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Ronny Smith

About Me

Ronny Smith is a contemporary jazz guitarist, composer, and recording artist whose warm tone and groove-driven originals blend jazz, soul, blues, funk, gospel, and Brazilian influences.

Ronny Smith is a contemporary jazz guitarist, composer, and recording artist whose warm tone, melodic sophistication, and deep sense of groove have made him a distinctive voice in contemporary jazz. Influenced by masters such as Wes Montgomery and George Benson, Smith blends contemporary jazz with soul, funk, blues, gospel, and Brazilian influences to create music that is both emotionally engaging and musically refined. A veteran ensemble musician with decades of experience, Smith creates sophisticated, groove-driven instrumental music that balances memorable melodies with rich harmonic textures. His compositions function equally well as engaging listening experiences, atmospheric soundscapes, and emotionally resonant musical storytelling, making them appealing to both jazz audiences and visual media. Smith first gained attention with his early releases Got Groove (2006) and Just Groovin’ (2009), which showcased his emerging voice in contemporary and urban jazz. His national breakthrough came with “City Groove” from the 2013 album Can’t Stop Now, which reached #1 on Billboard’s BDS New & Active Smooth Jazz Chart and later climbed into the Billboard BDS Top 30. Since then, Smith has continued to build an impressive record of chart success and critical recognition. His 2021 single “String of Hearts” reached #2 Most Added on both the BDS Radio and SmoothJazz.com charts. In 2024, his album Struttin’ was named among SmoothJazz.com’s Top 100 Smooth Jazz Albums of the Year, while the single “Get Up” reached #1 Most Added on the Mediabase Smooth A/C chart and earned placement on the RadioWave/Groove Jazz Top 100 Airplay Chart. Today, Smith continues to expand his catalog with original recordings that bridge contemporary jazz, urban grooves, and cinematic atmosphere. His latest album, Velvet Vibe, reflects his commitment to creating music rooted in melody, groove, and emotional connection while offering sophisticated instrumental music equally suited for concert performance, radio, and visual storytelling.

Favorite Musicians / Bands

George Benson

Pat Martino

Ronny Smith

Wes Montgomery

Favorite Genres

Brazilian / Bossa Nova / Samba

Funk / Groove / Acid Jazz

Latin Jazz

Modern Jazz

Smooth / R&B

Straight-ahead (Bop, Hard bop, Cool)

Favorite Columns

Book Review

Interview

Play This!

Favorite Writers

Acacia Grace

C. Michael Bailey

Dan Bilawsky

David A. Orthmann

Doug Collette

Geno Thackara

Glenn Astarita

Jack Bowers

John Chacona

Mark Corroto

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