New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Chattanooga-based Garage Door Records and Blue Room Management announce the signing of North Georgia-based country music group Smith &
Wesley to label and management contracts. Garage Door Records, which is distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution, will release the group's debut album, Choices & Chances, in July.
Smith &
Wesley will soon announce special release shows to celebrate the new album, and are also set to play the acclaimed Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga on Friday, June 12.
Based out of the North Georgia/Chattanooga, Tennessee area, the Smith &
Wesley sound is driven by two brothers, Scott and Todd Smith. Scott carries the lead vocals and plays acoustic guitar. His brother, Todd, also plays acoustic guitar, as well as harmonica and provides vocal harmony. Part of the band's sound comes from their kinship, which provides the depth and richness to the vocals of Smith & Wesley. Both Scott and Todd are also songwriters. The two brothers have either individually or together written most of the songs on Choices & Chances.
Formerly known as the Brody Johnson Band, the group posted a recent Facebook message to its fans announcing the new band name. "This new chapter will bring about some changes to the band - starting with the name. Some of you know that Scott's and Todd's dad, Wes Smith, recently passed on and went to see the man upstairs. In honor of him, the Brody Johnson Band will now be known as Smith & Wesley. There will be some other changes here and there, but the music will remain the same. We have some other exciting things to announce in the coming weeks and months ahead, and we sincerely appreciate everyone who has come out to support the Brody Johnson Band these past few years. Please stick with us as we start the next leg of our musical journey as Smith & Wesley!"
Growing up, the two brothers were required by their parents to take piano lessons if they wanted to play sports in school. Thus, the multiple sport duo began playing piano at an early age. It wasn't too long before their interest transformed from instruments with keys to those with strings. Scott Smith is a self-taught musician with the guitar, mandolin, banjo, and Dobro, and has a particular interest in bluegrass and classic country music. Scott started the band in 2009, with most of the current members joining in 2010.
Much like his brother, and the other band members, Todd Smith is no stranger to the music scene. He has been actively playing music for years, as well as been a member of another band which tried its hand at scoring a record deal, but fell just short. Before forming Smith &
Wesley with his brother, Todd previously landed an artist development deal as a solo artist with a major record label.
The rest of the musicians in Smith &
Wesley all have strong family and personal connections that run much deeper than just playing music. Keyboard player Greg Gordy went to high school with both Scott and Todd. The father-and-son team of Steve and Josh Pettyjohn are on electric guitars, trading lead and rhythm roles; and on bass is Dee Callihan, who is part of the Pettyjohn family by marriage. On drums is long-time friend of the guys in the band, Brad Thompson.
Collectively, they bring talents and experiences from all ends of the musical spectrum, and those diverse influences are honed into a driving country sound that never fails to have concert goers singing and dancing along with them from the very beginning.
"The upcoming CD, Choices & Chances, was recorded to be heard as a listening experience from start to finish," says Scott Smith. "The first part of the album is about decisions made and the repercussions from those decisions." Adds his brother Todd: "Whether it be betrayal, bad habits or questionable decision making, most of these types of choices often have less than favorable results. As the journey proceeds, the songs lend themselves to better moods, courtship, love and reflection; thus proving there is a chance of a better tomorrow out there. However, life would be boring without both Choices & Chances."
For more information, visit www.garagedoorrecords.com
