Garage Door
Records and Blue Room Management Sign North Georgia-Based Country Group, Smith
& Wesley, with New CD Expected for Release in July
Band Set to
Play Riverbend Festival on Friday June 12
CHATTANOOGA, TN - Chattanooga-based Garage Door Records and
Blue Room Management announce the signing of North Georgia-based country music
group Smith & Wesley to label and management contracts. Garage Door Records,
which is distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution, will release the
group’s debut album, Choices & Chances, in July.
Smith & Wesley will soon announce special release shows
to celebrate the new album, and are also set to play the acclaimed Riverbend
Festival in Chattanooga on Friday, June 12.
(Photo Credit: Joe Killion)
Based out of the North Georgia/Chattanooga, Tennessee area,
the Smith & Wesley sound is driven by two brothers, Scott and Todd Smith.
Scott carries the lead vocals and plays acoustic guitar. His brother, Todd, also
plays acoustic guitar, as well as harmonica and provides vocal harmony. Part of
the band’s sound comes from their kinship, which provides the depth and richness
to the vocals of Smith & Wesley. Both Scott and Todd are also songwriters.
The two brothers have either individually or together written most of the songs
on Choices & Chances.
Formerly known as the Brody
Johnson Band, the group posted a recent Facebook message to its fans announcing
the new band name. “This new chapter will bring about some changes to the band -
starting with the name. Some of you know that Scott’s and Todd’s dad, Wes Smith,
recently passed on and went to see the man upstairs. In honor of him, the Brody
Johnson Band will now be known as Smith & Wesley. There will be some other
changes here and there, but the music will remain the same. We have some other
exciting things to announce in the coming weeks and months ahead, and we
sincerely appreciate everyone who has come out to support the Brody Johnson Band
these past few years. Please stick with us as we start the next leg of our
musical journey as Smith & Wesley!”
Growing up, the two brothers were required by their parents
to take piano lessons if they wanted to play sports in school. Thus, the
multiple sport duo began playing piano at an early age. It wasn’t too long
before their interest transformed from instruments with keys to those with
strings. Scott Smith is a self-taught musician with the guitar, mandolin, banjo,
and Dobro, and has a particular interest in bluegrass and classic country music.
Scott started the band in 2009, with most of the current members joining in
2010.
Much like his brother, and the other band members, Todd Smith
is no stranger to the music scene. He has been actively playing music for years,
as well as been a member of another band which tried its hand at scoring a
record deal, but fell just short. Before forming Smith & Wesley with his
brother, Todd previously landed an artist development deal as a solo artist with
a major record label.
The rest
of the musicians in Smith & Wesley all have strong family and personal
connections that run much deeper than just playing music. Keyboard player Greg
Gordy went to high school with both Scott and Todd. The father-and-son team of
Steve and Josh Pettyjohn are on electric guitars, trading lead and rhythm roles;
and on bass is Dee Callihan, who is part of the Pettyjohn family by marriage. On
drums is long-time friend of the guys in the band, Brad Thompson.
Collectively, they bring talents and experiences from all
ends of the musical spectrum, and those diverse influences are honed into a
driving country sound that never fails to have concert goers singing and dancing
along with them from the very beginning.
“The upcoming CD, Choices
& Chances, was recorded to be heard as a listening experience from start to finish,” says Scott
Smith. “The first part of the album is about decisions made and the
repercussions from those decisions.” Adds his brother Todd: “Whether it be
betrayal, bad habits or questionable decision making, most of these types of
choices often have less than favorable results. As the journey proceeds, the
songs lend themselves to better moods, courtship, love and reflection; thus
proving there is a chance of a better tomorrow out there. However, life would
be boring without both Choices &
Chances.”
