Window On The West Performers

RANDY SMITH

Randy Smith is a 45 year old husband, father of three and grandfather of one.  After previously living in St. Albert for 3 yrs in an attempt to further his musical career, Randy has relocated and currently resides in Devon with his wife, Rai.

Randy started singing before the age of 5, when at that time his only audience was his family and relatives.  His Grandparents had a local band ‘Allan Smith and the Serenaders’ who, played in the Innisfail, Alberta region.  Like most kids at that early age, when you want something ‘bad’ enough the only person you can really count on to help you get that ‘something’ is… Gramma.  Randy had a talent for singing and remembering lyrics to songs he’d heard his family play.  At age 5, while attending a Country Barn Dance with his family, he recognized a song that was being played and felt a sense of urgency come over him.  He immediately set into motion the means to get up on stage and sing with the band.  That’s right…GRAMMA!  From that day on, Randy kept his dream of being on stage alive, by singing at every opportunity he could, there was always a song in his head.  The only problem he experienced was extreme shyness.  To the extent that on a daily basis he would be singing out loud when no one was around, but then if someone happened to walk by he would continue singing but, under his breath.  Randy finally came out of the closet about his ability to sing when he was graduating from Grade 12.  They needed someone to sing bass for the Grad Choir and he stepped up to the challenge.  Though his reputation of being just a football player had people questioning his ability, he amazed everyone who harbored any doubts and comparisons were even made to ‘The Great Caruso.’

Over the years since then Randy has entered many contests winning a fair amount of them, but losing a fair amount also.  The one thing that he realized is that nothing and no one can or will tell him he can’t do it.  He came to understand that imitating other artists was not the way to advance his career.  Only through believing in himself and his music will he achieve success.

Randy had a solo career in Southern Alberta from ’87-’93, where he traveled all over Southern Alberta playing Clubs, Weddings, Private Functions and Volunteering his talents for various Charity events.  By the middle of ‘93 Randy joined forces with a country rock band ‘Wild Frontier’ and set out to tour Western Canada until early ‘97.  He sang lead and played Rhythm guitar with the band until they parted ways, because Randy noticed that the traditional music he loved to sing and write, was in a totally different direction than where the band was heading.  Randy made the ultimate decision to come off the road for a while and concentrate solely on his own original material of traditional country and make it happen.  Through his many experiences Randy has written songs about everyday issues in life like love, death, falling in love, abandoned children, falling out of love, human survival and just plain having fun songs.

Randy had recorded five songs back in ‘91-‘93, and had them released on compilation CD’s to radio stations through out the world.  In ‘94 he had three songs in the top 20 in Denmark and two songs in the top 50 in England.  One of which was a self penned song titled ‘Forever Friend’ in dedication to his late Father.  The first two verses of the song were originally a poem that he wrote fo his father, for the Father’s Day prior to his passing away.

In the last 3 years Randy has experienced some of his own highs and lows of the music business.  He has had the opportunity to go down to Nashville and write a couple of songs with fellow Canadian ‘Tim Taylor’, not to mention a life long dream to meet some of the stars of the ‘Grand Ole Opry’.  Such as the likes of: the late ‘Porter Wagoner’; the late ‘Billy Walker’; as well as ‘Lorrie Morgan’ and ‘Larry Gatlin’ to name a few.

Randy’s lows came to him a few months after returning from Nashville, in which he experienced some health issues that he is still currently trying to overcome.

Randy has always said that if he continues to write songs his way, from the heart, laced with soft spiritual undertones people would respect that.  His love of the ‘Classic’s and his passion for the survival of the ‘Traditional Country’ sound is what sets him apart from other artists.

Let Randy take you on a journey to places you’ve never seen before, just like re-visiting and old friend or meeting someone for the first time.  Someone you won’t soon forget.

He is Randy Smith.

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