Debi Smith, as well as being a solo performer and songwriter, is also a member of The Four Bitchin' Babes and one of The Smith Sisters.
BIOGRAPHY:
"Soaring", "ethereal", "radiant", "lilting", "majestic"- just a few of the adjectives critics use to describe the voice of Debi Smith. Drawing upon her own life experiences, observations and emotions to create her pop/folk sound and heartfelt lyrics that range from the sad to the funny, introspective to up-tempo, Smith's performances at festivals and concert halls across North America uniformly garner plaudits from audiences and reviewers alike. "As for Smith's genre of music…she is equally at home with country…pop…folk…jazz or Irish music. She is a first-rate guitarist, accompanying a crystal-clear singing voice that has a range of at least three octaves. And she is a master of the bodhran (Irish hand drum)"(Alan Hall, Chapel Hill News). "Debi Smith could sing just about any song and make your jaw drop. With her expressive and versatile voice and simple, honest songs, Debi Smith has gifts to spare", wrote Lou King, The Journal. And from folk music legend Tom Paxton, "Debi represents great songs sung with a God-given voice like few others. She is pure music."
Aside from her solo appearances, Debi also performs as a member of The Four Bitchin' Babes, and as half of the sibling duo, The Smith Sisters. She has recorded five albums with the Babes and five with the Smith Sisters, and has also been included on numerous albums and compilations, including Christine Lavin's "One Meat Ball" and "Laugh Tracks." Her latest album with the Babes, "Hormonal Imbalance," a mood-swinging musical revue, was released June of 2006.
"In My Dreams," Debi's first solo album, was co-produced by Grammy award-winner John Jennings (Mary Chapin Carpenter). Her second album, "More Than Once," marked her debut on the Shanachie label, and won the Wammie for "Best Contemporary Folk Album." Debi's third solo album, "Red Bird Red", was named one of the year's best by the Washington Post. Debi's early albums with her sister, as The Smith Sisters, were produced by guitar legend Merle Watson and featured the playing of Doc Watson, Mark O'Connor, and Sam Bush. "Cupid", Debi's fourth solo CD includes appearances by Doc Watson, Mike Auldridge, Jon Carroll, and Billy Kemp. Debi's fifth solo CD, "The Soprano," (September 2007), features the playing of Al Petteway, Marcy Marxer and Mark O'Connor. It is a double CD set which includes a Christmas album, and along with being submitted for a Grammy in the Best Pop Vocal Album category, has also been nominated for four Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies), including Album of the Year.
Debi has performed at venues such as The Kennedy Center, Minneapolis's Guthrie Theatre, and The Epcot Center; in Canada, Europe and Russia; and appeared on NPR's Prairie Home Companion, All Things Considered, Mountain Stage, and World Café. She has appeared on syndicated PBS music specials including "The Smith Sisters in Concert," as well as CMT's "New Country," CBS Sunday Morning, and Good Morning America.
Debi's songs have garnered her six ASCAP popular music awards and have been recorded by a growing number of artists including Tom Paxton, whose album containing a song of Debi's was nominated for a Grammy in 2004. Debi and her songs have been the recipients of many Wammie awards (Washington Area Music Awards), among them, Best Contemporary Vocalist and Album. Her song, "Virginia," was selected as a Virginia State Song Finalist. Debi's lyrics have been published in two Random House books, Crème de la Femme and Life's a Stitch (Random House), benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, andAmFAR.
Debi Smith lives with her husband and son in Northern Virginia, where she was raised.