Rob Smith graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University's College of Music, has performed in almost every major city in the U.S., and has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music, including Sugar Ray, Jewel, Huey Lewis and the News, Switchfoot, Vanessa Carlton and Pat Benatar. As a busy studio musician on guitar and bass, he has also worked with world-renown engineers and producers. He has been heard on radio, TV, film, and many other artist’s recordings.
Rob is heavily influenced by songwriters, including newer artists like Ben Harper and Jack Johnson to legends like Stevie Wonder and Joe Cocker. His rhythmic driven guitar parts groove with a comfortable laid back intensity. Vocals span the gamut from a gravel voiced scream to a fragile vulnerable whisper. The song dictates it all.
"There are good elements in everything. You just have to look for it and learn from it. I listen to everything from country to jazz, classical to hip-hop, funk to Americana. I consider my guitar playing and vocals as simply vehicles to get the ideas across. My influences span the entire spectrum of music.”
“The most important thing I think a song needs is honesty. You have to make a connection with people and give them something they can relate to. I just want people to get something out of the tunes, whether that's hope and encouragement or just a smile from a tasty groove. We all go through some of the same experiences, and I'm just trying to share that with the audience.""
Kristen Kay Smith graduated from New York University with a Master of Music in Musical Theatre Performance and from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Music Education in Choral/Classical Voice with Minors in Piano and Religion.
Originally from TX, she saw “CATS” at The Majestic Theatre in San Antonio when she was little and fell in love with musical theatre! She grew up singing, playing piano, dancing, playing basketball, violin, and performing in church, school, and the community (choir/One Act Play/The Smith Ritch Point Theatre/Playhouse 2000/The Hill Country Youth Orchestra). Baylor included student teaching and performing (A Cappella and Chamber Choirs/Musical Theatre Ensemble Baylor ShowTime! tours in TX, on Grand Princess Cruise, abroad in Austria with AIMS in Graz, and in Hawaii). NYU included teaching as Adjunct Faculty for Voice, interning at The York Theatre Company Off-Broadway, crew for The Public Theatre’s Summer Play Festival with Joe Iconis and “The Black Suits”, and performing (Tisch 2nd Avenue Dance Company “Brahms’ Neue Liebeslieder”/abroad in Italy “Classics on Broadway”/Menken and Rice’s 10th Anniversary Production of “King David”/“Candide”/Showcase at New World Stages Off-Broadway/Graduations at Radio City Music Hall and Yankee Stadium). NYC/Love Creek Productions.
Virginia includes teaching (currently Salem City Schools Elementary Music/Second Presbyterian Church Children's and Youth Music Director and Preschool/Roanoke Children's Theatre/Roanoke City Public Schools Middle School Choir/NYU and Ferrum College Adjunct Faculty for Voice) and performing (Carrington Kay on vocals, piano, and violin/Roanoke Children’s Theatre most recently as Grace in “Annie”/Mill Mountain Theatre/Opera Roanoke/Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s original cast of “Celtic Fyre.” She met Robert in “Celtic Fyre” and they are now married with a son and daughter!