A composer/pianist with a vast number of original compositions to his credit, Doug Smith has been playing music since the tender age of two. His family discovered his gift for music when the youngster sat down behind a very small organ and began to play music, melodies, chords, nursery rhymes, Christmas hymns, songs he had heard. From that point on, Smith began to develop his "ear" for music, and by the time he was in first grade, he was playing concerts on that same little organ for students, teachers, parents... for people. The teachers at the elementary school he attended would bring their classes of students in and Smith would perform the music he knew, not a huge repertoire at the time, but Smith stated that..."from that point on, music was different and completely unique from anything else I knew. This was not something I could understand in the first grade, but what I did understand was that this music, that had been with me all my life, came from the depths of my soul, and in my mind, came from God!" That's the way it started in Kermit, a small town in West Texas. As Smith grew, so did his music and when he was eight years old, his parents purchased his first piano, and by the time he entered Junior High School, he was performing piano music in local churches, dances, various town functions, and had been featured on radio and television programs in West Texas.

When Doug Smith entered high school, his interest and love for music had grown so that not only was he performing music on the piano, he began to try his hands with his own compositions, and his "sound" began to change.

Smith graduated from Kermit High School in 1981 and began classes at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in the fall of the same year. His goal was to earn a degree in telecommunications. In February of 1982, Smith took his first step towards discovering a huge part of his life... recording music

Just For You, Smith's first recording, released in the spring of 1982, is a collection of songs ranging from ragtime originals to romantic ballads. The experience of the first recording was very important because not only did Doug Smith realize he had much to learn and a universe of knowledge to gain, but Smith also realized that the mission in his life, his strength, his faith, and his love, was music. He attempted to remain in college, but after three long years, Smith bid farewell to the life of a college student, welcomed and began to steadily pursue his life as a musician.

In the spring of 1986, his second recording project was launched. Mixed Emotions was released in the summer of that year. Also recorded in Lubbock, Texas, is a warm and soothing recording of some famous tunes such as Stardust, Please come to Boston, and Memory, but most importantly includes an original composition called Solitary Sunrise. "After I cut Solitary Sunrise, I realized there was hope for my composition and I didn't have to play music that someone else wrote. So, after recording Mixed Emotions, I began to compose."

And compose he did, releasing his third musical project. His self-titled, totally original instrumental recording, Doug Smith was released in 1990. This project features Smith playing solo piano on several selections and also Smith accompanied by some of West Texas' most treasured musicians. This original music ranges from passionate to classical, to rock from jazz, and from rhythm and blues to country, "A true fusion of every kind of music that has inspired me along the way, which includes everything from Bach and Mozart, to Art Tatum and Keith Jarrett, to Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, To Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Bob Wills."

In November of 1992, came the release of Smith's fourth recording. A solo piano project of traditional Christmas music appropriately titled, A Special Gift. It includes such standards as Silent Night, White Christmas, and What Child Is This, all Smith's arrangements, along with three original compositions, Strings, Faith, and Spirits to Heaven which he credits as "my favorite composition." Spirits to Heaven is very heart-felt and came from deep within."

From the deepest part of his soul, came Smith's fifth musical recording, Stained Glass. Recorded in January of 1993, Stained Glass is a solo piano project of traditional spiritual hymns, such as Amazing Grace, Rock of Ages, (a harmonica rendition), How Great Thou Art, and He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, and soulful original music, There Will Be Peace On Earth, Prayer Piano, and Thank God For Music. "When I recorded Stained Glass, my wife had just given birth to our firstborn son a few weeks before, so I was more inspired mentally, spiritually, and physically, than ever before in my life. When I sat down behind that instrument, it was as if my hands were guided by God! That's the overwhelming feeling I had. I say that because anyone that has witnessed a birth, has indeed witnessed a miracle. I entered this recording session having recently witnessed what to me, was a complete and total miracle. So, on that particular day in Lubbock, Texas on the same piano I had recorded four other records on, I sat down, addressed those eighty-eight black and white keys I had seen so many times before, struck the first note and an hour later, ten songs recorded, it was over...every note remains, unchanged from the way I played them that day, unedited, no mixing after the recording, nothing changed. All ten songs, one cut, one time, one take, live...a digital recording of ten of the most important songs I know. I'll be indebted eternally to God, for the music, love and happiness given to me, and my family. As for this recording... it's not perfect, but it's as close to it as I've been. Stained Glass is the most honest musical testimony of my life!"

