Lorenzo

Hailing from the modest community of Havana, Florida, just beyond Tallahassee, Lorenzo Smith established himself as a slow jam specialist. The onetime high school athlete possessed the sturdy physique and striking presence that appealed strongly to female listeners. Gospel elements shaped his vocal phrasing and expressive delivery, a direct result of his family’s longstanding church involvement. Early on, Michael Jackson, El Debarge, and New Edition figured prominently among his musical touchstones, though the soul classics favored by his mother—Otis Redding, James Brown, and Sam Cooke—exerted an equally powerful pull. Later he absorbed the sophisticated approach of urban soul figures such as Luther Vandross, Freddy Jackson, Will Downing, and comparable artists.

For his debut project, Let Me Show You, Lorenzo worked with Alpha International Productions, which placed distribution through CEMA Records. The single “Tic Tok” generated regional attention yet failed to achieve wider traction. At nineteen he released his sophomore effort, the self-titled Lorenzo, on Alpha International Records; the album became his strongest commercial seller and yielded the charting singles “Real Love” and “I Can’t Stand The Pain.” He also penned the tracks “My Love” and “Natashall.” Contractual disagreements with Alpha International, also known as Alpha Crew, resulted in a three-year gap before his next release. Love On My Mind appeared in 1995 on Luke Campbell’s Luke Records, where Lorenzo supplied guest vocals for Campbell’s Uncle Luke album as well, after which he receded from public view.