Rob Smith and Kristin Kay Smith make up the duo of Carrington Kay. We recently visited with Rob and Kristin, and we’re excited to help them share their brand new CD, Shine Through.
Rob, is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Music and has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music, including Sugar Ray, Jewel, and Huey Lewis and the News. Kristen graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Music Education in Choral/Classical Voice with Piano and Religion Minors and from New York University Steinhardt with a Master of Music in Musical Theatre Performance.
Rob originated from southwest Virginia, while Kristen grew up in Kerrville, TX. The two met on stage while performing a summer gig for Williamsburg, VA’s Bush Gardens, and the music has been magic ever since. They combined their middle names in order to name their duo, which has recently become a trio.
Curt Baker from Salem Virginia has recently joined in, and the melodic change, although subtle, has brought new territory to Carrington Kay. “We met while playing in a group together for a Christmas concert series last year,” Rob told me. “After our last CD, we were trying to regroup and figure out how we wanted to approach this new CD. I had written a song that really meant a lot to me, but it needed something special to go along with it. I had always heard a Dobro or Steel Guitar in it in my mind, and I remembered that Curt was a Steel player. So I invited him to play on the song. He really just captured the mood of the song I was going for.”
Rob said that the recording session went so well that he invited Curt to join the group. “He just really adds a great texture to the music, and he’s a very good mood setter. He’s such a good player and brings a great character to our music. We’re just really blessed to have him with us,” Rob said.
“I think with this album and the addition of Curt, we really have new focus, and a more specific direction for the shows we perform,” Rob added.
To find out more, visit
www.carringtonkay.com