Draft:Clay Smith

Clay Smith (music composer)

Clay Smith (music composer) Clay Smith, born June 29, 1953 in Charlotte, NC, is an award-winning American music composer, network television writer and producer, and entrepreneur. He is son of the famous Arthur Smith (composer of "Guitar Boogie" the all-time best-selling guitar instrumental, and "Dueling Banjos", the all-time best-selling banjo instrumental and theme for the motion picture Deliverance). Clay Smith is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Journalism/Communications Studies. Upon graduation, he turned down both an offer from CBS, and an acceptance into UCLA's Graduate Film Program. Instead, Smith followed his father's footsteps and joined the staff of Arthur Smith Enterprises and A. Smith Productions. Smith began his career running the traffic department of his father's television show, The Arthur Smith Show, which was the first nationally syndicated program featuring country music. Clay Smith juggled both sides of the business as he soon became Producer of his father's show for the last five years of its run (in an unbroken run which spanned 32 consecutive years). In addition to television, Smith produced and managed the Smiths' radio production/syndication business which earned media achievement awards [1]) with show hosts, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Richard Petty and Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith. At the same time Smith's music artistry developed as singer-songwriter and music producer. His discography is, as follows: Clay Smith - Smith & Son; Clay Smith & Arthur Smith – Guitars Galore; Clay Smith Decoupage; Clay Smith – Follow the River; all on Monument Records.;[1][2][3][4]

As a composer, Clay Smith and Arthur Smith became co-writers of major motion picture soundtracks including: A Day of Judgment (1981); Living Legend: The King of Rock and Roll (1980); Lady Grey (1980); The Last Game (1980); Wolfman (1979); Seabo (1978)a/k/a Buckstone County Prison (USA); Death Driver (1977)a/k/a Hell Racer (UK: video title); and Black Sunday (1976);[5][6][7]

The writing team of Clay Smith and Arthur Smith are recipients of the following awards: The Gold Squirrel Award, Grand Prize - First Place, International Real Life Adventure Film Festival "The Hawk and John McNeely" Original Music by Arthur Smith & Clay Smith; CINE 1980 -"The Hawk and John McNeely" Original Music by Arthur Smith & Clay Smith. The CINE award marks the highest international award for non-theatrical films.[8][9][10]

From 1977-1980, Smith lived and worked in Nashville, TN and served as General Manager of House of Cash, Inc. and Song of Cash, Inc., Johnny Cash's music companies. Johnny and Clay's father, Arthur were life long friends and Johnny recognized the younger Smith's intelligence and business acumen by naming him his lead administrator. Clay Smith was involved in the artist development of both Cash daughters, Rosanne Cash and Carlene Carter. Smith participated in both female artists' initial album productions. He accompanied Rosanne Cash to Munich for her first with Ariola Records (1977) and did the same for Carlene Carter (1978) in London for Warner Brothers.

As a television producer, Clay Smith was among the first team of producers to deliver programming for ESPN and especially "ESPN Outdoors" which began in 1982. For 12 consecutive years, Smith's productions were among the stable supply seen on ESPN. Smith and his father Arthur Smith created the "world's largest fishing tournaments"(Sports Illustrated, December 10, 1984)which aired annually on ESPN for a decade. Following his experience at ESPN, Smith was hired as head of Entertainment for Jefferson- Pilot Communications (1994–1999). Smith created and produced programming for ABC, CBS, ESPN, NBC, TNN, MTV, UNC-TV, and USA Networks. He was Executive Producer of the award winning series, "The Road to U.S. Olympic Gold" the official series of the U. S. Olympic Committee which was nationally syndicated and co-hosted by Pat O'Brien and gold metalist Mary Lou Retton.[11][12]

Smith owns and operates [Smith Group Management], and Clay Music Corporation and resides in Charlotte with his wife Charlene. He and his wife have two children, Scott and Caroline.[13]

References

^ a b http://www.cmaworld.com/news_publications/pr_common/press_detail.asp?re=590&year=2006 ^ www.netsoundsmusic.com/nst/nsud29288682.html ^ www.sonymusic.com ^ www.bsnpubs.com/tennessee/monument.htmlnsert ^ www.imdb.com ^ http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=clay+smith&x=11&y=11 ^ http://www.library.appstate.edu/appcoll/filmography.html ^ http://www.cine.org/about-us.php#golden-eagle ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_%22Guitar_Boogie%22_Smith ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/arthur-guitar-boogie-smith ^ http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122933/index.htm ^ http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A17788 ^ http://everything2.com/title/Arthur%2520Smith http://www.smithgroultd.com http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p34589/credits http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p126222/credits http://www.allmovie.com/artist/clay-smith-181452 http://amazon.imdb.com/name/nm0807739/ http://www.spock.com/Clay-Smith-MBszv1Nzk http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/534330 http://www.cine.org/about-us.php#golden-eagle http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122933/index.htm http://www.cmaworld.com/news_publications/pr_common/press_detail.asp?re=590&year=2006 http://www.library.appstate.edu/appcoll/filmography.html Categories: Living people 1953 births People from Charlotte, North Carolina American composers American television writers American television producers University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni