Country Music Artist & Songwriter - Karista Smith
Photo Credit Zero Dean

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Bio: (Source MySpace.com Listing)
Hi, my name is Karista Smith and I am a singer/songwriter and a Nashville recording artist. I was born in Palm Springs, California and grew up an hour north, in a small desert town called Yucca Valley.

I have always loved to sing. The first time I sang in front of an audience was at church with my sister at age 5. The song was called "Bullfrogs and Butterflies". I can still remember sitting in the front pew with my Daddy holding his hand. I leaned over to him and said "Daddy I am so nervous". That soon passed as I began singing regularly in churches, local retirement homes and anywhere else I could showcase my five year old talents. It was clear to my folks that they had an entertainer on their hands!

My piano teacher in encouraged me to sing professionally. I followed her advice and by age 12 I was performing in numerous musical theater productions. I felt at home on stage and loved every moment of it!

I started to write songs when I was 14. I was so excited when the first song I ever wrote was picked up by Epic Records. The artist ended up not using the song, but it sure gave me the confidence to keep writing.

When I was 15 I appeared on Star Search on CBS! One of the judges on the show was from Pantera Records (best known for the group Expose') and offered me a record deal. My parents and I decided to wait until I was older to make that big of a commitment. A year later I was selected to perform on another TV talent show called The New Original Amateur Hour. Willard Scott was the host and it aired on the Family Channel.

I always wanted to travel so I went an open call audition for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. I was chosen from 6,000 other girls to join a 14 showgirl show as the lead singer. I got to see so many places going all the way around South America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska. I even learned to scuba dive! It was fun and the shows were great.

I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in country music. I was sidetracked when a well known Big Band offered me the job as their lead singer. I fell in love with the whole swing scene for the dancing and really fun music. It reminded me a lot of the country music I loved so much. We developed a smaller version of the band, which became very popular, called the Speak Easy Spies. I was the head songwriter for the band as well as the lead vocalist.

We were on a compilation CD called Next Generation Swing. It sold over a quarter of a million copies and hit Billboard Top 200 at #105 with a song I wrote called “Hey Kat”! We had national radio play and completed two nationwide tours. We also had the great honor to perform for a Warner Brother’s Back Lot Party, the KTLA Morning Show and many high profile venues and charity events! I was sad when the swing scene came to an end, but excited about returning to my passion - country music!

I’ve had the great pleasure to work with some of the most amazing people in country music and made great friends in the process. I owe a lot to my friends in the Nashville Star Band and the other incredible musicians that played with me on this album, John Bohlinger, Lee Turner, Pat Severs, Megan Mullins, John Billings and Rich Redmond. I also have had the best vocal coaches in the world including personal training from Renee Grant Williams and Seth Riggs.

Now with my new band and friends I am actively pursuing my dream. I am currently seeking representation, airtime on radio & television and planning my summer tour. Music video plans are also in the works with Fluid Images (Titanic, Spiderman, Pirates of the Caribbean) Fluid Images is an Emmy Award winning film and video production company, and the home of the 85’ strada crane. That is going to be so awesome for my video!

I hope that you enjoy my new album as much as I enjoyed making it. This is a dream come true for me!

…Karista

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