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"I did go to art school, but my heart wasn't in it. I dedicated all of my spare time to learning the guitar and piano and starting to write songs."

 

An interview with Indie Music Hall of Fame inductee and

Indie Music Channel Award winning artist 

Grant Maloy Smith
Hometown: Wakefield, Rhode Island

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IMC Mag: "So take us back, Grant.  How did you get into music?"

 

GMS: "At five years old, I was entranced by the Beatles, who had taken over the music world. Every man, woman, and child on earth seemed aware of them. Their records were being sold everywhere - even gas stations and drug stores that had never sold records before. That was the start for me. I got a guitar and banged around on it at that age, having no idea how to play it. But I taught myself and found that I could play songs that I had heard by ear. However, I didn't know this was unusual - I assumed everyone could do that. At the same time, I was an artist, always drawing and painting. Art was my main focus until the end of high school. At that point, I had already been accepted into art school, and it seemed that would be my life's work. A few months before high school ended, I was walking across the courtyard when I heard someone playing a guitar and singing. I came over the hill and was shocked that my friend Scott was sitting on the grass, playing and singing. It surprised me because Scott was very shy, yet he was singing and playing in front of other kids. I stood there for a long time, just soaking in the scene. There might have been an audible "click" sound when my brain switched from wanting to be an artist to a musician. I did go to art school, but my heart wasn't in it. I dedicated all of my spare time to learning the guitar and piano and starting to write songs. After two years, I left the Rhode Island School of Design to pursue music and have never regretted it."

 

 

IMC Mag: "When did you start to really pursue your music career seriously?"

 

GMS: "After leaving college, I got a day job to support myself and my music. I spent several years getting recording equipment and learning to make demos. This experience was essential because I learned how to arrange a song. I also worked nights at a local recording studio, helping bands learn how to prepare their songs and arrangements before they recorded them. Soon enough, I was lucky to find other guys who wanted to be in a band playing original music. We practiced for a while, learning my songs. I was the singer and frontman, which was a fantastic experience. We eventually got good gigs opening up for some national acts like Steppenwolf, the Guess Who, Elvin Bishop, Jack Bruce and Friends, and more."

 

IMC Mag: "What are some of your most proudest accomplishments in your career?"

 

GMS: "I've been fortunate enough to perform at Carnegie Hall twice and Lincoln Center once in New York City. My music has been on the Billboard charts for over four months, including 11 weeks in the top 10. I earned several GRAMMY certificates for my work on a winning album and song. I've won many other significant awards, including Artist of the Year and Hall of Fame from the Indie Music Channel. I treasure every award."


IMC Mag: "What do you have coming up?"


GMS: "I released a major album in August 2024 called MISSISSIPPI: AMERICAN STORIES, which won many awards at the IMC Awards. I am working on several albums simultaneously right now. I will make a fourth album in my AMERICAN STORIES series of theme albums. But those take me years because of the research that goes into each. So, in parallel, I will release at least one non-theme album in 2025 and probably another in 2026. I work a lot with Kevin Lucas, a master instrumentalist on the marimba - we have released several joint projects together and have more in the works. I also produce music for other artists, so I will have multiple releases each year as a producer."

Link to where fans can buy Grant's music:   

www.grant-maloy-smith.com/shop

"Grant has so many great songs, but you gotta listen to Grant's version of "Scarborough Fair"!  It is awesome!!"

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