Entertainment Magazine

Heaven & Earth 
featuring guitarist Stuart Smith

Heaven & Earth, a blues based rock ‘n roll band was formed in 1996 by British guitarist Stuart Smith after being offered a record deal by Samsung to record a solo album.

Their album, entitled “Stuart Smith’s Heaven & Earth” features some of rock’s top vocalists such as Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora, Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow) and Glenn Hughes from Deep Purple and has been consistently hailed with rave reviews and is considered by some to be a classic rock mainstay.

The CD has also become a much sought after item among collectors and rock aficionado’s throughout Europe and Asia. 

Smith was classically trained from age seven and went on to be taught by Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore.  He toured England & Europe extensively with his first professional band “Sidewinder” before moving to the States in 1983 where he joined the reformed “Sweet” and ater formed the “Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” with Keith Emerson.  In 1995 he put together Heaven & Earth.

After the first release, Stuart was offered a second deal by European label Frontiers Records, known for signing some of Europe’s top rock ‘n roll acts. By this time, Stuart had made the decision to put together a more cohesive band situation and had enlisted the help of drummer Richie Onori who had already played on the first release.

Richie, a well known and respected drummer, has played with such rock icons as Rick Derringer, Louis Johnson, Bobby Kimball (Toto) and also played with Stuart in the group “Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” with Keith Emerson of “Emerson, Lake and Palmer”.

Stuart and Richie made the decision to go with guitarist/producer Howard Leese from Heart to produce the second album entitled “Windows to the World” which was released in 2001 (Frontiers Records) and again received rave reviews and solidified themselves in today’s classic rock genre with their fan base growing ever larger throughout the world.  In support of the release, the group toured worldwide and was received by large, enthusiastic crowds wherever they played.

Heaven & Earth are now hard at work with Grammy/Emmy Award winning producer Dave Jenkins on their latest release entitled: “Screaming for Redemption” which is being recorded at their own recording studio (Wine Cellar Studios in Woodland Hills). The CD is projected for release later this year on their own label, Black Star Records.  The new label was the next logical step in today’s independent label environment and has already secured other signings which include Howard Leese of Heart.  Others soon to be announced.

With the band’s strong European and Asian following and popularity firmly established, they are now breaking into the U.S. market, set on achieving the same level of success.  Black Star Records, with distribution provided by Burnside Distribution Corp., has acquired the rights to the first CD (“Stuart Smith’s Heaven & Earth”) and has released the CD as – “Heaven & Earth featuring Stuart Smith” in the U.S. where it was never released, with two brand new bonus tracks featuring stunning vocal performances by Bobby Kimball of Toto and Joe Lynn Turner of  Rainbow.  The U.S. release date is January 18, 2005.  A forthcoming release, “Screaming for Redemption” is scheduled for release later this year.

In a musical environment dominated by pop corporate thinking, Heaven & Earth has stuck to its guns and continues to blaze its own trail knowing, believing and proving that there continues to be a demand for their style of music.

Wins for Heaven & Earth
at the All Access Music Awards

Hollywood, CA – LA rock band Heaven & Earth took home two wins at the 2nd Annual All Access Music Awards held at the Key Club in Hollywood on Saturday, November 6, 2004.  Rock guitarist, Stuart Smith of Heaven & Earth took home the award for “Best Guitarist” and the band won the big prize of the evening – “Best Overall Album of the Year” 

The awards came at an already high time for the band, having just released a star-studded new CD—“Heaven & Earth, Featuring Stuart Smith” on their new record label—Black Star Records—which is being distributed by Burnside Distribution and is just now being officially launched.  They are also announcing this week the signing of their first artist—Howard Leese—formerly with Heart, now touring as guitarist/band leader for Free/Bad Company singer, Paul Rodgers. 

More on Howard Leese

Heaven & Earth Heaven & Earth CD from amazon.com This incredible debut album by Rock/Blues band Heaven & Earth featuring British guitarist Stuart Smith who critics have compared to Beck, Blackmore, Clapton and Page features some of the finest vocal performances by several of the most prominent Classic Rock artists of our time.  Previously released in Europe and Asia to rave reviews, the U.S. release includes two bonus tracks featuring the lead singer of Toto, Bobby Kimball and Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow delivering the performance of their lives.  As Tammy Childs of Cyber City says…. “crank this stuff up—Loud!” Searing performances by… Richie Sambora – Bon Jovi Joe Lynn Turner – Rainbow Bobby Kimball – Toto Glenn Hughes – Deep Purple Kelly Hansen – Hurricane Carmine Appice – Rod Stewart Steve Priest – Sweet