LATRESA
LaTresa is a truly original artist - recording and performing singer and musician, lyricist, composer, arranger, and music producer. Her sound is a distinctly authentic blend of Kentucky bluegrass, traditional country and Gospel, and southern Delta soul. After more than two successful decades performing, writing, and recording in the bluegrass world, she continues to be a champion for independent music with song placements/features with The Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Vince Gill, the Fox Sports Network, and Live at Daryl's House, is a two-time Josie Awards nominee for Song of the Year Americana/Multi-Genre Infused and Holiday Album/EP of the Year, and is soon to release her fifth self-written and produced full-length studio album - this time launching into the Americana and Country music genres.
"Kentucky Bluegrass meets southern soul"
LaTresa
LATRESA & THE SIGNAL have been playing together since 2004. The band is composed of four musicians with diverse musical backgrounds.
LaTresa Smith (guitar, singer, songwriter) was born in Florence, AL and grew up all over the South singing with a family band "The Hester Brothers", her minister father and his minister brothers, performing traditional country and southern Gospel music. She remembers listening to bluegrass music on Saturday nights in an old store front in Steens, Mississippi and dreaming of having a bluegrass band of her own one day. She moved out West as a young adult, then returned to the south for ten years in the bluegrass state of Kentucky, until settling in Nashville, TN in 2003. She has been writing songs since she was ten years old. In 2003, she released her first bluegrass CD Free Spirit with 12 original progressive bluegrass tunes. She formed the band shortly thereafter and has since released a second more traditional CD Love, Babies, Jesus, and Sweet Potato Pie, featuring the band. Her newest release is The Blood and The River.
Her song credits include "Can You Give Me A Drink" (The Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Vince Gill) and production music on Fox Sports.
The Signal
Randy Smith (upright bass) is a University of Memphis music graduate. After gaining extensive experience playing jazz and blues on Beale Street, he moved to Nashville in 1999 and became an original member of The Signal in 2004.
Kyle Wood (mandolin) was a native of Nashville, a former founding member of Crucial Smith, a rock enthusiast, and an artist/songwriter in his own right. The band suffered a tremendous loss with Kyle's passing in December of 2021.
Markus Stadler (banjo/dobro) is originally from Munich, Germany. An original member of The Signal since 2004, he is not only an excellent instrumentalist but also a songwriter and accomplished sound engineer.
LaTresa and the band recorded a third CD of bluegrass gospel tunes in Stadler's Bumpin' Heads studio. The Blood and The River (BoonDog Records) includes some guest musicians and artists, like Ronnie McCoury, Roland White, Tim O'Brien, Dale Ann Bradley, and more. This new music is available now!
Together LATRESA & THE SIGNAL create a fresh and unique sound derived by their individual life experiences and musical heritages, bound together by their love of bluegrass, and they have a great time making music together.