| Bennie J. Smith is a Danville-Lexington, KY native currently based in Louisville. He is the eldest of 4 born into the union of Bennie and Dolores Smith. He grew up in the West End housing projects of Old Charlotte Court and was raised simultaneously in Danville and Lexington. As an adolescent thru his pre-teen years, he listened to the radio and records of artists such as Jackson 5, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Paul Revere & The Raiders and many countless others.
He started out playing the flutaphone in the 4th grade at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Lexington before integration. After the separation and divorce of his parents, his mother moved the family to Danville and as a means to address his aggressions, he learned to play the alto saxophone in the beginning band at Edna L. Toliver Elementary School under the tutelage of Mr. William Gravely. He. eventually played in the Bate Junior High School Band under Mr. Boyd. He also played little league football at the 6th Street Park. By the age of 14, the family relocated back to Lexington and he began playing in the Winburn Junior High School Band under Miss O’Nan. He also resumed his interest in sports and was on the football team playing whatever position there was a slot for. He then started playing with neighborhood musicians Billy Boy McCowan, Skeets Buchannan, Willie Fain and Tilford Wallace. He played his first professional gig at The Pipeline inside a boxing ring and made his first $5.00. As a saxophonist and vocalist, he performs and records instrumentally and vocally. While a member of THE CALCULUS II BAND and THE RAZZ-MA-DAZZ BAND, he had the BLESSED opportunities of being on the same billing with several national recording artists such as: MIDNIGHT STAR; S.O.S. BAND; READY FOR THE WORLD; ROGER TROUTMAN & ZAPP; THE DEELE; INSTANT FUNK BAND; CHOCOLATE MILK BAND; THE BAR-KAYS; SLAVE; EVELYN CHAMPAGNE KING; BOBBI HUMPHREY; CHANGING FACES; ALEXANDER O’NEAL; BRIAN O’NEAL; THE DAZZ BAND; KENANYA ISRAEL fka BAMM DAVIS; and NAJEE. Bennie J. opened for MORRIS DAY & THE TIME for the EVERYBODY’S FAVORITE BBQ & HOT SAUCE FESTIVAL in Louisville, KY at WATER TOWER PARK on June 4, 2022. He made his CALI and WEST COAST AREA debut on May 7, 2022 with a performance at “SMOOTH JAZZY BRUNCH” event located at the LINKS at VICTORIA GOLF COURSE in Carson, CA booked by Miss CHERYL JACKSON of CHERYL J. PRODUCTIONS. BENNY J. opened up for R&B crooner KEITH WASHINGTON during his TEXAS performance debut in Houston on Saturday November 27 in 2021 booked by Miss VERONICA MCCREARY of SOPHISTICATED LADY PRODUCTIONS and sponsored by Miss CHAMAINE JEFFERS of CDL4LIFE. Additionally, he opened for NORMAN CONNORS on MOTHERS’ DAY May 9, 2021 in Louisville, KY. He also opened for ROY AYERS back in 2019 in Downtown Louisville, KY and put together the backup band along with AYERS’ music director MARK ADAMS. Bennie J. released his latest single on June 28, 2022 of the ” EARTH WIND & FIRE cover and tribute of “I’LL WRITE A SONG FOR YOU” written by PHILIP BAILEY, AL MCKAY and STEVE BECKMEIER.
Spotify: I’ll Write a Song for You |
