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Luellen Smiley

Arts & Lifestyle columnist and short story writer

About Me

Bio

Luellen Smiley is a creative non-fiction writer and award-winning newspaper columnist who writes a bi-monthly column “Smiley’s Dice” and is a regular contributor to MORE Magazine. Her “Growing Up With Gangsters” stories appeared in the New York Post and in the Del Mar Times. Luellen is currently writing a short story collection based on her life as the daughter of Hollywood gangster, Allen Smiley, and recently completed a feature-length screenplay based on her story. Her extensive research has led to numerous TV and Documentary film interviews regarding the Los Angeles mob scene, and especially Benjamin Siegel, her father’s best friend and business partner.

Previously, Luellen had a successful career in real estate, and founded a Jazz- Funk-Hip-hop dance troupe in San Diego, California.

Luellen resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she owns and manages Gallery LouLou, a Rock & Roll photo gallery.

Contact Me

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because...it's the abstract expression we cannot put into words. I was first exposed to jazz...in Los Angeles jazz clubs. I shook hands with many musicians after the show. I adored meeting Tito Puente and Hector Lavoe The best show I ever attended was...Cab Calloway The first jazz record I bought was...Miles Davis My advice to new listeners...listen by yourself first I listen to jazz when I am writing.

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