Valerie Smith

Smith & Liberty Pike tours and performs shows in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Europe, such as the Rudolstadt Festival, 2007 in Rudolstadt, Germany and the Blueberry Bluegrass Festival, 2015, Alberta, Canada.

In the year 2005, Smith began to develop vocal issues from a growth that irritated her larynx while singing and went through two vocal surgeries. She recovered the ability to sing strongly and continued to record a duet CD with singer/songwriter and award-winning Becky Buller, "Here's a Little Song". and then would continue to record her first gospel project, "Wash Away Your Troubles". Smith arranged the song, "Wade in the Water" and wrote "Ole John Bell" for an independent movie, Bell Witch the Movie.

Moving to nearby Bell Buckle, Tennessee, she produced several artists and helped produce a concert series, Live at the Bell Buckle Café and became owner of Bell Buckle Records, working closely to Rebel Records. Smith released "Patchwork Heart", "Turtle Wings", and "No Summer Storm" through Rebel Records. Tom T. Hall was featured on the guitar for the recording of song, "Sit Down and Cry" on Valerie's third release, "No Summer Storm". (Dirty Linen Magazine, February/March 2003, No. 104, staff journalist, Paul E. Comeau). During the year of 2003, it has been described that her music had been received with widespread critical and popular acclaim in the world of bluegrass (Bluegrass Now Magazine, June 2003, page 27, written by Joe Romano) Bill Vorndick and Ralph Stanley included her on the Grammy-nominated CD, "Clinch Mountain Sweet Hearts"(which includes Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell and many other female country singers). She recorded the song, "I'll Remember You Love in my Prayers" with the late, legendary Ralph Stanley. Tom T. Hall would later write and make a special appearance on her second album, "No Summer Storm". Lord, I'm Ready was the song on the project that charted on the Bluegrass Survey Charts. Smith has been included in all three recordings of "Daughters of Bluegrass" produced by Blue Circle Records, owned by Tom and Dixie Hall.

Valerie Smith received two awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, for Recorded Event of the year, 2001, for Follow Me Back to the Fold (produced by Mark Newton, Rebel Records) and in 2006 for the compilation of Follow Me Back to the Well (produced by Lorrain Jordan and Dale Perry, Blue Circle Records).

Valerie Smith has been known as a country artist with styles that range from bluegrass, blues, and gospel music. Valerie received her Bachelors of Music in Kansas City at the University of Kansas City in 1989. Smith was a music instructor for the Kearney School District, Kearney, Missouri, and later taught in the state of Tennessee for the Brentwood School District in Brentwood, Tennessee. During her residence in Nashville, Tennessee, she became interested in songwriting and recording arts. Artist Charlie Louvin (from the Louvin Brothers– known for My Baby's Gone), became her mentor and made it possible for her to perform on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Smith performed a duet that was recorded on her debut CD, "Patchwork Heart" with Charlie Louvin.

Valerie Smith (born July 25, 1966) is an American roots and bluegrass recording artist who has performed in the United States, Europe, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as being a music teacher. Her supporting band is called "Liberty Pike", named after a historic road that connects from Nashville, TN through Bell Buckle, TN. (Battle of Liberty Gap)