Larry Smith has enjoyed a long and successful career in almost all aspects of performing in the music business. Larry currently resides and performs in Key West, Florida. Larry started playing piano in Pennsylvania at age four and played clarinet professionally in his dad’s band by age 12.
Larry wrote, performed, and recorded for Don Kirshner (Columbia) which brought him to national prominence. He later went on to write, perform, musically direct, and record with The Allen Harris Band of Woodstock, N.Y. The band inked a record deal with Columbia’s Tappan Zee label, where Larry co-wrote and arranged many of the songs on the album “Oceans Between Us," which enjoyed wide critical acclaim. The record was produced by industry heavyweight Bob James (presently of Fourplay) and featured guest soloists Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone) and Hubert Laws (flute).
Larry went on to write music for CBS network television, inked a publishing, production, and recording deal with Marshall Chess, played Hammond B3 on Gospel Records, and started a jingle company. His production company created the Larry Smith Show, and the Central New York cable TV network that carried it where he provided a showcase for the talents of Woodstock/NYC musicians. Larry toured with the Don Moore Band and enjoyed a residency with him in the showrooms of the Catskill Mountain Hotels.
Larry has been living and performing in Key West for over 20 years where he continues his love of showcasing musicians by producing his weekly Larry Smith Sunday Showcase Series which has become a must-see Key West institution. The show features musicians from throughout the United States as well as international guests, most recently from Italy, Portugal, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Holland, Turkey, England, and Japan.
Larry is married to singer/songwriter Christine Cordone. He also performs with his daughter, Journey Blue Heaven, a prolific singer/songwriter who currently resides in Woodstock NY. He continues to write, arrange, produce, perform, and record original music.