Brent Stephen Smith (born January 10, 1978) is an American singer best known as the

lead vocalist The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

of the rock band

Shinedown Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed by singer Brent Smith in 2001 after the dissolution of Dreve, his previous band. Smith, still under contract with record label Atlantic Records, recruited the band's original l ...

Early life

Smith was born in

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Tennessee, Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Di ...

and is an only child.

Career

Prior to fronting the rock band Shinedown, Smith had a high school band named Blind Thought and later was the lead singer in a band called Dreve, which Atlantic Records had signed. Atlantic Records forced Brent to either find another band or lose his record deal. He then went to Los Angeles, California to record with well-known producer Desmond Child. Shortly after returning home to Knoxville, Tennessee, Atlantic dropped the band but retained Smith. He put together Shinedown shortly after. He was soon given a developmental contract by

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

. Smith moved to

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...

and began working on the project in 2001. Brent Smith 2012

The first member he recruited was bassist

Brad Stewart Brad Stewart (born November 19, 1974) is an American bassist, best known for his work with hard rock bands Shinedown and Fuel. He now plays in Saliva, Society Red, and Burn Season. Career Shinedown Stewart was the second member to join Shinedo ...

through local Jacksonville music producer Pete Thornton. Smith and Stewart began recording demos together in a small local studio, whose owner recommended they meet with her fiancé, guitarist Jasin Todd, who Smith brought in as the third member. The original lineup was rounded out by drummer Barry Kerch, who was the seventh drummer the band had auditioned for the spot. The four worked together on creating demos, and submitted their work-in-progress material to Atlantic, who approved of the material and green-lighted a full-length album. The band's debut album, ''

Leave a Whisper ''Leave a Whisper'' is the debut studio album by American rock band Shinedown. The album was released on May 27, 2003, faring well due to the success of the singles "Fly from the Inside" and "45". Recording took place at Henson Recording Studios ...

'' was released May 27, 2003. The album was eventually certified platinum by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

in the United States, indicating sales of over one million. Shinedown has since released six more studio albums: ''

Us and Them Us and Them may refer to: *The sociological concept of in-group and out-group *'' Us & Them'', an American television series * ''Us and Them'' (Australian TV series), a 1994 Australian comedy television series * "Us and Them" (song), by Pink Floy ...

'' (2005), ''

The Sound of Madness ''The Sound of Madness'' is the third studio album by American alternative metal/hard rock band Shinedown, released June 24, 2008. The album's lead single, " Devour", was released to radio on May 5, 2008. It is their first release to feature Eric ...

'' (2008), ''

Amaryllis ''Amaryllis'' () is the only genus in the subtribe Amaryllidinae (tribe Amaryllideae). It is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, ''Amaryllis belladonna'', is a native of the Western Cape region of ...

'' (2012), ''

Threat to Survival ''Threat to Survival'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Shinedown. It was announced on August 7, 2015 that the album would be released on September 18, 2015. Four singles were released from the album, "Cut the Cord", "State of My H ...

'' (2015), ''

Attention Attention ''Attention Attention'' is the sixth studio album by American Rock music, rock band Shinedown. It was released on May 4, 2018. It is a concept album, depicting an individual overcoming negativity and related problems to be reborn as a new person. ...

'' (2018), and ''

Planet Zero ''Planet Zero'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band Shinedown, released on July 1, 2022. The release date was originally set for April 22, 2022, but was postponed due to a delay in CD and vinyl production. The album topped the all-g ...

'' (2022). In 2014, Smith and

Zach Myers Michael Zachary Myers (born November 7, 1983) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter who founded and is currently the lead singer and guitarist for the rock band The Fairwell. He is also the former bassist and current guitarist for the h ...

started an acoustic side project called Smith & Myers. 2016 RiP Shinedown - Brent Smith - by 2eight - DSC8730

In early 2016, the band started recording their sixth album, as they revealed in an interview with Wes Styles of the 97.7 WQLZ radio station. The album, ''

'', was released on May 4, 2018. The first single off the album, titled "

Devil A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of t ...