Released on October 1996 came Smith's sixth recording, The Human Element. This is "world piano" music...it's raw, it's passionate, it's powerful instrumental music ranging from a very emotional title cut, to the strange and haunting Ghost Windows, heads due southwest to a rockin' Cotton Strippin and completes this journey with the dramatic Iron Horses, a duet with a pedal steel guitarist extraordinaire Lloyd Maines. This West Texas, ivory pounding, instrumental gunslinger pulls no punches with this record. Every cut is emotional and obviously urgent..."I feel very sure this music has been with me all my life, but only recently have I acquired enough knowledge, faith, trust and confidence to express my feelings and emotions freely through this incredible instrument! I consider myself fortunate and very humbled to be the messenger of this music. I give the thanks and credit to god, for that is where it is due. If I live to record more music, I'll be happy about that, but if I don't, I'm truly thankful I recorded this one...;for every soul who ever loved the piano!"

Doug Smith is the Piano Player, which is also the appropriate title for his seventh, original, eclectic, authentic instrumental piano recording, released in March 1997... "I prefer to call myself a piano player. Out here in West Texas, if an ole boy says he's a "pianist", folks tend to look at ya awful funny..." This project has wonderful feeling about it. A simple, timeless, peaceful, fresh sound you can listen to again and again and again. Smith takes the piano to yet a different dimension, where an ear must only hear once to understand what this man feels. Beautiful ballads, driving jazz, tasteful duets, inspired solo piano tracks. The final cut on this compact disc is a unique medley of three old standards, Oh Suzannah, Don't You Cry, Home On the Range and Down In The Valley, which is exactly what Doug Smith's music is all about...a simple, soulful, fresh and unique approach to a timeless instrument..."It's sortava three-way deal. It begins with God, The Source, passes through my soul, then out my fingers, then enters your ears, at which time you become the artist, not me. It's your mind reeling, your spirit moving, and your heart speaking. I'm just the one between you and the Source now, the middleman if you will, and without you, my position is irrelevant and I've no reason to play a piano. So...Thank You...for listening!" Doug Smith may not be a nuclear physicist or rocket scientist, but he is most definitely pushing the Grand Piano into the 21st Century with unmatched energy and originality, and he is, without a doubt, the Piano Player!

In the fall of 1998 came Smith's 8th compact disc called HOPE. This recording features 13 more Smith originals beginning with the very heartfelt Song For Suns, composed for his 18 month old son who suffered from kidney complications, ending with one of Smith's most recognized compositions called West Texas, completely awesome with the "West Texas Ensemble"! The CD also includes a beautiful tribute to the late Floyd Cramer called The Final Destination and the title track opens with Smith performing the introduction of Hope on a native American flute. The music soars and allows ones spirit to fly freely through. Doug Smith has become a master at telling a story through the piano...his music needs no words...only ears to hear and hearts to feel...an authentic, creative, original composer!

Just in time for the New Millennium comes Doug Smith's 9th compact disc called LIVE! Recorded at Texas Tech's Allen Theater on a 9' concert Steinway grand piano, Smith's performance and the quality of this recording is unbelievable! The audience is warm, the microphones are "hot" and the piano moves from sounding as soft as a butterfly kiss, to feeling as powerful as a West Texas Tornado! One man, one piano...one great musical evening in Lubbock, Texas...captured on one compact disc. LIVE is the most exciting recording of my life. For some reason on that particular night, Gods light shone through. I'm forever thankful!" A great crowd, an awesome piano, and a composer from West Texas making his musical mark with a timeless instrument!

Doug Smith's 10th published piano project called Confirmation is AWESOME, and makes him the 1st artist to record and release a published musical work in the magnificent Spencer Theater in Ruidoso, New Mexico. The incredible piano is a 9' Steinway Grand and is signed by the last living Steinway! In Smith's own words, "This Piano and this theater are extraordinary! I feel very fortunate to document my music here during such an important time in my life and I am extremely thankful to A.N. and Jackie Spencer for their vision and continued support for me and many other artists, allowing us to succeed, achieve and ultimately share our dreams, visions, knowledge, spirits and celestial magic, through our art. I feel this theater is destined to become the Carnegie Hall of the Southwest, then a step beyond!" "All the ingredients are definitely present. This recording not only confirms my faith and music, but many other issues as well. I feel richly blessed with family and friends... and always music!" Which is exactly what Confirmation is all about... pure, simple, creative , emotional, original and powerful music, as only one man can deliver... for all people, who Love music!

Doug Smith is currently working on another recording project of original music and a PBS concert video, spot-lighting his eclectic approach to piano performance. He continues to perform a plethora of original music and continues to grow everyday as a husband, and a father, as a composer and artist, but most importantly to him, as a spiritual human being. His piano recordings, musical contributions, and concert performances, have made him one of the most inspirational contemporary instrumental artist on the Southwestern Plains. If you haven't heard Doug Smith play the piano, you haven't heard the piano!