I love to sing.  I love to let my voice swirl around melodies in half steps and minor keys.  I love to sing soft and sultry torch songs, bold and brassy blues songs, soft and gentle heartfelt songs. I love to sing under bright lights, in the car, in choirs or eye to eye to one person at a time.  I come alive when I sing; I feel like I am home in my soul and the best gift I can receive is to be heard.

In 2006 I started to record “Shades of Jade” at Ridgetop studios with Keith Greeninger. Life had other plans; I developed adult-onset allergies and lost my voice.  I got weekly allergy shots and in 2010 after my voice returned I flew to Dallas and spent one of the best weekends of my life with Tom Prasada-Rao creating the base tracks for songs that I had written myself.  Andy Zenczak from Gadgetbox in Santa Cruz has made my lifelong dream a reality.  “Shades of Jade” is now available and I am currently performing with the talented piano player John R. Burr, and our first release “A Taste of Things To Come” will be released later this month.

In March 2011 I was diagnosed with full-blown diabetes and in less than 8 months I completely reversed it with diet and exercise. I feel as if my life is just beginning and to quote from a blues song I am currently writing, “Buckle up, baby, we are in for a bumpy ride!”

- John Smith (WI)