Lead single, “Twenty-One (2011),” from forthcoming album at radio now; music video to premiere exclusively on CoreySmith.com today

Smith makes debut performance on NPR’s Mountain Stage

Nashville, Tenn. (Thursday, April 21, 2011) – The number twenty-one signifies a rite of passage for many, but to Average Joe’s Entertainment recording artist Corey Smith, twenty-one has taken on an entirely different meaning. As a song originally penned over seven years ago, “Twenty-One” has gone on to be a top-seller for Smith—a troubadour who is known for sold-out shows and anthemic tunes. The single, now available on iTunes, has since been revamped from its original form and found a new home on his upcoming album, THE BROKEN RECORD, which will hit shelves on June 21, 2011. The music video for the single will debut exclusively today on CoreySmith.com.

“I’ll never forget the first time I played ‘Twenty-One’ in front of an audience,” says Smith. “It was in a small bar in my hometown of Jefferson, Georgia and the crowd was hootin’ and hollerin’ and carrying on as usual until I introduced this new song. By the time I got to the second verse, I could feel everyone hanging onto the words. I could hear them reacting to lines as they were being sung—some met with nostalgic sighs, others with laughter, and others with cheers. When it was over, my friends roared with approval and I looked around the room at their expressions. Some were grinning from ear to ear, others were fighting back tears, and a few were already saying, ‘Hey C-dawg! Play it again.’ I knew I had done something right.”

Smith began testing the waters for a career as a musician shortly after penning “Twenty-One” in 2003 when he began touring night clubs and college bars while maintaining his job as a high school Social Studies teacher. Eventually, Smith could not deny the demands for more live performances—the crowds were just too convincing—so he made the decision to leave the classroom in order to expand upon his audience with a shift in careers from traditional education to touring musician. Since then, Smith has certainly made quite a name for himself through 750 performances, 850,000 digital tracks sold, and over 150,000 albums sold.

When recalling his road to THE BROKEN RECORD, Smith shares, “This record epitomizes where I am, both personally and professionally. For new fans, it will be a comprehensive introduction while long time fans will discover it is my most revealing self-portrait, underscoring the familiar alongside the unexpected.”

THE BROKEN RECORD was co-produced by Rick Beato (NeedToBreathe) and Smith, himself, who also penned each of the tracks on the release.

THE BROKEN RECORD Track-by-Track in Listing Order:
1. “If I Could Do It Again”
2. “Carolina”
3. “I Love Everyone”
4. “No Way (Out with a Smile)”
5. “Heart Attack”
6. “Broken Record”
7. “Maybe Next Year”
8. “Backroad”
9. “New Day”
10. “Sugar Daddy”
11. “Twenty-One”
12. “Something to Lose”
13. “Down to Earth”
14. “Silly”

Corey Smith Upcoming Tour Dates:
4/26 Greensboro, NC – Spartapalooza at UNC-Greensboro – on the EUC West Lawn
4/27 Silas, AL- War Bama Club
4/28 Houston, TX – Firehouse Saloon
4/29 Lubbock , TX – Pavilion at the Lonestar Amphitheater
4/30 Blanchard, OK – Private Function
5/1 Augusta, GA – A Day In The Country
5/20 Norfolk, VA – The Norva
5/21 Dunn, NC – The Pasture Party – The Regency
5/29 Simpsonville, SC – Freedom Weekend Aloft Presented by Greenville Hospital System at Heritage Park Amphitheater
6/3 Richmond, VA – Brown’s Island
6/4 Danville, VA – Danville Harvest Jubilee Concert
6/11 Nashville, TN – CMA Fest
6/16 Akron, OH – Musica
6/17 Chicago, IL – Joe’s
6/18 Martin/Grand Rapids, MI – WBCT Michigan Birthday Bash
7/1 Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
7/2 Jacksonville Beach, FL – Freebird Live
7/3 North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues

Fans can tune-in on Friday, April 22 to NPR’s Mountain Stage to see a live performance of “Twenty-One” (2011) along with other crowd favorites including “Maybe Next Year,” “If I Could Do It Again,” and more from THE BROKEN RECORD (airtimes vary by station, a complete list of which can be found here).

Stay tuned to www.coreysmith.com for additional information and appearances.