View source for Jonah Smith

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

'''Jonah Smith'''<!--- the reality singer from America’s Got Talent (IMDB name 7289156) not the movie producer (IMDB name 0808819) ---> is an American musician, singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. He began his career as a solo artist in 2000 in Brooklyn, New York.<ref name="NPR-Prog">{{cite news |last1=Dye |first1=David |title=Jonah Smith: Progressive and Accessible |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5565824 |access-date=31 August 2021 |publisher=National Public Radio |date=18 July 2006}}</ref> He has recorded several records and was a semi-finalist on Season 9 of America's Got Talent. He was born in Syracuse, New York.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-09-02|title=Syracuse native, singer Jonah Smith pins hopes on one 'America's Got Talent' judge (video)|url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2014/09/syracuse_native_singer_jonah_smith_pins_hopes_on_one_americas_got_talent_judge.html|access-date=2021-08-30|website=syracuse|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-05-01|title=The Musicians Atlas - 2007 Independent Music Awards Winners|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/jukebox2007.asp|access-date=2021-08-30|website=Independent Music Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501181807/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/jukebox2007.asp|archive-date=2009-05-01}}</ref>

== Education ==
Smith attended University of Miami (Florida) for one semester. While in Miami, Smith became friends with Stephen Glover, who would later be known as Steve-O. Smith transferred to the University of Vermont,<ref name="eI">{{cite web |title=Jonah Smith Talks Rhoads Love and Session Keys Electric S |date=21 March 2017 |url=https://e-instruments.com/blog/jonah-smith/ |publisher=e-Instruments |access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref> where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. While in Vermont, Smith played with several bands and performed in clubs in Vermont. His main group was Funk's G that played regularly in Burlington opening for national acts like Government Mule, Andy Summers and Groove Collective. Smith co-lead this band and wrote several songs in its repertoire. The group never recorded. During this time, Smith also played as a sideman in a group called Orange Factory with [[John Hill (record producer)|John Hill]] on bass.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

== Early career (Boston 1998–2000) ==
In 1998, Smith moved to Boston where he started a new band. He made a demo tape with musicians [[Adam Deitch]], Eric Krasno, and [[Goapele]] that was engineered by [[Jeff Bhasker]]. This tape helped secure a solid line up of musicians that would perform all over Boston and surrounding areas as Deluxe.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

== Career (Brooklyn 2000–2013) ==
In 2000, Smith moved to Brooklyn, NY and started performing under his own name.<ref name="NPR-Prog" /> With Ben Rubin and Bob Reynolds as holdovers from Deluxe, Smith added drummer, Marko Djordjevic and guitarist, David Soler to form a new group. They recorded Smith's debut album, ''Industry'' ''Rule'', at the end of 2000. The album was completed in under a week. The sound of the album has been described as "blue-eyed soul and Nashville-inspired Americana."<ref name="NPR-Roots">{{cite news |last1=Dye |first1=David |title=Jonah Smith: The Roots of Pop |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5496180 |access-date=31 August 2021 |publisher=National Public Radio |date=19 June 2006}}</ref>

In 2003, Smith recorded ''Beneath the Underdog'', with [[Bill Frisell]] as a guest guitarist. It was recorded by Relix Records.<ref name="NPR-Prog" />

In 2006, Relix Records released ''Jonah Smith'', the self-titled "debut".<ref name="Relix">{{cite web |title=Song Premiere: Jonah Smith "Easy Prey" |date=20 May 2016 |url=https://relix.com/blogs/detail/song_premiere_jonah_smith_easy_prey/ |publisher=Relix Records |access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=blog, primary source|date=August 2021}} In early 2007, ''My'' ''Morning'' ''Scene'' won Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song at the 6th Annual Independent Music Awards.<ref name="JB">{{cite web |title=Garaj Mahal and Jonah Smith Among Winners at Independent Music Awards |date=6 December 2006 |url=https://jambands.com/news/2006/12/06/garaj-mahal-and-jonah-smith-among-winners-at-independent-music-awards/ |publisher=Jam Bands |access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="IMA">{{cite web |title=Jonah Smith to set off tour in support of fan-funded album, Lights On |date=13 October 2009 |url=https://independentmusicawards.com/blog/2009/10/13/jonah-smith-to-set-off-on-tour-in-support-of-fan-funded-album-lights-on/ |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=31 August 2021}}</ref> This record, being the first promoted on a national scale, gained Smith a wider audience and landed him a spot at 2007s [[Bonnaroo]] Festival in [[Manchester, Tennessee]] and the [[Langerado]] Festival in South Florida in March 2008.<ref>January 25, 2008 interview with Jonah Smith conducted by Dave Beatie {{verify source |date=September 2023 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/804395664 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/792907873 cite #2 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref>

In 2009 Smith released two records. ''Lights On'' was produced by Malcolm Burn. Smith was an early adaptor of the fan-funding method, which he used to finance the making of ''Lights On'' after Relix Records ceased operations.<ref name="IMA" />

In 2012 Smith released ''Little Known Cure'' again using fan funding. Another band Smith started called ''The Statesmen'' released their debut record. The group featured Smith on co-lead vocals and keys, Josh Dion on co-lead vocals and drums, Scott Metzger on guitar and Ben Rubin on bass. The record was distributed in Japan through [[Buffalo Records]]. The album was nominated for Best Rock Record at the 12th Annual Independent Music Awards.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

== Los Angeles (2013–present) ==
Not long before relocating from Brooklyn to Los Angeles at the end of 2012, Smith made an acoustic recording with Andy Stack in his kitchen in Long Island City. Smith would finish and release the record, aptly named “In The Kitchen” in mid 2013.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

== America’s Got Talent (Season 9) ==
Smith auditioned for the show in Los Angeles and was asked to fly to New York to tape a live performance in front of the judges in April 2014. He sang his original song ''Skyscraper'' ''Blues'' and received a standing ovation from judges ''Howard'' ''Stern'' and ''Howie'' ''Mandel''. He advanced to the next round and performed his unique version of ''Can’t'' ''Find'' ''My'' ''Way'' ''Home'' by ''Blind'' ''Faith'', which further impressed the judges. Also, during this week Smith replaced his drummer, which became part of the storyline of the episode. Smith performed ''Stay With'' ''Me'' in the quarter-final round and again received praise from the judges. Heidi Klum serenaded Smith during her comments. In the semi-final round, Smith performed One Republic's ''Till'' ''The'' ''Love'' ''Runs'' ''Out''. The song impressed judge Mel B and host Nick Cannon but Howard Stern thought it was a poor song choice. It ended up being Smith's final performance on the show.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-05-27|title=Syracuse singer auditions for 'America's Got Talent', but he can't talk about it - for now|url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2014/05/howard_stern_said_what_to_syracuse_singer_jonah_smith_at_americas_got_talent_aud.html|access-date=2021-08-30|website=syracuse|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-11-19|title=For singer Jonah Smith, 'America's Got Talent' helped his music career|url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2014/11/for_singer_jonah_smith_americas_got_talent_helped_his_music_career.html|access-date=2021-08-30|website=syracuse.com|language=en}}</ref>

Not long after that, Smith signed a deal with Music Road Records. In May 2016, they released his record, ''Easy'' ''Prey''.<ref name="Relix" /> The record has guest appearances by Ruthie Foster, David Hidalgo, Lucius, Adam Levy and Bob Reynolds. ''Heavy'' ''Hangs'' ''The'' ''Crown'' from that record was nominated for Best Blues Song at the 15th Independent Music Awards.

In June 2017, Smith released ''Stay'' ''Close'' – the third acoustic record made with Andy Stack. He returned to the fan-funding model for this record after taking a step back from Music Road. The record was recorded to an old Ampex tape machine in Stack's studio in Beacon, New York. The record also features singer Melissa Ahern on several songs. The song "Ocala" was featured on ''The Washington Post''{{'}}s online edition home page on Christmas Day 2016 – months before its release in a story called, ''Grace, Unwrapped''.  ''Compare'' ''Your'' ''Blues'' made the playlist at SiriusXM's Coffeehouse channel.

==Discography==

=== Albums ===
* ''Industry Rule'' (2001)
* ''Beneath the Underdog'' (2003)
* ''Jonah Smith'' (2006)
* ''Brooklyn Session'' (2008)
* ''Lights On'' (2009)
* ''The Statesmen'' (2012)
* ''Little Known Cure'' (2012)
* ''In the Kitchen'' (2013)
* ''Easy Prey (2016)''
* ''Stay Close (2017)''

===Singles===
* "Skyscraper Blues" (2014)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.jonahsmith.com/jonahjonas.jpg Picture (photo credit Jonas Bostrom courtesy of JonahSmith.com) Jonah Smith]{{dead link|date=September 2014}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080121003643/http://www.jonahsmith.com/pages/story.shtml Jonah Smith]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071221233410/http://www.relixrecords.com/newSite/subsections/jonahSmith/bio.html Relix Records]

{{America's Got Talent}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Jonah}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Syracuse, New York]]
[[Category:Independent Music Awards winners]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American male pianists]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American pianists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:Relix Records artists]]
[[Category:America's Got Talent contestants]]