I’m honored that Alex wanted me to host one of his regional CD preview parties. I’ve known his father, Mason (Tim) Smith, and his uncle, Everett Smith, for many years. They are a part of this region’s folklore both being, among other things, boat builders, while Mason writes plays and novels set in the area. His mother was a historian and the Director of the Adirondack Museum for many years. Following in their path, but not necessarily in their footsteps, Alex writes songs that bring history to us in a way that connects it to the present and he delivers them in a deep, resonant voice belying his youth.

He grew up in Long Lake, in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Park, and his music strives first and foremost to echo the culture of that area. He builds songs from a blend of traditional folk harmony and strikingly modern lyrics, confronting today’s most pressing issues with grace while paying homage to the musical tradition of the region.Smith’s characters, though fictional, live and breathe a balance between beauty and imperfection. His stories draw on the triumphs and hardships of friends, relatives, and neighbors near and far, and he has worked tirelessly to carry the music of northern New York to audiences nationwide.

I hope you will join me in celebrating the imminent (it doesn’t look like it will be quite ready by 11/13) release of his newest project, Close to Home.

For more information about Alex and his music, check out these websites: