Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith’s entire life has revolved around his deep love for music. As a very young boy growing up in his native Canada his mother and father baptized him in a deep pool of jazz with lots of Ella, Miles, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Dizzy and more. His five brothers and sisters shared their passion for everything from the fusion of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report and Herbie Hancock to straight up R&B from EW&F, The Average White Band, and Stevie Wonder.

As a teenager Cameron picked up the Alto sax and joined his brother Murray’s band “Jason Stone” blazing fierce renditions of “Shotgun” and “White Rabbit” just to name a few. “My brother Murray finished his jazz studies with a Masters from Indiana U and I went on to the clubs to DJ. I was all about the Isley Brothers, Sly, Jeff Lorber, James Brown and anybody else with SOUL” says Smith.

Cameron first appeared on TV in Canada in the early seventies first as a dancer on ITV’s Saturday morning dance show “Disco Daze” and ultimately as it’s youth host along with Canadian radio legend Chuck Chandler. “The guys from Second City were taping the first season of SCTV right across the hall from my show, it was insane how much fun that was…John Candy and the cast were a blast” says Smith.

It was in his teens that he began to DJ and eventually became the first ever Canadian to be named musical director for the Four Season’s Hotels. Smith served as the house DJ at the hotel in his hometown of Edmonton. “Most of the music the Four Seasons was known for came out of Paris and Montreal but I had a much more Urban outlook…I was bangin’ Tower of Power and Brass Construction in between Cerrone and Donna Summer…it was fresh”. It was the height of the Disco era and Smith emerged as Canada’s DJ king touring the country as Grand Master of the Steel Wheels.

After moving to the states Cameron focused on a career in the radio business first at KATT in Oklahoma City and eventually landing at V100 an urban powerhouse in Dallas that featured Tom Joyner in the morning. “Tom taught me all about passion.”

Co-hosting the legendary Wolfman Jack Saturday Night Rock Revue at KODZ in Dallas was a true turning point. “At that point I had been working on the business side of radio for almost fifteen years, but Wolfman insisted that I not only join him in the studio but get in the talent mix and co host the show. It was an incredible education from the true King of American Music Radio” says Smith.

Smith launched Smooth Jazz TV in 1995 with $100 and the dream of creating a TV show that resonated with fans of not only Contemporary Jazz but R&B, Fusion and Soul. From his first “very humble” broadcasts to today Smooth Jazz TV is the single most successful show of its kind in the world with more than 200 episodes to date over nine seasons.

“We have become a touchstone for fans and musicians all over the world. It’s something that we don’t take lightly, I still can’t sleep at night when I think of just how truly blessed I am to be here doing this for a living” says Smith. “The fact that I have, in some small way, brought these incredibly gifted artists to realize a global audience is thanks enough.”

Smooth Jazz TV is now seen in 15 countries via Smooth Jazz TV In Flight with episodes that have originated from Capetown South Africa, Montreux Switzerland, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Apsen, Maui, Nassau and even Prague Czechoslovakia.

Smith eventually returned to radio as the host of the Morning Oasis in 2001 on Smooth Jazz 107.5 The Oasis in Dallas, Texas.

In addition to his television exploits Smith has also been tapped as a lead actor along side Nia Peeples and Antonio Fargas in the riveting Jazz Film Noir movie “The Riff” winning the American Black Film Festivals Directors Choice Award in 2001. “To walk on and get the lead role and work with Nia and Tony was a thrill, but to win the ABFF award was a truly an honor, I’d like to find the time to do more movies.”

Smith is currently working on several global stages with return trips due up in Montreux Switzerland, Cape Town South Africa, Aspen Colorado, The Caribbean and The new Lincoln Center Jazz Facility in New York just to name a few.

In his spare time he enjoys time with his family back in Canada and his residence in Dallas, Texas along with his Dapple Dachshund “Dizzy” named after the great Dizzy Gillespie.