Paul Smith

Drums

Paul is a native of Swansea in South Wales, and has been playing drums since around the age of eight. With a professional career spanning nearly 30 years he has earned a reputation as one of the most versatile and talented players around, enjoying success in many different genres from rock, pop, jazz, funk and big band, to a 100-piece orchestra for a live Radio 3 performance of Bernstein’s ‘MASS’ with the BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES.

His playing career started in the workingmen’s clubs of South Wales at the tender age of 14 and then progressed to residencies with dance bands and rock bands before becoming professional in 1983.

Much of his professional career has been spent touring the UK and many other countries including Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand and Dubai. He has appeared on countless television and radio programs working with a diverse range of artistes including the Chamber Orchestra of Wales, Michael Ball, Charlotte Church, Sasha Distelle, Dave Edmunds, Lesley Joseph, Eartha Kitt, Cerys Mathews, Leo Sayer, Larry Adler, Sir Harry Secombe, David Soul, Shakin Stevens, Bryn Terfel, Bonnie Tyler, Julian Lloyd Webber, and Toyah Wilcox. He has even featured in a televised drum duet with comedy legend Eric Sykes and recently appeared on an episode of the sky 1 series ‘Stella’.

Paul has toured extensively with the likes of Freddie Starr, Roger Whittaker, Lesley Garrett, and Brotherhood of Man and has been a member of Welsh comedian Max Boyce’s Band for 30 years. He has also completed three UK tours with the winners of the BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ program, `Only Men Aloud’ and also in 2013 toured with X factor runner up Rhydian roberts.

Over the years Paul has also gained vast experience in the recording studio playing on many albums,and television theme tunes most recently on Only men aloud’s new album ‘On the road’, Dan and Laura Curtis’ album ‘Love on 42nd street’ reaching number one in the Amazon and iTunes Broadway and Vocal charts in the UK and US and also Welsh Television soap opera theme tune ‘Pobol y cwm’.

During the last 15 years, Paul has been a regular member of the SWANSEA JAZZLAND house trio, playing for many visiting musicians including Jim Mullen, Mornington Lockett, Dave O’Higgins, Bruce Adams, Dick Pearce, Lee Gibson and many more.

He has also worked on many theatre shows including UK tours of Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Crazy For You.

Because of his consummate skill and total professionalism, Paul is consistently called upon to play at the highest level in some of the most demanding `live’ and studio situations.

Below is a list of some of the many television programs he has worked on.