Brent Smith
Brent Smith |
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Brent Smith (born January 10, 1978) is the lead vocalist and singer-songwriter of the band Shinedown. His biggest influences as a singer are Otis Redding, Billie Holiday, and Chris Cornell.
Personal life
Brent has previously suffered with an addiction to drugs such as cocaine and Oxycontin, but has now been sober since 2008. He credits the birth of his son, Lyric, with this turn around, stating that he "saved me from my vanity." He wrote a song called "If You Only Knew" about his "Lady" or mother of his child. Brent says he would not ever write a love song, but then again never really had something to write about. He often discusses this song in his concerts."[1] Brent is a cousin to actress Olivia Wilde [citation needed].Olivia introduced Zach Myers to Brent, while Olivia and Zach dated from 2003-2005. When Shinedown needed a bassist in 2005, Brent got Zach. He currently writes all songs for shinedown.
Early career
In the early 90s Brent was in a band called "Blind Thought." Directly before Shinedown, Brent was the lead singer in a band called "Dreve," which operated in the East Tennessee area.[2] He was soon given a developmental contact by Atlantic Records, however, Brent left to find other musicians to form a new band which would become Shinedown.[citation needed]
Collaborations
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (August 2010) |
- He is featured on a song with hard rock band Saliva called "Don't Question My Heart", which was the ECW brand's theme song, which features on WWE The Music, Vol. 8.
- He also features on another song with hard rock band Saliva called "My Own Worst Enemy" which features on Saliva's Sixth Album Cinco Diablo.
- He is credited with co-writing the song "There and Back Again" on Daughtry's self-titled debut album.[3]
- Brent is featured as a background vocalist on Theory of a Deadman's single, "So Happy".
- Acoustic cover of Alice In Chains "Nutshell". Duet with Shaun Morgan, the lead singer of Seether. The song is featured on The 97X Green Room: Volume 2.
- Performed vocals on "Not Strong Enough" for Apocalyptica on their new album 7th Symphony.