", was released on March 7, 2018. On August 28th, 2022 Brent was presented with a key to Knox County at a concert in his hometown Knoxville, Tennessee by former wrestler and current Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.

Personal life

Smith has a son, Lyric Santana Smith, with his ex-fiancé, Ashley Smith Marshall. For years, Smith struggled with both drug and alcohol addiction and weight management. Following an intervention from his then-girlfriend, Smith eventually lost weight through exercise and a healthier diet, including quitting drinking. Smith says that his former girlfriend, Teresa, his son, and his fans inspired him to lose weight and become healthier.

Discography

Shinedown

* ''

'' (2003) * ''

'' (2005) * ''

'' (2008) * ''

'' (2012) * ''

'' (2015) * ''

'' (2018) * ''

'' (2022)

Smith & Myers

* ''Volume I'' (2020) * ''Volume II'' (2020)

Other

Halestorm Halestorm is an American rock band from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Lzzy Hale, her drummer brother Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger, and bassist Josh Smith. The group's self-titled debut album was ...

** "Here's to Us (Guest Version) (feat.

Slash Slash may refer to: * Slash (punctuation), the "/" character Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Slash (Marvel Comics) * Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'') Music * Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band * Nash ...

, Brent Smith,

Wolfgang Van Halen Wolfgang William Van Halen (, born March 16, 1991) is an American musician. The son of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, he performed alongside his father as the bassist for the rock band Van Halen from 2006 to 2020. He also performed with the heavy m ...

Myles Kennedy Myles Richard Bass (born November 27, 1969), known professionally as Myles Kennedy, is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Alter Bridge and the lead vocalist in guitarist S ...

James Michael James Andrew Michael is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, singer, sound engineer and mixer. He is currently the lead singer of the rock band Sixx:A.M. Early life He took piano lessons while growing up and sang in Holland High ...

, Tyler Connolly,

David Draiman David Michael Draiman ( he, דוד מיכאל דריימן; born March 13, 1973) is an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distorted, operatic, baritone voice and percussive singing style, he is best known as the lead vocalist of the ...

Maria Brink Maria Brink (born December 18, 1977) is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the frontwoman of the metal band The band has gone on to release seven studio albums and receive four nominations, two from Alternative Press Music Awards, ...

)" ('' The Strange Case Of... (Reissue Version)'') *

In This Moment In This Moment is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed by singer Maria Brink and guitarist Chris Howorth in 2005. They found drummer Jeff Fabb and started the band as Dying Star. Unhappy with their musical direction, they ...

** "Sexual Hallucination (feat. Brent Smith)" ('' Black Widow'') *

Apocalyptica Apocalyptica is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Helsinki, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso, and jazz drummer Mikko Sirén. Originally a classical ...

** "Not Strong Enough (feat. Brent Smith)" ('' 7th Symphony'') * Dreve (Brent's previous band) *

Saliva Saliva (commonly referred to as spit) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth. In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be ...

** "Don't Question My Heart (feat. Brent Smith)" (''

WWE The Music, Vol. 8 ''WWE The Music, Volume 8'' is a Compilation album, compilation album released by WWE on March 25, 2008. Unlike WWE The Music, Vol. 7, Volume 7, which was released exclusively on iTunes, Volume 8 was sold as a Compact Disc, CD (much like other WWE ...

'') ** "My Own Worst Enemy (feat. Brent Smith)" ('' Cinco Diablo'') *

Theory of a Deadman Theory of a Deadman (abbreviated as Theory or TOAD) is a Canadian rock band from North Delta, British Columbia. Formed in 1999, the band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as 604 Records. The band includes traits of music styles ...

So Happy ''So Happy'' is the second music album by American comedian and singer Eddie Murphy, released in August 1989 by Columbia Records. A funk and soul effort with often humorous sexual lyrics, it was co-written and co-produced by Murphy with sever ...

" * One Less Reason "Seasons (feat. Brent Smith)" (''Faces & Four Letter Words'') * Daughtry "There and Back Again"

References

External links

Official website

Interview @ smnews.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Brent Living people People from Knoxville, Tennessee 1978 births Singers from Tennessee American heavy metal singers Shinedown members 21st-century American singers