The music industry is notoriously difficult to break into. One-hit wonders are not uncommon, and even artists who have released a string of hits can fall out of the spotlight. Veteran musician Chuck Smith, aka Stray Deuce Music, has been in the business for decades now and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Smith has maintained his relevance in an ever-changing landscape of new artists by evolving with the times while still staying true to himself, qualities that have served him well. In a recent interview, Smith shared his journey, explaining the difference between an artist who falls into obscurity and one who remains evergreen.
The first-ever lesson Smith learned in the music business is there’s no substitute for hard work. While the people you know and luck undoubtedly play a big role in achieving success, no one will do the work for you. Smith says serious artists must show up, hone their craft, produce results, and exercise their talents. The more you do that, the better the chances of getting lucky and breaking through in a shorter time. Still, there are times you will face rejection even after doing all that, but persistence will always pay off in the end.
According to Smith, your network is another crucial factor for success. He says that to succeed, you must find someone who inspires you, preferably someone with experience in your particular field. That’s how Smith caught his big break 18 months after arriving in LA. Things started looking up for him when he met a well-connected person who’d just started out on the managerial side of the music business. This person’s belief in Smith’s talent led to a recording contract at Motown, both as an artist and songwriter. Shortly after, a tune Smith co-wrote with a friend became the title track for Diana Ross’s album Baby It’s Me.
Open-mindedness and willingness to try new things have also contributed to Smith’s success. The artist has mastered different types of music, from classical to classic rock, folk to heavy metal, jazz to punk, and screamo to emo, among others. His skills have enabled him to work with luminaries such as Diana Ross, The Funk Brothers, and Lee Ritenour, smooth jazz great. Smith has also collaborated with Grammy and Oscar winner Paul Williams, Top 40 hitmaker Johnny Rivers, and others. He has also played with Willie’s Nerve Clinic, a band he formed with bass icon Dirk Lance, a founding member of the multi-platinum band Incubus.
Smith continues to push himself musically with his latest hilarious and timely releases. During the pandemic, he wrote a straight-ahead rock takedown of the whole pandemic titled “Lockdown Daze” that was enthusiastically received. “Trash Mars” is another Chuck Smith original dealing with a pressing world issue using humor. Most recently, he released “Billie Sings,” a tribute to the award-winning songstress Billie Eilish. After many years in the industry, Smith recognizes history makers when he sees them and believes Billie is one of this current generation’s trailblazers whose impact will last for many years.
He is also passionate about mentorship and has trained many music students over the years. Smith believes in learning as much as possible about your craft, which he still does decades after his musical debut. His training has helped many students gain the confidence to express themselves, and receiving their expressions of gratitude over the years has motivated him to keep going.