Jace Smith

Jace Smith
(850) 319-9097
jacevsmith@yahoo.com

Jace began his professional career fronting ”Max” a Tri-state area group, that became one of the house bands at the legendary rock club “The Stone Pony” in Asbury Park New Jersey. “It was a great music scene; more then once Bruce Springsteen and a list of others that would make you Oooo and Aaaa all day would unexpectedly join us on stage.

Upon meeting recording artist, “Bruce Foster,” and “Richie Sambora” (Bon Jovi) the three started writing songs together, and formed the group.” Shark Frenzy” After a year of touring and recording, Jace and Richie decided to move to California. Jace, not waiting for Richie to tie up loose ends, left without him. (How different things might have been!)

As faith would have it Jace landed a gig with Rick Springfield. With Rick’s song “Jessie’s Girl” going to #1 and winning a Grammy, the following two years were filled with touring the world making movies and living a dream. When the tour ended Rick encouraged Jace to start his own band and get a record contract. Jace began playing the Los Angeles club scene and soon became a local favorite. Note: Rick would sometimes operate the lighting board at my shows. All the girls use to tell me “your lighting guy looks just like Rick Springfield”.

After playing a sold-out show at the “Viper Room” the following morning Jace received a phone call from Davey Johnstone, (Elton John’s guitarist and band leader), Davey had seen the show and wanted to get together and do some writing and recording. The collaboration would lead to Jace being signed to Allied Artist Records and Davey would produce the CD and legendary producer and engineer John Gass would engineer and mix the project.

The friendship between Jace and Davey grew very strong and after both finishing tours and divorces became roommates. “Having one of the greatest guitar player song/writers in the world as a roommate was just incredible, writing and recording with Davey was an experience I will treasure the rest of my life”

In-between touring and recording Jace indulged his other passion, “Film Making”. As a cinematographer Jace would shoot music videos for Guns n Rose’s, Paula Abdul, Toto, Alice Copper, Great White, etc. As a writer and director he achieved two top ten videos on CMT, “Heart Break Train” and “The Crush.” While working in television won the “Golden Reel” for his work on “Tales from the Crypt”. As a screen writer Jace has had scripts optioned at Universal, King World, and Warner Brothers. As the writer and director of “Murder in Asbury Park”, he won the Atlantic City film festival grand prize for best Documentary. In 2006 Jace wrote and directed the full length feature film “Backstage Pass” starting William Katt, Tiffany Brouwer, and Joey Vieira. “I love film making but can’t change what I am, and always will be; a singer, songwriter”.