Vocal Coach to Usher, Rob Thomas and Diana DeGarmo Wows Audience In Rare Performance to Aid Atlanta Non-Profits

Posted Friday, November 3, 2006

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October 31, 2006, Atlanta, GA …. As a nationally known vocal coach, Jan Smith works with national acts including Usher, Rob Thomas of matchbox twenty, India.Arie, American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo, Collective Soul and dozens of other charting artists. So it was a rare performance Sunday night, October 29th at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, when the Atlanta resident performed a charity concert with her previous band mates who had not taken the stage together in three years.

The performance raised nearly $1,000 for the Crossroads Community Ministries, an organization close to Smith’s heart because it reaches out to those who don’t have much in our society…the homeless…and helps to put them back in play. Crossroads serves more than 80,000 meals each year to Atlanta’s homeless. Their work emphasizes dignity; respect and personal responsibility, with a goal of helping people get back on their feet.

Smith and her all-acoustic band included the extraordinary Peter Vogl on lead guitar, Michael Doke showing off on slide guitar, and Smith’s good girlfriend and co-conspirator, Lisa MacGregor, singing back up vocals.

Highlights included Smith’s 2006 charting hit (by Lucie Diamond), “Did He Mention My Name?” and Smith’s song, “Whips and Chains” included a pumping guitar duo between Vogl and Doke. Throughout the evening, Smith yielded the stage to show off the vocal talents of Vogl and MacGregor with their turns at solos.

After two hours of playing everyone’s favorites at the charity concert, Smith thanked the standing audience and Crossroads Ministries. She made no promises for an encore date, much to the dismay of shouting fans from the audience. However, this weekend, Sunday, November 5, Smith’s Intermediate Student Showcase will be at Eddie’s Attic, where nearly 20 of the 250 students from Jan Smith Studios will make their debut performances. The showcases, which are annual events, also raise money for charity, and are standing-room-only highlights to see new and developing Atlanta artists.

The November 5th showcase highlights beginning and intermediate level students of JAN SMITH STUDIOS, sharing their talents in this all ages benefit that gives back to the community. The proceeds from show will go directly to The All Stars Project, Inc., which is a non-profit organization using a "performance-learning" approach to foster the emotional and social development of young people, ranging in age from 5 - 25, from some of the poorest neighborhoods in and around Atlanta.

Find out more about The All Stars Project at www.allstars.org. To purchase tickets, visit www.eddiesattic.com.

This summer, Smith released the much-awaited book and vocal training CD, So You Wanna Sing Rock ‘n Roll, to help aspiring singers learn to keep their voice healthy, how to prepare for a gig, the best way to select equipment, remedies for ailing throats, and Smith’s own warm-up and cool-down vocal exercises that she has used with thousands of students in her 20 years as a vocal coach.

The book package is available online at www.jansmith.com for $19.95 and will make an inspiring holiday gift for the American-idol wannabe in your circle of friends and family.

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