Stuart Smith (3)

Guitarist. The son of an R.A.F. jet fighter pilot, Stuart Smith was born in York, England and has been playing guitar professionally since he was 17 years old. Originally classically trained from 7 years old and further taught by Ritchie Blackmore, guitarist of Deep Purple, he went on to play with Sidewinder, French Kiss, Sweet, Keith Emerson, (E.L.P.), and Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow) amongst many others. In 1999 he released his first solo album on the Samsung label entitled “Stuart Smith's Heaven & Earth” which was produced by Pat Regan and Howard Leese, (Heart/Paul Rodgers) and featured such guest artists as Richie Sambora, (Bon Jovi), Joe Lynn Turner, (Rainbow), Glenn Hughes, (Deep Purple) Kelly Hansen, (Hurricane), Steve Priest, (Sweet) and Carmine Appice, (Vanilla Fudge). This CD was further licensed and distributed in Europe by Frontiers Records and Pony Canyon in Japan. After the success of this CD, he formed a solid musical partnership with long time friend and drummer Richie Onori and together they built The Wine Cellar Studios in Woodland Hills, California. At this point Stuart dropped his name from the project and at The Wine Cellar Studios they recorded the next Heaven & Earth CD entitled “Windows to the World”, which was produced by Howard Leese and featured Kelly Keeling, (Baton Rouge/Blue Murder) on vocals. The band toured to support this CD and then after a break Richie and Stuart along with partners Skip McCracken and George and Tina Altuzarra, formed their own record Label, “Black Star Records” on which the new Heaven & Earth CD entitled “Screaming for Redemption” featuring guest vocalist Paul Shortino, (Ruff Cutt) will be released later this year.