Billy Smiley
![]() |
Billy Smiley | |
---|---|
Born | Farmington, Michigan, United Stares | October 19, 1957
Genres | Contemporary Christian, Christian rock |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, songwriter, producer |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, keyboards, vocals |
Years active | 1982–present |
Website | www |
Billy Smiley (born October 19, 1957 in Farmington, Michigan, United States) is a music producer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being one of the core members of the Christian rock band White Heart. He was the band's guitarist and vocalist and one of the main songwriters from its conception in 1982 through its disbandment in 1998.[1]
After selling over 2 million albums with White Heart, Smiley turned to music production and artist development. He is credited with producing or developing such Christian acts as Geoff Moore and the Distance, Margaret Becker, Rhonda Gunn, Newsboys, and Bebe & Cece Winans. His most recent, and notable, writing and production accomplishment was earning a platinum certified album for former American Idol finalist Clay Aiken's version of Smiley's song "Merry Christmas with Love". He has teamed with classically trained baritone David Britton on two released albums and one upcoming release.[citation needed]
Smiley has degrees in music theory and composition from Bethel College (now Bethel University) and Azusa Pacific University.[2]
A solo album by Smiley, New Night (1986), centers on his trumpet playing.
References
- ^ Tina Maples (25 February 1991). "White Heart keeps beating". Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ "Billy Smiley". Northern Shore Productions. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- BLP articles lacking sources from March 2011
- All BLP articles lacking sources
- Articles with short description
- Short description is different from Wikidata
- Articles with hCards
- Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts
- All articles with unsourced statements
- Articles with unsourced statements from December 2015
- Articles with ISNI identifiers
- Articles with VIAF identifiers
- Articles with WorldCat Entities identifiers
- Articles with BIBSYS identifiers
- Articles with KANTO identifiers
- Articles with LCCN identifiers
- Articles with MusicBrainz identifiers
- 1957 births
- Living people
- American performers of Christian music
- Musicians from Michigan
- People from Farmington Hills, Michigan
- White Heart members
- All stub articles
- American musician stubs