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Gerald GMAN Smith
Bassist GMAN "One of The World's Best Bassist!"
About Me
Gee-Spot Productions Inc./GFUNK Entertainment:Diverse Musicians, Singers and Affiliates.
The GMAN's Electric Bass Guitar style is a throw-back to the Legendary
Bassist Stanley Clarke, Played with the passion of Legendary Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, all intertwined with Jazz, R&B, Funk and Rock Elements. Bassist GMAN, One of the World's Best Bassist! Rooted in the Past, living in the Present, and looking towards the Future. GMAN's diversity rises here with some of the Illess Street & Trend setting sounds happening today
GMAN is an original nickname given to me by an aspiring female singer during late night recording sessions. Gerald is my Parents given name. Gee-Spot was created by all of our Local & Signed Rap Artist dubbing me Gee ,(short for GMAN) and during recording sessions the Artist would tell their fellow members They're heading or rolling to Gee's Spot so this saying became our Production Company's name.
Born Gerald L. Smith Sept. 2, 1960 in Newark New Jersey, was given a radio at age 4 from his mother,(An accomplished Gospel & Jazz Pianist)and
by the age of 12 he began playing electric guitar
jammin with neighborhood friends til the age of 14.At this age he was given the opportunity to work stage crew for the groups:Earth,Wind & Fire,
Ramsey Lewis, and The Emotions at Newark Schools
Stadium in the summer of 1974.This was the juice that sweetened the taste of music for GMAN and for the love of the Bass Guitar. He began playing this instrument throughout his High School years, Performing in local Talent Shows Colleges,Spring & Summer Concerts, His love
for R&B, Funk, and Rock was evident.Then at the age of 17 his Father,(A lover of Jazz & Funk) introduced him to one of his close friends, A stocky-built,long haired Bassist,with short stubby fingers and clawed like hands from North Newark- named:William EARL Martin. Playing the sounds of Stanley Clarke and Stanley's group: Return To Forever on his Sunburst color Fender Jazz Bass. Once GMAN heard this cat played,GMAN made a vow to learn to play like him. This in turn brought on the love for jazz. By age 18 GMAN turned semi-pro and his Father bought him his first Professional Bass Guitar.A Gibson Ripper Bass and GMAN began recording with various local Bands in various local recording studios.At age 20 he met local group Guitarist Richard Miller and Richard's Best friends;GeneOThomas jr. and brother Keith Thomas,(The P-Funk Brothers)Gene and Keith's Father Grady Grade A Thomas is an original member of
ParlimentFunkadelic. This sparked the PFunk style in GMAN and spawned an array of groups:-
Natural Force, U.niversal S.tructual Beat,
The Electric Connection, Shade 2,Qaddara,J.A.G.,
Unfinished Business to name a few.At the age of 30, GMAN took his talents to the next level,he had his hands already in producing,However, Hip-Hop was there waiting to take flight.He began Producing some Hip-Hop talents in the local areas of New Jersey,Artist:BabyGirl,(sign to Perfect Pair Records in 1992)GMAN also had a cameo appearance in The BabyGirl Stompin video
completed by Ready or Not Productions Inc.(NYC) GMAN also recorded Battle Rhymes for Poppa Bear,(1992-93 Hip-Hop Seminar World Champion). In 1999 GMAN appeared as a Panel Judge at the 20th Annual Rap Masters Competitions held at the
New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark,N.J.
and returned to NJPAC in 2000 as Bassist for Folk R&B singer Chinua Hawk at the Summer Jazz Concert series,In 2003 GMAN appeared In Concert at The Cultural Realism Vision Center in Darlington South Carolina with Host dj Bhakti Larry Hough from radio station 94.3 (Magic 94) . In 2005 GMAN reached #1 on mp3.com in Austrailia for his GMAN:THE JAZZMAN Vols. 1&2 Albums in the Jazz Fusion Category and reached among Top Ten in Jazz Charts on imgifted.com isound.com in the United Kingdom. In 2006 GMAN appeared in Concert at Monti Irving/Orange Park, New Jersey for the Pre-Independent Day Jazz Festival with an All-Star Line up and announced on radio station WQCD(CD101.9 FM). GMAN wasSound Engineering Live in Concert for The Legendary Blue Notes and 2007 Live Sound Recording for Legendary Singing Diva Melba Moore for her Honoree Alumni Celebration at Peshine ave School Newark,New Jersey. In 2008 Again reaching#1 & 2 in the Jazz Fusion Category on www.SongVault.com's Song Showcase. GMAN knew at this point,music,like Hip-Hop is the way of life and the Soul Voice of his musical projections.Along the way GMAN has worked with countless Artist, Song Writers, Producers,-
Musicians,and Audio Engineers.GMAN has recorded with such artist:GhostFace-Killah,Raekwon,Cappadonna,(members of Wu-Tang Clan)Norman Storm Bell,(member of: Wu-Tang Killah Bees,Purfek Storm Production/Management,G-Unit Management),Hip-Hop Recording Artists:Omega,Mafia:Tha- Haitian Sicilian,Hard Hittin Harry,(Meridian Entertainment,Former members of The Fugees)to Singer/Actress Elain B. Lockler,Native Trinity,Kenny & Sabrina Johnston,(Perfect Pair Records),Hip-Hop Recording Artist Fierce(WrekHouse Wrekords), Rayvon,(Bigyard Records),Brad Johnson & The Night People,Dave SQUIGGY Biglin,(member of the Rock group Joey & The Works,Garfunkel,The Tonight Show), DJ Lazy K,-
Tanya Diona,(Vocalist Winner at The Apollo Theater NYC),Rapper/Singer/Actor-Andre Moore- a.k.a. 14K,(Star in the Motion Picture New Jersey Drive)Song Writers Mervin & Jean Steals
Lorne Rawls,Diana Young,(Member of the groups-
Young & Company and the original Funk band SLAVE)Clarence Burke,(The Invisible Man's Band)and the list goes on...
The reflections of opportunities performing,song
writing,and collaborating with these Artist,Producers,Musicians,and Song Writers has enable GMAN to embarked on taking his credentials to the next level as an established International Artist.
GMAN plays on a customized Fender70's Classic Jazz Bass Guitar,Fender Bullet bass Deluxe Guitar,Gibson The Ripper Bass Guitar, TUNE WNB43 Elec. Bass Guitar,Carlo Robelli elec./acous.Bass Guitars,(4-string,4-string fretless,6-string,8-string, and acous.3/4 Upright)Samick 5-string Bass Guitar, Staccato electric custom Bass Guitar Ibanez Blazer Guitar, Peavy Predator Guitar,Akai,Casio,Ensoniq,Korg,and Roland Digital Keyboards,Alesis,and Yamaha Digital Drum Machines,African,Latin,and Modern Percussions,
Traynor modified amps.w/Hartke & GMI cabs.
GMAN is a Graduate from The Institute Of Audio-
Research in NYC for Recording Engineering & Music Production.GMAN also has a diploma in Electronics and has worked in the electronics field Professionally for 13 years as an Electronics Technician.
GMAN's latest CD's-GMAN:THE JAZZMAN Vol.1,Vol. 1.3 ,Vol.2,GMAN:The Early Years Of Hip-Hop and GMAN:The Spirit Of The Youth are now released. Look out for GMAN's NEXT CD's BrickCity Beatz in June 2005,GMAN:The Corridors Of Life in April 2006,BRICK CiTy BeaTz 2 in July 2006,and GMAN:THE JAZZMAN Vol.3 in Dec.2006.