R.I.P. Vocalist Micah Smith, 1984-2025
[Photo credits: Left: John Kearney, Center: Marianne Matheny Katz. Right: Meta (Facebook)]
On April 4th, the Baltimore music community was saddened to hear of the passing of Micah Smith, much-lauded vocalist and songwriter of contemporary Gospel and Christian music. His smooth tenor voice has been compared to Stevie Wonder’s. Smith was raised in Baltimore and attended Morgan State University in 2000 before moving on to pursue a career in music. In time, he joined the Soulful Symphony, a nationally acclaimed orchestra of mostly Black and Latino artists who perform at the Hippodrome Theatre. Smith also worked as a private vocal coach in Baltimore and taught in the city’s schools. Smith’s albums include Wishful Thinking, released just this year, and All of My Heart, released in 2012. In addition, he released eight singles and EPs over the last four years. He performed with numerous R&B and Gospel luminaries, including Lonnie Liston-Smith, Roberta Flack, Jasmin Sullivan, and Marvin Sapp, to name a few. He also played on cruises and toured from Hawaii to Canada.
In June of 2019, Smith performed a tribute to Nat King Cole on Kennedy Center’s Millenium State with Baltimore-based musicians Aaron Hill (piano), Clarence Ward III (trumpet) and Charles Wilson (drums), as well as bassist Delorean Fullington. This past May 25th, a memorial concert at Keystone Korner was organized by Cheryl Goodman (AKA “Your Girl Cheryl”) to celebrate Smith’s life and raise funds for his family. It featured various bands with which Smith had performed, including The Fruition Experience; Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Band; The Craig Alston Syndicate; and event producer, Motown & More. Vocalists Mia Simone, Ronnie Queen and Caronne Jones also performed with Jones offering a duet that featured Micah singing along on a track.
Numerous tributes to Smith appeared on Facebook following his death. Aaron Hill, who was preparing to release a Fruition Experience album featuring Smith on vocals, wrote this in his April 7th post:
“If ‘Tone Is Everything’ was a person, that person would be my ‘brother from another mother,’ 12-year bandmate and soul friend Micah Smith.
“His tone of attitude, demeanor, speaking voice and singing voice were all intentionally warm, inviting and kind. A gentle giant in every sense of the word and a true legend amongst legends. Skilled, talented, and gifted in every sense of those words and yet still understated at the same time. Above all a loyal and dedicated father who never took for granted the ability to spend time with his children.
“When my cousin Caesar Bell introduced me to his music in 2010, I heard a familiar hip-hop and soul-influenced [sound] …immediately resonated with me and let me know we were cut from the same cloth. I was an immediate fan.
“To later call him friend & band mate was a true honor, and he often told me that the feeling was mutual. We often laughed till we cried, shared inspirational messages, traded musical ideas and supported each other’s endeavors like any true friends would…. There will truly never be another ‘tone’ like Micah Smith.”
Singer-songwriter Jeremy Keith of Los Angeles testified on April 12th to Smith’s gifts as a vocal coach:
“My big brother Micah Smith literally introduced me to studio singing, he introduced me to different vocal textures, he was hard on me, but he believed in me, and he gave me time, he gave me so much to the point where I can’t even be selfish in this moment.”
Keith joined Soulful Symphony, and said of working with Smith, “If you knew Micah, you knew he was a fuss box. That was just the perfectionist in him, and he knew that I could [succeed]. He chipped away at my vocal insecurities! He showed me discipline and awareness of everything around me. I’m so glad I can say that he was my true big brother.” Keith and Smith recorded a video together, Keith from L.A. and Smith from Baltimore. Keith says, “We didn’t let distance stop us from collaborating.”
Smith’s brother Lawson Smith wrote: “Though we only had a few years together, those years changed me. You weren’t just a friend. You were a teacher, a motivator, and a true example of what it means to lead with love and humility. From the Sundays we played together, to the random messages you’d send—a quick encouragement, a YouTube video to learn from, an Instagram clip to study and add to my repertoire—you were always finding ways to help me grow. You constantly reminded me to be better, to keep moving forward, and to always strive for elevation.
“You had a way of changing the room—not just with your music, but with your spirit. Whether you were singing, playing behind someone’s testimony, or just showing up, you brought peace, power, and presence. You were a humble giant—quiet but strong, full of grace, and grounded in purpose.”
Marianne Matheny-Katz, of Jazzway 6004 Live, wrote this on May 5th:
“We at Jazzway 6004 are shocked and saddened by the passing of Baltimore vocalist Micah Smith. Micah was an exceptional and charismatic vocalist and a wonderful person. We fondly remember him performing at the December 2016 Jazzway Holiday concert. His version of “This Christmas” was a true holiday gift and an uplifting experience for the entire audience! Micah will be missed terribly by everyone in the music community.”
More about Micah Smith can be found in an April 11th article in The Baltimore Banner
–by Liz Fixsen.
Liz Fixsen is a jazz enthusiast as well as a small-time jazz performer on keyboard and vocals. She serves on the board of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance, and she edits and writes for the BJA’s quarterly newsletter.