After spending years of performing in numerous choirs, operas and teaching thousands of vocal music students, in the twilight of her life Dr. Smith decided to record an album, entitled "The Joys of Christmas."
WHY NOW?
Returning home after eight grilling hours in a recording studio where vocal lines were re-worked, and the "mixing process" carefully observed for my upcoming new album, The Joys of Christmas, I asked myself "Why now?" Why, when the label "senior citizen" fits perfectly with the glaring birth date on my birth certificate? Is it for money? No! Is it for fame? I don't think so! Is it to keep busy? No! Then . . . why? The answers did not come easy.
HERE ARE A FEW
Mamie Smith grew up independent, precocious and over-confident. She loved the piano, but entered college, lacking the skills to become the piano major written on her college application. Her experiences included: self-taught from very simple first and second year piano books, one year of being coached by a teacher and banged-out tunes during church services.
After graduating from college as a vocal music teacher and getting a Masters in Vocal Music Education, Smith traveled the world, performed as a soloist, sang in numerous choirs and operettas, and taught thousands of students across America and Okinawa, Japan vocal music. Later, she returned to Wayne State University in Michigan and earned a Doctorate in Administration. In all of her experiences, a desire to become a recording artist never entered her mind.
Decades later, when internationally-known Saxophonist Duane Parham convinced her to record a Single, entitled You Raise Me Up, she reluctantly took the leap. Now . . . look for her first album , The Joys of Christmas this Christmas (2020).
http://smithmamie.com
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