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.