Anthony Smith

Born in eastern Tennessee, this musician developed an early and abiding passion for music. As a child, he frequently found himself transfixed by his father’s baby blue Fender guitar. By the time he reached six or seven, he had begun playing the instrument and mastering an assortment of songs. His listening ranged across country figures such as Johnny Paycheck and Johnny Cash as well as seventies rock bands like Aerosmith, ZZ Top, and Led Zeppelin. In his early twenties, he relocated to Kentucky to refine his craft. While there, he joined Sneaky Pete, the house band at the Soundstage Club, and informed those around him that the gig would serve as a stepping stone toward Nashville. Several years later he made that move. Networking through label contacts and songwriters, he earned a recurring slot in a singer/songwriter showcase at The Broken Spoke. Mercury Nashville chief Luke Lewis heard a demo and responded with immediate enthusiasm. After signing Smith, the label head enabled him to write for Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Lonestar, and Montgomery Gentry. His song “Didn't I” was included on the We Were Soldiers soundtrack. In 2001 Smith began recording his debut solo album, which Mercury Nashville released in June 2002 under the title If That Ain't Country.