An accomplished musician and entertainer, Chris captivates an audience and leads a musical event that kindles warm emotions and smiles. Chris plays a mix of his own compositions along with an assortment of jazz standards dating back to the 50s, pop tunes from the 60s to the 80s.
Chris Smith is a singer/songwriter inspired by his family’s extensive travels around the world and intoxicated by the wonderful music he was exposed to as he grew up. Chris’s music is a blend of various influences including pop, jazz, soul and world rhythms.
To date, Chris has released four albums. His most recent, Let The Ball Roll, was released on June 30, 2009. Back To You was released in 2006, Real Thing was released in 2004 and his debut Room Inside My Heart was released in 1995.
In the company of such successful artists as Michael Bublé and Diana Krall, Chris has been nominated for nine Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards including Best Album, Best Song and Best Male Vocalist.
Early Years
Born in England, Chris Smith was the second son to a Swedish mother and English father. The family travelled extensively throughout Southeast Asia, the Far East and Europe.
Growing up listening to jazz, blues and anything by The Beatles, Chris cites myriad influences, including his older brother, Peter, who became a successful musician in his own right.
He discovered his songwriting talent at a young age and recorded a demo before enrolling in the Jazz programme at Humber College in Toronto. Upon graduating, Chris formed The Graduates with three fellow Humber students performing Chris-Smith originals.
Chris’s next project, Regatta, won the nationally recognized Q107 Homegrown contest and caught the ear of BMG Records who signed the band to an international record deal.
Despite Regatta’s success, Chris knew his future lay in jazz and pop. He leapt into a solo career in 1995 with the release of his debut, Room Inside My Heart and, following that, began an enduring creative association with Greg Kavanagh. Subsequent albums, Real Thing, Back To You and Let The Ball Roll have increased his fan base, achieved critical acclaim and gained industry recognition.
