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Described as an intellectual
artist who takes an independent stand to separate himself from the
“everyday norm” or usual and customary course of business, Damon’s
authenticity and slow and steady entry onto the music scene is
reminiscent of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, bandits
in their own right.
“I’m really not an outlaw; I’m really an all-American Joe,” Damon
says. “I’m not the “Man in Black” like Johnny Cash and I’m not a
hippie like Willie Nelson, I just come off as a rough- edged, fun-
spirited entertainer because my crowds sing loud and dance on
tabletops. They are the rowdy ones who just have fun and like to
listen to great country-rock music.”
The exterior packaging is different from the outlaws of eras
passed
-- Damon sports a trendier image than those who have gone before him
-- but the goal is the same: to uphold the standards of country music
while bringing back the raw edge that defines real country
rock.
True passion for the genre is evident in his music; he released his
first independent recording entitled “Jesus Runs With a Rough Crowd”
in January 2006 under his own imprint, Nomad Records. Originally
recorded as a country ballad, the single took on a life of its own
crossing over to
the Christian Country and Inspirational/Positive genres. Knocking out
prominent acts competing for the top spot (Brooks & Dunn, Rascal
Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and Rodney Atkins), the single
became a &035;1 hit on the Power Source Top 20 and Christian Music
Weekly charts receiving airplay on more than 900 radio stations,
including Armed Services Radio.
Forging his own trail to stardom, Damon’s rogue ways, business savvy,
musical style and high-energy performances only hint at the
entrepreneurial story behind this rising star. He credits his success
to his being a self-taught talent and knowing how to lead a team, a
skill he obtained working in a close-knit family business and
competing on the high school and collegiate levels as a member of a
wrestling team.
Damon grew up working in a funeral parlor alongside his father in Ada,
a small town in Oklahoma. This extraordinary upbringing instilled in
him a steadfast work ethic, taught him to respect others, revealed the
value of life and, consequently, exposed him to country music.
“On many occasions, I’d go with my father to pick up the deceased… day
or night,” Damon recalls. “He would do his work and I would listen to
country music. I remember hearing him sing ‘The Auctioneer’ by Leroy
Van Dyke as he worked.”
During these pivotal times, Damon claims he “earned good money for a
little brat.” Holding down a paper route and spending his free time
playing little league baseball, Damon became a focused, responsible,
sports-minded individual. He understood that the value system,
surrounding such a lifestyle would carry him far in future endeavors.
In keeping with the tradition of teamwork and dedication, Damon
pursued a spot on the high school wrestling team while most of his
peers immersed themselves in the football program prevalent at his
high school. Enjoying the sport, Damon dreamed of becoming an Olympic
athlete and having a future as a coach. He honed his wrestling skills
by seeking out training partners in nearby schools throughout his
teenage years and upon graduation, he attended Oklahoma State
University on a wrestling scholarship (he was a member of the 1994
NCAA National Championship Team).
As an OSU sophomore, Damon received his first guitar for
Christmas.
“My parents had more gifts for my older sister at Christmas and
decided to buy me a guitar to make up for it,” he remembers. “I took
it with me to college, taught myself a few chords and then taught
myself to sing.”
Damon eventually became a performing member on the Oklahoma Opry and
formed a band that entertained in and around the Texhoma region. Upon
his graduation, with his guitar and a marketing degree in hand, Damon
moved to Music City to pursue his musical dreams.
“I realized I wasn’t ready to compete when I first moved to Nashville.
I was green and I knew I had to grow as an artist,” he said.“I also
knew people would only take me seriously as an artist if I was
persistent enough to show them I wasn’t joking around.”
Heeding lessons learned from being a championship wrestler, Damon’s
goal first and forem ost was to assemble a credible and aggressive
team of individuals to build a strong foundation to ensure a future
with longevity. With an attitude rooted in dedication, persistency and
excellence, Damon knew he couldn’t fail.
“I am very humble and confident in my abilities; yet, I also know I
can achieve anything I set my mind to. I think this is evident in my
musical production and how I run my organization overall. Throw in my
small town virtues, honest lyrics that rock and you have Damon Smith,
the musical entity!”
Recognizing there was more going on behind the scenes than just
performing night after night, Damon delved into teaching himself how
to draw a crowd, concentrating on interacting and relating to fans in
a positive manner. Practicing the art of writing a believable song, he
continued to expand his talents with passion and heart to entertain on
the pro-level. Deciding to be more hands-on at his shows and in his
business, Damon also learned to run sound, built his website and
produced his own demos. Keeping in mind the ultimate goal of team
success and respect from his peers, Damon drew on his past experiences
for inspiration.
“Being in the funeral business, my father always reminded me we
represented the family and his name. Keeping this in mind, I came to
know it’s not all about Damon Smith, it’s about everyone on my team,"
he states. “Just like wrestling is scored as an accumulation of all
its team members points, my success comes from everyone pulling
together with the same goal of being successful.”
Damon has spent many years paving his own path to Music Row, weaving
off the elusive yellow brick road that dead-ends quickly for many a
new artist. Armed with the mantra “every day is a new day to the wise
man,” he bucked the traditional “move to Nashville and be discovered”
ideal and formed Nomad Entertainment for the sole purpose of managing
his career. In doing so, he successfully booked himself and his band, …
the beautiful mistakes, for more than 175 shows every year absent the
resources of a major agency.
“I went after a career in the music industry because I didn’t feel
like waiting on someone to make my dream of success a reality,” Damon
states. “I started out by trying to find the music business any way I
could. I went to where the music and the people were and it evolved
from there.”
Damon has succeeded as well in building a dedicated fan base doing
country music his way. He has graduated from small gigs on the local
scene to now having top billing at notable country bars and
roadhouses, and fairs and festivals across the country. He also
impressed fans internationally by headlining a ten city tour in
Brazil, selling out venues with a capacity of up to 10,000
people.
“I’ve been beating the road up for years – there are holes in my jeans
and holes in my boots,” he jokes.
In an effort to stay close to his fans and expose his talents to those
“hungry” for fresh music, Damon continuously appears at the CMA
Country Music Festival. His charismatic performances and stellar
reputation garnered him invitations to perform on the Chevy and
Acoustic Corner stages, and in 2007, he completed his sixth and most
successful year at the famed festival, greeting fans who stood in line
in excess of two hours to meet this young sensation.
Besides showcasing his musical versatility as a touring artist, Damon
delivers the goods as a vocalist. His flexible tenor is spirited and
robust on rock injected numbers, while raw and honest on understated
ballads. Infusing the influences of John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson,
George Strait, Tom Petty, and Garth Brooks, Damon truly has created a
maverick image and sound which he is proud to call his own.
“I know my sound fits inside a box but I also know a lot of artists
try to break in by following trends because they are scared to do
anything different,” he states. “I have avoided being categorized
because I am young enough to stay determined and as competitive in
music as I was in sports. I am an artist of today, tomorrow and the
future!”
