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Ron Smith, a former V.P. for consumer goods giant Lever Brothers , was billed as "East Coast Leading Sinatra Vocalist" in major ads in 1998 and 1999 in New Jersey's Asbury Park Press when performing Sinatra Tributes in upscale New Jersey restaurants like Manhattan Steakhouse in Oakhurst(10 week gig) , My Way in Edison (6 week gig) and South Street in Freehold.(16 week gig). Ron also performed 10 songs at "Big Band Night" at Long Branch(audience of 5000) and was the vocal guide on Pocket Songs karaoke Sinatra album #1388 entitled "We'll Be Together Again"--one of biggest-selling Sinatra karaoke cd's produced by Pocket Songs--the largest karaoke distributor in the U.S. As a tribute singer, Ron was considered several levels above Sinatra Jr., Frankie Randall and a host of other A.C./ Vegas vocalists when performing "young" Sinatra Tributes meaning songs sung by Sinatra in his prime(1940-1965). After performing a benefit at the well-known Count Basie Theatre in Redbank N.J., Ron was advised by a local agent for British legend Tom Jones that he could not be booked into the major lounges in Atlantic City using karaoke cd's but had to have a 15 piece orchestra plus Ron would have to start singing "older" Sinatra songs(post 1970). Dejected, Ron completed his commitments for the next 6 months and quit singing professionally in December 1999. He now returns with his own style and the objective of establishing his own musical identity rivaling other "easy listening" cover singers like Connick Jr. Michael Buble, Michael Feinstein and lately --Rod Stewart. Ron essentially "swings" the upbeat songs with an easy natural Sinatra-like style and performs soft romantic ballads with unsurpassed feeling and a plaintive silky smooth voice reflecting many vocal influences from Sinatra ,Crosby, and Bennett to Fred Astaire and Billie Holiday. His planned billing will be "Torch Singer Extraordinaire---East Coast Leading "easy listening" Cover Singer." Personal Background: 2 ex-wives, 3 children , 6 grandchildren, attended exclusive Riverdale H.S. with David Carradine(later Kung Fu on Tv), degree in philosophy and economics from U.S.Carolina, post-graduate studies at Pace U. in accounting/finance , member mensa , 35 years in computer systems field primarily at executive level at Squibb, Lever Brothers, and Sunshine Biscuits,wrote only program on the planet capable of creating a data base containing the universe of every chess game (white/black/white etc for every game leading to checkmate or stalemate) that could ever be played(written up in IBM's ComputerWorld in 1978), had 3 hole-in-ones at Pine Brook Golf Course in Manalapan N.J. (full page article in 7/20/94 Asbury Park Press ), auditioned for Bennett's singing coach in 1955 while a junior in college, was asked to come back after graduation but because of the intense competition of "in-their-prime" vocalists like Sinatra, Bennett, Como, Cole and Martin ,Ron elected to go on to graduate school and into the business world temporarily forsaking a singing career --which he did not pursue until after retiring. Despite Ron's age (71), because he has never smoked and drinks at best--moderately--he has amazingly--the vocal sound of a 35 year old. Unfortunately, Ron is currently battling terminal prostate cancer(one of the worst cases on record with an initial PSA of 3,620) with at best 9 months left under "orthodox medicine" but of course he will attempt to win the battle using alternative treatments readily researched on the internet(such as cancertutor.com). Because of Ron's considerable vocal talent, background and circumstances, friends/agents are at work trying to arrange a special appearance on Jay Leno or Regis Philbin Track List: 1. so nice to come home to 2. don't worry about me 3. cry me a river 4. meditation 5. can't get started with you 6. love walked in 7. lover gal 8. insensitive 9. you go to my head 10. as time goes by 11. I thought about you 12. cottage for sale 13. mood indigo 14. I'm a fool to want you 15. we'll be together again 16. it happened in monterey 17. I got it bad and that ain't good 18. day by day 19. quiet nights 20. that's all Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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