Despite his young age, Ricky Smith’s performance career spans over a decade.

Smith, 19, is a freshman in the Bandier Program for Music and the Entertainment Industries and began singing at 8 years old. He started playing piano and guitar soon after and auditioned for a talent manager, with whom he signed around the same time.

Smith has acted professionally in episodes of “Law & Order” and “30 Rock” and was in the film “Notorious.” He also performed in a Broadway production of “The Color Purple.” Smith said he stepped away from acting at the age of 14 because he felt he wanted to be a “normal kid.” It was around this time that he began to further pursue his musical interests.

As an artist, Smith sings, writes songs and produces music.

“Anybody that’s ever worked with Ricky Smith knows that he’s very much an idea man. He will always have a new idea to bring to the table,” said freshman Andrew Horvath, who has performed with Smith. “His voice is one of the most amazing ones that I’ve heard. It just emanates soul so much.”

Smith said that as a Bandier student, he finds that seeing music from both a creative and business viewpoint is beneficial, and that understanding music theory is important for any artist.

“What’s really cool is being able to be part of the whole process,” Smith said. “I really just enjoy creating, writing and producing and making a song from the ground up.”

Smith currently has one song available on SoundCloud. He recorded the single in his hometown of Manhattan with the production duo The Echo Brothers, whose music has been chartered on Billboard.

Smith performed a set at Webster Hall in Manhattan with the band Regret the Hour. He most recently performed at Syracuse in the fall at Funk ‘n Waffles — where other Bandier students, including freshman Evan Pacheco, accompanied him.

“Ricky has a great determination when it comes to promoting himself, showing the world what he’s made of in terms of his music,” Pacheco said. “Just the way that he presents himself, even with something as simple as the facial expressions that he makes and (how) he responds to people in the crowd individually, he really knows how to work the crowd.”

Smith plans to perform on campus at some point this semester, though a date has not been set. He said the best part of performing is having people connect to the music he makes.

“It’s a process itself, and being able to connect with people and to have an impact on a person with your music is a very rewarding thing,” Smith said.

In early December, Smith signed with Foundations Artists Management with Max Gredinger as his manager, a graduate of the Bandier program. Smith connected with Gredinger through the Bandier Program’s Facebook group before formally signing with him.

Smith said working with Gredinger has been a positive experience because of how supportive Gredinger’s been.

“It’s been really great. It’s a great feeling to know that there’s someone out there working for me and really pushing my stuff to people and creating opportunities,” Smith said.

Smith recently received a BMG Chrysalis Scholarship In Honor Of Quincy Jones from the ASCAP Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting musicians. Smith said David Rezak, director of the Bandier Program, was the reason he received the award.

“It was a really big honor. I felt so blessed to be among such great company,” Smith said. “(I) really want to emphasize how awesome it’s been being in Bandier and how supportive they’ve been.”

As for now, Smith hopes to continue pursuing music as a solo artist.

“I’m just trying to be the best version of myself, be as good as possible, and I want to be a good person,” Smith said. “That’s what I’m trying to do, in addition to creating as good music as possible.”

Smith recently brought recording into his dorm room and has set up a studio, where he hopes to start recording sessions.

“I’ve been looking to tap into the artistic community at school and create a scene and bring people together to make really cool stuff, and I think my room will be a really great place to do that,” Smith said.

Published on January 20, 2015 at 12:02 am

Contact Isha: idamle@syr.edu