Nov. 19, singer/songwriter Corey Smith will bring his music talent to downtown Bowling Green’s Clazel Theater beginning at 8 p.m.

Smith, 33, is a native of Jefferson, Ga., about an hour north of Atlanta. Although he has been writing and performing for nearly 10 years, it’s only recently that he’s been touring the country doing it.

Just five years ago Smith could be found teaching social studies at North Gwinnett High School in Atlanta. While teaching, Smith would perform nights at local bars and clubs until it became obvious he was growing in popularity and earning more money than he did teaching.

Corey Smith

“Crowds of about 50 to 75 quickly turned into 200, 300 people,” he said. “It got to a point where I knew I would be able to make a living playing music.”

What makes Smith even more unique is that he has sold over 750,000 singles and over 150,000 albums all without being signed to a major record label nor receiving any radio play.

Smith said he likes being able to do this own thing and have his own freedom writing and performing.

“I’m very grateful just to be able to make a living playing music,” he said.

As far as his music, Smith said he has a difficult time categorizing himself to a particular style or genre.

“If I had to put a name to my style, I would call it progressive country,” he said. “I have some songs that sound more rock, some that sound more country and some that sound like Jack Johnson.”

Smith said the rebelliousness of rock n’ roll music has always been appealing to him. He said what makes his sound unique is the messages and personal experiences he sings about, present in fan favorites like “Maybe Next Year,” “21” and “If I Could D It Again.”

“I enjoy sharing my experiences in my songs,” he said. “Most of the people that come to my shows are young, in their 20s and share my sense of youth and recklessness.”

Smith says even though he is a full time musician now, he still wants to be a teacher of certain messages he often conveys in his songs.

“Teaching social studies was a way for people for me to get people to ask questions about other races and ethnicities for example,” he said. Now I want to continue teaching through my music.”

Smith has released four albums, the most recent being Keeping Up with the Joneses that debut at number one on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts ahead of artists like James Taylor and Simon and Garfunkel.

The concert at the Clazel Friday is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, visit Clazel.net or CoreySmith.com.

Tags: Clazel Theater, Corey Smith, Star, Star of the Week

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 17th, 2010 at 6:34 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Music, Star.
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Corey Smith knows everyone loves a deal. That’s why the singer-songwriter has free music on his Web site, www.coreysmith.com.

“When I write a song, the most important thing is getting it heard by people,” he said. “I still give away songs. I started recording really rough versions of new songs a couple weeks ago and just put them up on the web site, and between Twitter and Facebook, just telling fans about it. I find that to be very rewarding.”

His new disc, “Keeping Up With the Joneses,” will be out Nov. 17. But fans can hear — and download — three songs.

Corey Smith

“I’ve been playing ‘Keeping Up With the Joneses,’ ” Smith said from a tour stop in Estero, Fla. “That’s an autobiographical song. It’s the type of song my fans are probably used to hearing from me about life in general, about being happy with what you have.”

He said another new track, “$8 Bottle of Wine,” is about his wife.

“It’s a song about being married and having a good time. I guess the theme of the song is just because something is cheap doesn’t mean that it can’t be enjoyed.”

After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2001, the native of the Peach State took a job teaching high school social studies. Then he won a songwriting competition that led to the chance to record his first disc, “Undertones,” which came out in 2003.

Since then, Smith has released “In the Mood” in 2004, “The Good Life” in 2005 and “Hard-Headed Fool” in 2007.

“I’ve just always written what I’ve felt, what I’ve experienced, and what’s in my head. I still find it shocking when people are moved by it,” he said. “I think a song needs to give people sort of a visceral experience, it needs to connect them to things that are unknown, emotions or virtues.”

Smith described his music as a mix of country, rock and blues.

“Because we’re independent, [the music] hasn’t been processed by the industry. It’s more country music than anything, but it’s country music that hasn’t been processed through Nashville, sort of undistilled, unrefined,” the guitarist said. “It has a slightly different vibe to it; again, I have more leeway as a writer and a producer.”

Smith will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Clazel Theater in Bowling Green. Tickets are $15 and $12.

The Elms, touring to support their new disc, “The Great American Midrange,” will open.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 6:58 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, In Concert.
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