| Howlett Smith Vocalist - Keyboardist - Accompanist - Lyricist - Composer - Entertainer - Recording Artist "Smitty" has done it all ! Clubs, Movies, Radio, Broadway Musicals, Cantatas, Touring, Special Arrangements, Recording, Songwriting, Vocal/Piano Coaching Howlett Smith, affectionately known as "Smitty" to colleagues and loyal fans, was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Blind from birth, he was educated at the School for the Deaf and Blind in Tucson, Arizona where he began studying music at the age of 8. By the age of 14, he had secured his first professional music gig and hasn't stopped since...although he did find time to obtain a degree as a music major from the University of Arizona. His remarkable career has taken him from clubs to movies, from radio to Broadway musicals. While widely known as a sterling pianist and vocalist, Smitty is a prolific songwriter who has composed hundreds of popular songs which run the gamut from sensitive, to romantic and to his ever popular, comedic songs which include: "Let's Go Where The Grass Is Greener" "It's The Last Day Of Summer" "Little Alter Boy" "Shoes" ("I bought you the shoes you wakked out on me in") and, "Chittlin' In The White House," along with composing several Masses, complete Musicals, and Cantatas. His songs have been performed and recorded by such noted artists as Nancy Wilson, Andy Williams, Peggy Lee, Glenn Campbell, Karen Carpenter, Steve Lawrence and Edyie Gorme, and Spanky Wilson. Jazz great, Barbara Morrison's recent "Visit Me" CD includes several of Smitty's songs: "Visit Me" "You" and, "Is She Still On Your Mind" Smitty's versatility encompasses an even wider range of musical skills. Aside form his most popular piano playing, vocals and compositions; he is equally adept as a vocal coach, choir director, and whistler in two part harmony in fact! Due to his eclectic original material and vast repertoire... and for his sensitive, meaningful and comedic lyrics, the LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE recognizes Smitty as one of the 300 reasons to visit L.A...! His career performances included a two year daily gig on the Arthur Godfrey network radio show; a recurring role on the daytime soap opera, GENERAL HOSPITAL as The Howlett Smith Trio; 20 years as the featured performer at Bob Burns Restaurant in Santa Monica, California (until it's closure), and has appeared at a plethora of other California venues including: Spazio's in Sherman Oaks, Loew's Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey, Charlie O's and the famous Jazz Bakery in Culver City. He was the musical director of the Broadway hit musical, "Me and Bessie" starring Ms. Linda Hopkins, and he composed and produced the musical "A Candle in the Dark" based on the movie "A Patch Of Blue." Most recently Smitty created and composed a two--act musical which is very dear to his heart called "The Carpenter," depicting the life of Christ, and is a production which employs an eclectic mix of jazz, gospel, spiritual, and traditional music, blended with narrative and humor. Featured performers are the 20-voice Harmony Choir, several soloists, and narrator all backed by Smitty's own Trio of piano, bass and drums. "The Carpenter" is a unique and inspirational work that has already played many different venues to highly enthusiastic audiences. In honor of his activities and contributions on behalf of Catholic Charities, Smitty was named "Mister Newmanite" by the Newman Club of the University of Arizona; was inducted into the Tucson, Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind's, "Hall OF Fame" in 2002; also in 2002 he was given the "Scroll of Recognition" from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for his many cultural and humanitarian contributions to the greater Los Angeles area community in, Southern California. As if all this wasn't enough, Smitty finds time to play in three different churches of diverse denominations every weekend and is a member of the El Camino College faculty, teaching in the Applied Music Program. It's no wonder that the Los Angeles Magazine lists him as one of the 300 reasons to stay in L.A.!! |