Terrence Wintersmith

About

If you had to sum up Terrence Wintersmith’s musical career in one singular word, it would be an easy thing to do: diversity. Over a career spanning forty years, Wintersmith has performed and recorded with such eclectic artists as eighties pop diva Laura Branigan, surf music pioneer Dan Hamilton, country legends Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph , and jazz musicians Chester Thompson , and Jeff Coffin to mention a few.

His musical roots run deep in the foothills of southeastern Oklahoma where Wintersmith played back road honky tonks on Saturday nights, and then sang southern gospel music at little churches around the area on Sunday mornings.

In 1978, Wintersmith recorded his first album, a collection of original ballads entitled Love Music.

The album was produced by Grammy award winning engineer/producer, Phil York. Several members of the Dallas symphony performed on the album as well.

In the summer of 1979 Wintersmith relocated to the west coast and immediately landed a job with Chrysalis Records. Chrysalis was the hot label in town in the early eighties. Their roster included, Jethro Tull, Blondie , Pat Benatar and the Babys

The following year, Wintersmith purchased John Fayhey’s Takoma Studios which was located across town in Santa Monica, California. Wintersmith began recording artists such as Bonnie Rait, Maria Muldair, Taj Mahal, to mention a few.

In the mid-eighties, Wintersmith returned to the stage performing alongside of his dear friend, Danny Hamilton in the Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds Show. Their hits included ‘Don’t Pull Your Love’ and Fallin’ in Love. 1n 1984, Wintersmith and Hamilton joined Laura Branigan’s Self Control tour as her support vocalists.

In 1994 Wintersmith began to direct his talents toward the world of jazz, and with his wife by his side founded the jazz vocal group, TRIAD. Along with fellow band member, Frederic Boyle they began playing jazz festivals across the country. Consequently, they were signed to Nashville based jazz label, Artifex Records. Their 1985 release, Terry’s Tavern was a critical success. While touring to support the album they were invited to perform onboard the famous ocean liner, the Queen Mary, which was permanently docked in Long Beach, California. They were a huge hit with southern California jazz aficionados and they became the house band performing nightly in the Queen Mary’s Observation Lounge.

In 1997, Triad decided to go their separate ways. Wintersmith and his wife, Patricia decided to stay in Nashville. Wintersmith was offered the position of label manager for Artifex and accepted. During his tenure, he signed jazz saxophonist, Jeff Coffin , among several others. Wintersmith also produced the Third Coast Jazz Ensemble which featured many of Nashville’s top studio musicians playing their original smooth jazz compositions.

In 2012 Wintersmith began composing and producing kindie rock music which was gaining in popularity with young moms and their kids. Wintersmith set all of his kindie tunes to animation. He began to work with his three young daughters, and the following year, they became known in kindie rock circles as the Treetop Sisters. In December the following year, The Treetop Sisters released an original holiday song written and produced by Wintersmith and performed by the Treetop Sisters. Nicki and the Crew was a huge success, making it’s way onto the holiday radio charts.

So what is Terrence Wintersmith doing these days? He has a six-song ep coming out Oct. 21. There are twenty musicians playing on this collection of original jazz and world music. Wintersmith wrote and produced all the tracks. It includes guest performances by legendary drummer Chester Thompson, Brazilian guitarist Marcel Camargo, who tours with Michael Bublé , as well as his old friend Jeff Coffin , saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band and the Jeff Coffin Mutet.

Wintersmith’s friend, and former Head of A&R for Warner Records, Michael James mixed the songs at his northern California studio. He has an outstanding talent for bringing out exceptional performances sonically, and they really enjoy working together. Wintersmith could not be more excited about getting his latest music out to the global community.

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