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Gary Smith

With more than fifteen years of writing, producing and discovering talent, Gary “Gizzo” Smith, founder of Moodswing Productions, has established himself as one of Atlanta's most sought after veterans in the music industry. After signing his first production deal with famed Atlanta record label So So Def in 1997, Smith quickly began creating chart-topping singles including the 1 hit “Promise” on R&B group Jagged Edge's multi-platinum album, J.E. Heartbreak (So So Def/Columbia). Soon after the song's mainstream success, Smith found himself being courted by several major record companies, all looking to capitalize from the talent of Moodswing Productions.

Boasting an impressive and extensive discography, Smith has worked with many of today's most popular artists including Grammy award winning super producer Jermaine Dupri, multi-platinum rapper Bow Wow, R&B sensation Bobby Valentino on Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace label, and newcomer Rico Love, one of Usher's debut artist on US Records. Excited about working in different genres, in 2005 Smith took his sound international with the single “Moodswings” for Sony UK's former child phenomenon Charlotte Church. “I grew up listening to everything,” says Smith, a Boston native, about breaking genre barriers. “Pop, alternative, jazz, R&B, Rap… I love the music. As a producer I think you should.”

After launching his first production company in 1992, Smith quickly tasted success signing his first artist to a major label. He has since developed a passion for finding, developing, producing and signing talent. “I purposely chose to support Moodswing Productions independently so I could establish myself as a producer and a businessman,” says Smith. Running the daily operations of the company, managing it's small staff, overseeing the music production and artist development —including imaging, photo shoots, and creating web sites— has honed Smith's business skills allowing him to identify and deliver the total package.

Some of Smith's most recent finds include 19 year-old rapper J.R. Get Money,18 Year-old Joe Gutta and R&B artist and songwriter Kalenna. J.R. Get Money was directly signed to Universal/Motown via Moodswing Productions by the legendary Sylvia Rhone, president of Motown Records and executive vice president, Universal Records. His album is scheduled for a spring 2008 release. Kalenna wrote Aretha Franklin's first single, “Put You Up On Game,” featuring American Idol winner Fantasia, on the Queen of Soul's new album, Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen (Arista). And, Smith himself recently reconnected with Jagged Edge, co-writing the single “Good Luck Charm” on their fifth, self-titled album.

Determined to take Moodswing Productions and his career to the next level Smith attributes much of his success to hard work, determination and a passion for the game. “Being business savvy is also key,” says Smith. “A great leader knows when to take charge, but also knows when to take a backseat, guiding and developing talent, so it manifests itself into the real deal.”