Curtis Smith

Curtis Smith

Smith in 2006
Born August 4, 1965
Upland, California
Residence Santa Ynez, California
Employer Maelstrom Music PR
Website
www.maelstrompr.com
Not to be confused with Smith Curtis.

Curtis Smith (born August 4, 1965) is an American Publicist and Public Relations Consultant in the entertainment and nonprofit industries.[1] A graduate of California State University, San Bernardino in 1988,[2] he went on to serve as Vice President of A&R for Statue Records.[3] He also worked in publicity for American Records, Scotti Bros Records, Interscope Records, and Risk Records.[4] He's worked with bands such as the Aquabats, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Reverend Horton Heat, Ron Sexsmith, Les Claypool and Primus, Marilyn Manson, and No Doubt.[5] In 1998 he founded Maelstrom Music PR.[6]

Early life, education

Curti Smith was born on August 9, 1965 in the city of Upland, California. He graduated with a BS from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) in 1988.[2][3] While there, he dual majored in marketing and small business management. Starting in 1985, he was a sound engineer for university plays, and from 1986 to 1988 he served as Entertainment Chair at Associated Student Productions. He was heavily involved in the Theatre Arts Department as a recording and sound reinforcement engineer throughout his time at the University.[2][3]

Career (1988–present)

In 1993, while serving as the Vice President of A&R for Statue Records,[3] Curtis began developing the independent public relations firm Maelstrom Music.[4] He officially started the firm in 1994 after leaving Statue Records.[4] Starting in 1993, he also served as a sound reinforcement engineer at Theatre West in Hollywood, CA. In his early career he was also involved in freelance sound design in various shows and plays.[2][3]

In 1994 he worked at American Recordings and began to become involved in publicity,[2] moving soon after to a job at Scotti Bros Records. In 1995 he was a Public Relations Assistant to Interscope Records until 1997. From 1997 to 1998 he was a publicist for Risk Records.[3][4] For the six full years Smith was working for various labels,[2][3] he had become increasingly involved on the side in publicity for independent and unsigned bands. It started as a part-time hobby with Curtis sending out band's unsigned albums and product to magazines and newspapers, charging the bands only the cost of stamps.[4]

In March 2011, Smith was nominated for Best Publicist by the National Association of Record Industry Professionals.[7]

Maelstrom Music PR

In October 1998 Smith officially founded Maelstrom Music PR after leaving Risk Records.[3][4] The small business is based in Seal Beach, California and works with indie bands, labels, and developing bands on the major label level to help develop their awareness among media outlets. Maelstrom Music also serves as a music placement firm in addition to public relations.

Later career

He also moved at one point from Hollywood, California to Seal Beach, California, staying in the area for five years. He eventually moved again to Santa Ynez, California and Crestline, California. He handled public relations in the non-profit field, working with Music For Mankind and TPRF (The Prem Rawat Foundation). He also handled publicity for haute couture fashion designer Randy McLauglin of Jeran Design for his Hollywood Graffiti Gown.

Clients

Smith has worked in publicity and A&R for record companies such as Giant Records, Fortune Records, Interscope Records, Rise Records, Tomato Head Records, Triple X Records, and Windham Hill Records.[5]

Artists Smith has worked with at the major and independent label level include Andy Fraser, Tobi, the label Mctrax International, Academy, Anagram, Aquabats, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Brother, Bullets and Octane, downset., Happy Campers, the metal band Helmet, Immortal Dominion, Jack Off Jill, Jah Works, "The Godfather of Soul" James Brown, soul singer Freddie Jackson, James Intveld, Jane Jensen, Johnny Cash, Johnny Indovina, Jonathan Goldman, Last Amanda, Les Claypool and Primus, Marilyn Manson, Nice, No Doubt, Painface (with former lead singer of Slipknot), Polara, Possum Dixon, The Reverend Horton Heat, vocalist Rita Coolidge, Rocket From The Crypt, Ron Sexsmith, rapper Skee-Lo, Sloppy Meateaters, Smashmouth, Steadman, The Autumns, grunge band Toadies, Tom Racer, punk band Tsunami Bomb, Underwater, Union Underground, Weird Al Yankovic, and White Trash Debutantes.[5] Other current clients include Magic Brook, A Ravens Sorrow, and Benjamin Hyatt.[8]

Media presence

In March 2008, Smith was featured in an interview by Artistshouse Music on music publicity.[6][9] That same year he was included in Who's Who of Business Professionals.[3] On July 20, 2010 Smith was interviewed by Fat Robot Radio (episode 63) about Maelstrom PR.[10][11]

Memberships

In 2003 he became a member of the American Music Society. He is also a member of The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP)[12] and the National Association of Record Industry Professionals (NARIP).

Personal life

Smith currently alternates his time between Santa Ynez, California and his mountain home in Crestline, California. He is involved in numismatics (coin evaluating).

References

  1. ↑ "Maelstrom Music". Manta. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Staff at Maelstrom PR". Maelstrom PR. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 "Curtis Smith". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Curtis Smith history". Maelstrom Music PR. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Curtis Smith Resume". Maelstrom PR. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Music Industry Profile: Publicist Curtis Smith of Maelstrom Music & PR". ArtistsHouse Music. March 2008. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  7. ↑ "Final Ballot: Vote NOW for NARIP 2011 Best in the Biz". NARIP. March 17, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  8. ↑ "Benjamin Hyatt". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  9. ↑ "Video Interview". Stagehandspace. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  10. ↑ "Full Fat Robot Radio Interview". SLTM (The Podcast). July 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  11. ↑ "It’s here, It’s here, The Alpha and the Omega". Fat Robot Radio. July 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  12. ↑ "AIMP Directory". The Association of Independent Music Publishers. Retrieved 2010-07-03.

External links