Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike have released their latest project, Small Town Heroes along with their new single, "Something About a Train" to their outlets yesterday. Valerie says, "Something About A Train" has a memorable melody and colorful lyrics. It’s fun to sing – it actually sings itself – and is a pleasure to perform,”
Valerie Smith has developed a unique style and sound that has rocked the bluegrass world for almost two decades with a string of national and international tours, critically acclaimed recordings, and Grammy, IBMA and Dove Award nominations. Val's vocals are impressive. She has a staggeringly expansive range and the ability to portray an amazing array of emotion. As NPR radio host Dave Higgs has noted, "She can be sassy, sultry, siren-like, sweet, smooth, soothing and smoldering---sometimes during the span of just one song!" Valerie Smith and her East Coast-based band, Liberty Pike featuring legendary Hall of Famer Tom Gray on bass, are consistent audience pleasers and skilled musicians. When Valerie walks on stage with her fabulous band, expect to be inspired, amused and thoroughly entertained.
Originally from Missouri and now based in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, a charming little historic town just southeast of Nashville, Valerie Smith is an award winning bluegrass and American roots artist and songwriter. Since 1998 Smith has made thousands of fans and friends with her music, on stages across the United States, as well as in Europe, Canada and the United Kingdom. Her band is named “Liberty Pike” after the road that connects Bell Buckle to Nashville.
"Small Town Heroes" has a raw, soulful, musical energy that reflects Valerie Smith's influences by the East Coast band “The Seldom Scene”. Features the only 2-time IBMA Hall of Fame inductee,Tom Gray, performing a song, "Bessie," a dedication to his bass.
"Small Town Heroes" reflects small town America and the people who make our lives colorful and better. It also has a lyrical undertone of challenges that everyday people have to face each day (economic, family, and personal). The current band are talented musicians and vocalists who reflect that very ideology - they work every day and yet have a passion to play music whenever, wherever they can; that is what helped build bluegrass, traditional country and old-time music in today’s world. The project also features the only 2-time inductee to the IBMA Hall of Fame, Tom Gray, including a song that he wrote and sings in honor of his legendary bass, “Bessie”.
The album features a dozen tracks showcasing the talents of Valerie and her band. The tracks featured on Small Town Heroes include:
- "Little Liza Jane"
- "Something About a Train"
- "Bottle of Tears"
- "So Long, Lindytown"
- "Winter's Dream"
- "Bluegrass Dollars"
- "I Took Mama to the Opry"
- "Small Town Hero"
- "Farmer's Prayer"
- "Wall Street"
- "Wayfaring Stranger"
- "Bessie's Tune (feat. Tom Gray)"
Small Town Heroes was produced by Valerie Smith on Bell Buckle Records. The album features Valerie Smith (Producer, Lead Vocal, Guitar), Tom Gray (Acoustic Bass, Harmony Vocal), Wally Hughes (Fiddle, Dobro, Harmony & Lead Vocal), Lisa Kay Howard-Hughes (Mandolin, Harmony Vocal) and Joe Zauner (Banjo and Guitar).
Valerie was influenced by the East Coast band “The Seldom Scene”. She admired their raw, soulful sound, energy and style of bluegrass. More than two years before the making of this project, Valerie traveled from Bell Buckle, Tennessee to Maryland to join with her new band (Joe Zauner, Wally Hughes, Lisa Kay Howard Hughes and original member of the Seldom Scene, Tom Gray). Not only did she develop a special, energetic, and soulful show over the 3 year study, but she began to find songs that fit the concept of everyday people, doing everyday things, but always making time for the love of music. It was on this foundation that Valerie Smith produced the project so that her vision would be as close to the sound as her concept.
