20 and 11/21
We are very excited about playing at such an awesome jazz club. We have some great sets lined up for you, so don't miss it.
Friday and Saturday November 20th and 21st, 5:00-8:30p at Andy's Jazz Club The Aaron Koppel Quartet 5-8:30p, Corey Wilkes group plays at 9:30p 11 E. Hubbard St. Chicago, IL 60611 The Aaron Koppel Quartet performing original music from "The Wild Call Of The Multi-Takser" and their new album "Falling Together Falling Apart", jazz standards, covers by Radiohead and James Brown. New album will be available for purchase at the show. 21+ Cover $10
Aaron Koppel -Guitar, Matt Nelson; (Lupe Fiasco, Matthew Santos) -Keyboard, Graham Czach; (Chicago Afrobeat Project) -bass, Robert Tucker (Matthew Santos) -drums http://www.andysjazzclub.com http://www.myspace.com/aaronkoppelmusic http://www.coreywilkes.com
Michael Brunnock's in depth interview with journalist Suzanne Connolly is uploaded and available to watch. It can be seen either on Michael's front page www.myspace.com/michaelbrunnock or on Fairplay Collective's video page http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=64241695
www.myspace.com/blakecarpenter www.twitter.com/blakecarpenter yahoo im : blakecarpentermusic email : blakecarpentermusic@yahoo.com http://blakecarpentermusic.blogspot.com/ Contact me and be a fan on every network! Thanks for checking out my music! Hope you like it, continue to follow me online for the progress of my music and albums.
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