Born: June 25, 1960 Primary Instrument: Vocal
JOANNE SMITH is a versatile vocalist/entertainer that is able to perform many styles of music. She has 25+ years of professional experience. Though jazz is her forte, she always includes rhythm & blues, pop, and occasionally some country & western music in her performances. Presently residing in Atlanta, Georgia, JOANNE can be seen around town with her 4-piece rhythm section that consists of some of the best musicians in Atlanta.
JOANNE has performed at places like the Georgia Aquarium’s Jazz Journey, Centennial Olympic Park, the High Museum, The Captial City Club, Villa Christina’s Wind Down Wednesdays, Manny’s Bar & Grill, Gallery Bistro, Michon’s, Endenu, Jazz Loft, 201 Courtland, Maestro’s at Castleberry Hill, and 20 Grand East, just to name a few. She also showcases her talent at special occasions like Chocolate!, a “Who’s Who of Atlanta” charity event held at Villa Christina that benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
JOANNE has also played at numerous private/corporate engagements for The Coca-Cola Company, March of Dimes, weddings, receptions and other special occasions all around the Atlanta area. JOANNE has developed a substantial “following” in Atlanta and her stirring shows are immensely supported by this following. She is also working on her CD entitled “It’s Like That” to be released very soon.
In 1979, JOANNE ventured to Dallas, TX where she had the pleasure of working as a full-time entertainer with some of the best artists in the city. JOANNE graced most of Dallas' hottest night clubs such as: Sambucca, Strictly Tabu, Tim Ballards, Uptown Dallas, Reunion Station, The Recovery Room, and Club Memphis. JOANNE also performed at the annual Blues Festivals that were held at Fair Park, the K-107 Jazz Brunch series, the March of Dimes Walkamerica Walk-a-thon and many other fund raising and special occasion type events.
JOANNE has opened for such greats as The Staple Singers, Pieces of a Dream and performed with former Platter singer, Damon Shaun.
JOANNE auditioned and gained a spot as a ‘Taylor Made Singer’, traveling for over a year with acclaimed rhythm and blues artist, Johnnie Taylor. With Johnnie, JOANNE traveled to many cities and performed in many settings that ranged from nightclubs to auditoriums. Being on the “road” taught JOANNE a great deal about the business she loves most - MUSIC!
JOANNE's other experiences in the arts include musical performances in productions of The Wiz, The Sound of Music, Call Me Madame, Damn Yankees, Mime and Pantomime, Mime and Music and others. Non-musical performances include The Slaughter of the Innocent and an extra in the award winning Places in the Heart starring Sally Fields and Danny Glover.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution/NorthSide ��” Sunday, July 6, 2008 Hundreds of chocolate lovers flocked to Villa Christina in Dunwoody for what some might consider a taste of heaven. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, liquid chocolate, solid chocolate ��” you name it, it was there at Chocolate! 2008, an annual fund-raiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Live jazz echoed inside the villa by The Joanne Smith Experience ��” which prompted a multicultural assembly of ladies to take to the dance floor and do what seems to be the inter-national “good time” dance, the Electric Slide.
