Valerian Smith

American songwriter and producer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Born May 15, 1926 in Charleston, West Virginia, died Nov. 19, 1992 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Valerian E. Smith was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He attended public schools in his home town and earned both his undergraduate and professional degrees at Howard University, Washington, D.C. He located and opened his dental practice in South Baton Rouge more than four decades ago. Typically, for him, he provided low cost and no cost services to many indigent persons in the community. He acquired the love of music from his parents and his avocation as a musician and playwright played a significant role in his life. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and toured with a musical group both overseas and in the U.S. He authored countless musical compositions, wrote, directed and produced stage productions and musicals. Notable among these are Changes, Supper, Awake, Black Vuai, Tribulations (a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) and a musical fable for children's theater, A Cat's Tale. He founded the musical, theatrical performing group, the Baton Rouge Community Chorus. His daughter the actress Lynn Whitfield.