Corey Smith

The Georgia native melds country, rock and blues into a sound all his own. That distinctive musical flair, combined with Smith’s pensive, well-crafted lyrics and soulful Southern voice, has earned an enthusiastic legion of fans.

Smith grew up in Jefferson, Georgia, soaking up an array of music from George Jones to Lynyrd Skynyrd to Nirvana to Tupac. After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2001, Smith took a job teaching Social Studies at North Gwinnett High School in the northern suburbs of Atlanta and soon thereafter, married his college sweetheart, Shannon.

On impulse, he entered a songwriting competition and won the chance to record his first album, “Undertones.” “Undertones” birthed the college anthem “Twenty-One” – a nostalgic tune which tells the story of a young man’s desire first to know, and then to sustain, the carefree lifestyle associated with young adulthood.

The birth of his first son, Aden Ryan, marked a turning point in Smith’s personal and professional life, evident in his 2005 release, “The Good Life.”

The songs on his new album, “Hard-Headed Fool,” showcase a confident young artist in full command of his gift. Always a very visual songwriter, Smith’s lyrics have even greater depth and poignancy than before.