Joe Smith profile picture

Joe Smith

Awaking the Mogul in Me!!!

About Me

Making his mark on the world in the gospel music and entertainment industry is Writer, Producer, and Music Director, Joe Smith. Joe brings an unusual mix to the gospel industry working behind the scenes on many projects bringing his creativity, expertise, and, anointing mixed with his own original soundBorn and raised in the rough, east side neighborhood of Detroit known as the North End, Joe, through the strength and protection of God was able to beat the odds by overcoming several obstacles such as the lure of the streets and the death of his 23 yr old mother when he was 6 yrs old. While many of his friends and family members were killed or are serving lengthy prison terms, Joe escaped the negative environment that surrounded him through music. Beginning piano lessons at the age of 10 and writing his first song at the age of 15, Joe has gone on to play keyboards and/or serve as the music director for many major gospel music artist such as Fred Hammond; Karen Clark-Sheard; the Whitfield Company; Kierra “Ki-Ki” Sheard; and the late Chris Jones. Joe is presently music director (MD) for Dorinda Clark-Cole and the Legendary Clark Sisters as well. He can be seen on their live DVD release entitled “Live-One Last Time”. Joe has lent his expertise to countless independent and local solo artists, groups, ensembles, community choirs, and stage plays, either playing keys, producing, writing, or arranging for them.Joe’s passion for creativity and perfection has been lauded in the music industry as he was chosen to produce songs on the soundtrack for the Warner Brothers movie Deep Blue Sea starring Samuel L. Jackson and L.L. Cool J; and has also worked on the music score for the movie Nikita Blues a Showtime independent film. His production credits also include American Idol finalist Anwar Robinson and Tyscot recording artist Chris Jones and Word of Praise. As a writer, Joe has had the pleasure of writing on several Grammy and Stellar nominated projects. He co-wrote the mid-tempo song “For the Rest of My Life” on Dorinda Clark-Cole’s album entitled The Rose of Gospel which was nominated for a Grammy and a Stellar award; and he also co-wrote, along with Fred Hammond, the stirring worship song entitled “Worthy to be Praised” on the Singletons album entitled Better Than That, which was nominated for several Stellar awards. He also has a song that will be on the soon-to-be-released Dorinda Clark-Cole album called “It’s Ok”. But Joe’s biggest passion is helping new artist realize their dreams. Says Joe “One of my biggest musical heroes is Berry Gordy…because even though he worked with established artist such as Jackie Wilson, his biggest accomplishment was taking raw, undiscovered talent, and making them icons…THAT’S what I want Soul Food Entertainment to be about”. As a result, Joe is releasing the much-anticipated CD entitled Transparent in March of 2008. Transparent embodies many of the issues, struggles, thoughts, and feelings that many Christians experience but may feel shy about acknowledging or expressing. To help express these ideas, Joe assembled together a group of psalmist and minstrels called The Joe Smith Project, and several new and up-and-coming artist. The first single from the album is called “Every Breath I Take” and features Kelli Kinney-Brownlee, who has sang background for such artist as Deitrick Haddon and Vannessa Bell-Armstrong. The CD also features several new artist currently under development by Soul Food Entertainment, including female vocalist Treena Lashelle and male vocalist Van Artis. Transparent will cover many genres from Contemporary Gospel to Neo Soul and promises to be a major tool of ministry and healing to all who hear it. In addition to music, Joe is also developing a stage play, a TV show and a documentary film. So...keep your eyes and ears open for more Joe Smith/Soul Food Entertainment projects in 2008/2009.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/18/2006
Band Members: Creidit: Layout made by Mishka
MySpace Layouts

    MySpace Layouts MySpace Codes MySpace Backgrounds

Influences: Thomas Whitfield, Bruce Hornsby, Kevin Bond, Tommy Sims, Jeff Lorber, Steely Dan, Linkin Park, Fred Hammond, Asaph Ward, The Underdogs, NERDS, James Poyser, Ron Fair, David Foster, Led Zeppelin, Glen Ballard (listen to Alanis Morrisette "Jagged Little Pill Acoustic"...sick!), Jermaine Dupree (longevity and consistancy), Russell Simmons, Diddy (business moves), Dre and Vidal, Tedd Tjornhom, PJ Morton (one of the most melodious cats in the biz), Joe "Flip" Wilson, Keith Crouch, Teddy Riley (yo, PLEASE don't front like Teddy is not the Godfather of ALL who track and do beats!!! His drums from 10 yrs ago will STILL blow your speakers out even TODAY...LOL!), Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong, Willie Hutch (old heads from the Motown days), Marvin Gaye, Gamble & Huff, Herbie Hancock (HEADHUNTERS...nuff said!!!), Me'shell N'degeocello (grooves and basslines are crazy), TYLER PERRY (dude went from being homeless to bein worth $50 mil in a few years...how can you NOT be influenced by THAT!)
Record Label: Soul Food Entertainment
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

R.I.P. SPANKY ALFORD

Today I learned of the death of my friend Spanky Alford. Spanky was a guitar player who has played for John Mayer, D’Angelo, Eric Benet, Tony, Toni, Tone, Joss Stone, Roy Hargrove, The Mighty Cl...
Posted by Joe Smith on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:53:00 PST

THOMAS WHITFIELD

Saturday night is the 30th anniversary celebration of the Thomas Whitfield Company and I was just thinking back on how blessed I was to have known "Tommy", as we called him, and to have played for the...
Posted by Joe Smith on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:38:00 PST

CLARK SISTERS DVD and BET appearance

Hey everybody go get the Clark Sisters new DVD and check out ya boy (me). And also, we just filmed another full concert for Feed the Children that comes on BET. It was at Heritage Christian Center in ...
Posted by Joe Smith on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:31:00 PST

CLARK SIS FRONT ROW LIVE

Yo...check out this joint...we recorded it in Nasville back in Feb. and I had the pleasure of bein the MD for it. It's also gonna be a DVD as well...AND DON'T FORGET THE NEW CLARK SIS ALBUM COMES OUT ...
Posted by Joe Smith on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 06:35:00 PST

MARCUS JOHNSON MYSPACE PAGE

Please go by and visit my homie's myspace page...myspace.com/urkman06. I was fussing at him about not being on myspace...so my boy set up a page for him...so please show him some love.
Posted by Joe Smith on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 08:20:00 PST

R.I.P. MARCUS "URKMAN" JOHNSON

I can't believe I'm typing this...my production partner, mentee, and friend is dead from a severe asthma attack. He passed away last night (Sun. Nov. 12th, 2006). My mind goes back to all the convos w...
Posted by Joe Smith on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 08:47:00 PST

I HAVE GRAMMY AND STELLAR AWARD NOMINATIONS!!!!

Well this has been a cool year on the writing side. I wrote a song on Dorinda Clark-Cole's "The Rose of Gospel" album called "For the Rest of My Life" and that album was nominated for a Grammy award e...
Posted by Joe Smith on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:23:00 PST

Arrogant Singers and Musicians

Yo..what's up with the arrogant attitudes that some people in this music industry have?! ESPECIALLY singers and my fellow musicians and producers. I have personally experienced things like, people who...
Posted by Joe Smith on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 02:47:00 PST