ABOUT ME.

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As a music industry veteran of more than 25 years, Kenery Kent Smith is part of a rich tradition of World-Class Chicago bassists. His performance resume showcases the Chi-Town musical trademarks of extraordinary talent, and a versatility to work in any musical genre. Kenery’s experience includes performances with artists ranging from international Neo Soul recording artist Erykah Badu to world-renowned Jazz vocal diva Dee Alexander. Kenery has provided low-end grooves for Acid Jazz pioneers Liquid Soul, and he has laid down a funky groove or two behind world-famous comedian Bernie Mac. And he has toured extensively throughout Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg with the inspirational voices of Sue Conway and the Victory Singers, and with Pierre Walker & Project: Sanctified. Kenery has also performed locally with Gospel legend Kim Stratton, Grammy-winning recording artist Darius Brooks, and Gospel recording artist Phil Tarver.   

Kenery has worked in many other diverse musical settings including performing music with the world-renowned tap dance ensemble MADD Rhythms, touring nationally with Jackie Taylor’s Black Ensemble Theater, and with Chicago’s Free Street Theater (most notably at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.). Most recently, Kenery appeared in, and wrote and produced original music for the independent film “The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang”. And for 15 years Kenery was co-founder and bassist of Chicago’s very own Nu-Jazz legends Detour JazFunk, with whom he shares writing, arranging, and co-production credits on their debut CD entitled JazFunk. 

Kenery can currently be seen and heard each week in the role of first chair bassist on the syndicated weekly Sunday morning broadcast of Victory Apostolic Church in Matteson IL., as part of their extraordinary music ministry.  Kenery’s latest expression of Creativity comes in the form of being a Contributing Author in the Amazon #1 Bestseller book, Lessons For The Little Boy. In it, he explores his personal journey to manhood, along with 12 other men, and personal insights by the book’s creator and co-author Jaime A. Gill. The prose is just another of the many avenues Kenery takes, in order to share his creative mind and spirit with the rest of the world—-whether they like it or not—-and it truly provides him with yet another path to continued self discovery.  

Whether Kenery is writing music, lyrics… poetry or prose; the heart and mind of this Creative will always speak its truths in the most authentic, unique…and unapologetic manner. Because for Kenery, creativity through art is all about communication. It’s all about expression. And it’s all about sharing himself with the world, in order to answer the likely unasked question: who is Kenery Kent Smith? And his humble contribution to Lessons For the Little Boy gives you, the reader, a tiny peek into the process of answering that question.  Kenery is currently in the process of writing his own yet to be titled book of musings, remeberances, and messages for the masses, to be completed in late 2022 Original Music and Literature .