Who Is: American Idol songwriter Jay Smith
When you first meet this unassuming young man Jay Smith, you don’t think of an emerging Country Music songwriter…but then like mama always says, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Short of Charlie Pride and Darius Rucker, it’s not a common thing to catch an African American who is in extremely huge demand in the Country scene…or I guess I should say, it’s just not common knowledge.
Outside of the music, Jay Smith, lives a life of service, not just to God but to mankind. During our conversation, his greatest emphasis was on how he feels responsible to give back, and as he gives back, he receives a ten-fold return. “I just can’t give it all away, God gives it back to me almost as soon as I toss it out there…You can’t out give God” he tells us.
The Back Story
Everyday, we are reminded in some way just how much we need to stay connected to our source of life – Christ Jesus. Chances are, you or someone you know has been affected by cancer or other related diseases. Jay Smith, songwriter of (I Love You This Big – Scotty McCreery) American Idol takes a stand and delivers new inspiration after writing the hit single for the country star who’s single sold gold with more than 830,135.00 and in 2014 was certified platinum by the RIAA, helping the album “Clear As Day” sell Platinum with more than 1,076.050 copies.
In 2012, Country Hip Hop star Colt Ford enlisted Jay Smith to write “Happy In Hell” which features Grammy Winner/Multi Platinum group Boys II Men and “Dancin’ While Intoxicated (DWI) featuring Low Cash Cowboys and Red Neck Social Club for his Declaration of Independence album which was debuted #1
on the Billboard Country charts and #2 on the Billboard Hip-hop charts. Jay’s talent and artistic penmanship continues to be sought, currently by artist Serayah McNeill, who plays Tiana Brown, on FOX tv #1 show EMPIRE.
Today, Jay Smith joins Crossroad magazine as a contributing artist of the “Take A Stand” Campaign in efforts to assist those who are currently
fighting the dreadful epidemics of Cancer, Arthritis, and Mental Health. The Single “Your Will” is available for purchase on iTunes and other digital platforms and will benefit organizations like St. Jude Children Hospital, The Arthritis Foundation, and America Mental Health Foundation.
A quick list of his current professional accomplishments includes:
+ #1 placement – YouTube 17, 838 views | + Vimeo – 322 views
+ #3 placement – iTunes New Artist Spotlight
+ #22 placement – iTunes Charts Inspirational (Art of the mix)
+ #8 placement – Daily Play MPE Christian Weekly, Christian AC Top 20 Stream
+ #16 placement – Daily Play MPE Christian Weekly, Christian AC Top 20 Downloads
We got a chance to meet Jay Smith during our Houston, TX Meet and Greet event and there is such a great aura around him, it’s pretty much impossible not to find him interesting and inspiring. In our “Live Session” conversation, he relayed how he got into the entertainment industry, quite unplanned as he explains it, “Somebody saw something in me and took a chance…” he says and well, the rest is history in the making.
After losing both of his parents at a young age, his story of survival and triumph, which he gives all credit to his creator for, is one of inspiration and intestinal fortitude…nobody can tell it the way he can so, listen in to our exclusive conversation and get the answer to “Who Is” Jay Smith! We also get the back story on his new single “Your Will” and that is a story unto itself.
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Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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