Tweed Smith
Blues, Jazz & Gospel Vocalist
Tweed Smith
Blues, Jazz & Gospel Vocalist
Heart-thumping excitement in a variety of styles:
jazz, rock, pop, rhythm & blues, gospel, showtunes and funk!... Tweed Smith is the only female to be a member of the world renown band "WAR" and has appeared on the cover of Billboard, Cashbox, People, Blues & Soul and Black Radio Experience.
Perfect for clubs, coffeehouse sets, parties, banquets or special events.
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Tweed’s Stage Performances include Jesus Christ Superstar, the President Clinton's Presidential Election Victory, The Merve Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, Dick Clark's American Bandstand, Don Cornelius' Soul Train, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert & numerous variety shows. Working & recording relationships with Ron Woods of the Rolling Stones, Ringo Starr of the Beatles, Jazz Great, Diane Reeves, Ronnie Laws & countless others.
Edutainment Programs...
“Blues Divas”
TWEED SMITH's riviting program chronicaling the music of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, Etta James and others. She is available with her band, a piano/guitar or with tracks.
"I put all of the music that I've lived into all of my songs," declares Tweed Smith, one of Houston's finest and most versatile vocalists. And given her wide range of musical experience--encompassing gospel, classical, theater, rock, pop, blues and jazz--that means a lot. It's the basis for her special power as a performer, and it's the foundation for her effectiveness as a music educator--two roles she balances gracefully, each complementing and enriching the other.
"I've always had just a great appetite for all types of music," she explains with a laugh. "Of course my roots were gospel, and still are." And her audiences know that's the truth--whether she's soulfully interpreting jazz and pop standards in swanky nightclubs, entertaining political dignitaries (as she's often done) at special events, serving as vocal instructor for the Community Music Center of Houston, organizing therapeutic programs at Riverside General Hospital, or directing the choir at St. Phillip Missionary Baptist Church.
Whatever the context, Smith infuses her music with the kind of passionate intensity that she first experienced while singing and playing the tambourine in church. In short, her performances are consistently both inspired and inspiring.That's probably the quality that first attracted the attention of one of the great rock groups of the 1970s and '80s, the West Coast-based ensemble known as War. Fans will recall that band as the source of major hits such as "The World Is a Ghetto," "Cisco Kid," "Why Can't We Be Friends?" and "Low Rider." What some may not realize, however, is that Tweed Smith is the only female ever to be a member.
"War is the group I did my major recording and touring with, from '79 through '81," she proudly notes. In addition to her role as featured vocalist during nationwide concert tours and several major television appearances, Smith sang on three War albums (to which she also contributed several tunes as co-author). "They added me in celebration of their second decade of recording," she says. "And I was like a gift to the band."
This talented alto singer has various other impressive professional credentials, including a featured part in the American National Touring Company production of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. During her California tenure (1979-83) she also logged studio work as a backup vocalist for a long list of stars (Diane Reeves, Sly Stone, Sarah Vaughn, and Bobby Womack, to name just a few), and even worked with former Beatle Ringo Starr and the Rolling Stone's Ron Wood.
In 1983, Smith move to New York City, where she honed her craft as a jazz singer, especially during a long running gig at The Baby Grand (located just down the street from the famous Apollo Theater).
Today, happily based again in her hometown of Houston, Texas, Smith is able to draw from a deep well of musical exposure and expertise. And she still finds great joy in singing, whatever the venue or occasion. "I've been blessed to be able to do what I do," she reflects. "And now it's just a conglomeration of what I have done throughout my whole musical career." As such, a Tweed Smith performance has multi-faceted stylistic appeal, seasoned by the confidence and acumen of a true veteran performer.
--Roger Wood
Tweed’s Select Song list:
Blues l Jazz I Standards
Ain't Nobody's Business
All Blues
All of Me
Baby Baby Blues
Boy From Impanema
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Close to You
Days of Wine and Roses
Doctor Feel Good
Feel Like Making Love
Fever
Get on Down the Road
God Bless the Child
Goin' Outta' My Head
Good Morning Heartache
Into the Night
It Don't Mean a Thing
Masquerade
Misty
On a Clear Day
Positive
Saint James Infirmary
Satin Doll
Shadow of Your Smile
Since I Fell for You
Something
Stormy Monday
Summertime
Sunny
The Time is Now
The World is a Ghetto
What a Difference a Day Makes
What a Wonderful World
What's Goin' On
Whoop Baby
Yesterday
You are the Sunshine of my Life
Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used To
One For My Baby and One More for the Road
Gospel
Above All
Amazing Grace
His Eyes on the Sparrow
How Great Thou Art
How I Got Over
In Times Like These
Jesus is in the Miracle Business
My Soul Says Yes
Old Rugged Cross
Precious Lord
The Lords Prayer
When The Saints Go Marching In
Brief Facts:
Singing Styles: Gospel, Blues, Jazz......
Professional Singing Career began at the age of five. Listed in three editions of Who's Who in American Rock Music
(found in the Library of Congress Washington, DC)
Stage Performances:
Jesus Christ Superstar - American National Touring Company
Sweet Lorraine - Robinson Center - Little Rock AK.
Celebration of President Clinton's Election Victory )
Black Hair and Unspoken Prayer - The Ensemble Theatre
Pancho Clause
National Television Appearances:
Performed, recorded and toured as the only female member of the world renowned group "War"
Don Cornelius' Soul Train
Dick Clark's American Band Stand
The Mike Douglas Show
The Merve Griffin Show
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
Numerous variety shows
Working and Recording Relationships:
Ron Woods
Diane Reeves
Ringo Starr
Ronnie Laws
Bobby Womack
Sly Stone
Pointer Sisters
Sarah Vaughn
Stevie Wonder
And Countless others
Publications: (on the covers of)
Billboard
Cash Box
People
Blues and Soul
Black Radio Experience
...And Many Others
You may also see this
video on our Youtube site:
Tweed Smith
“Teach Me Tonight
“How Music Began”
An interactive lecture for young audiences on the origins of music via rhythmn and melody from the dawn of time to the hip-hop of today. Participants work with the artist to discover their own connection with their musical heritage. Targeted for youths, but great for all ages!
Tweed also offers Vocal Coaching & Music Workshops!
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NEWS FLASH! You are invited to Tweed Smith’s 2019 Birthday Celebration!
See below or CLICK HERE to read the full Houston Press Story.
Interested? Got a date in mind?
No-obligation Online Quote Request form
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