Biography
Those who know him call him Tony. Those who come to hear him play call him blessed. Nathaniel Anthony Smith is an accomplished saxophonist with over 27 years of experience oozing from his horn. He studied jazz and classical music at The Turtle Bay Music School in New York City. For 4 years, he performed with the Con Edison Queens All-Star Jazz Band. Under the direction of Benny Samuels, his horn was heard at the wedding ceremony of NBA basketball star Mark Jackson and Off-Broadway actress, now gospel vocalist, Desiree Coleman-Jackson.
In 1998, Tony recorded his first CD entitled "Just My Style". That project included classic gospel hymns and songs with two originals written by Tony, in which he played all of the instruments. "Just My Style" was a success and personal milestone for Tony. It was something he had always hoped to accomplish in his lifetime. Through the grace of God, he released his second and third CDs in 2001 within a three-month time period. His second CD simply entitled "Back For More" continues along the same track of giving people something different that would help to uplift someone spiritually in song. The third CD is a Christmas project appropriately named "This Is How We Do Christmas". One listen from his soothing horn tells
you that he is someone that has been blessed with a special talent.
Tony was nominated in two categories at The American Gospel Music Awards for Best New Gospel Jazz Artist and Best New Artist of the Year. Tony won Best New Gospel Jazz Artist of 2003. Tony and his anointed horn have been spotlighted on several television shows. Tony performed in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand for the New Artist Retreat for Bobby Jones Gospel where Mr. Jones joined Tony on stage - as did Ted & Sheri, Blessed and Out Of Eden. They performed an uplifting rendition of "Wade In The Water" arranged by Tony. Tony was the closing act for the New Artist Showcase, which was taped for broadcast on the Word Network. He performed at WJBF-TV in Augusta, Georgia on the highly acclaimed "Parade Of Quartets". His face and horn have also graced the shows of "Making Great Strides" with Al Harris and the "Adonai Christian Talk Show", hosted by Rev. Maxine L. Thomas. When WFDU-FM radio hosted the "For The Love Of Gospel Music" benefit concert held at their Fairleigh Dickinson University radio station in New Jersey, Tony was asked to return for a third straight year. His style and personality have earned him airtime with radio hosts such as Stacy Wendell of "Gospel Revelations" on WFDU-FM, Sctonda Kelly of "In My Father's House", Rev. Robert Mosby, of WKZK-AM, Mary Kingcannon of "Gospel Alive" WTHB-AM in Augusta, Georgia, Pastor Marcus Stapleton of WGBB on Long Island and Sharon Addison of “Spotlight On Gospel” on 970AM WWDJ in New Jersey. Editor and publisher, Jamie Eatmon of Augusta has written about this anointed gospel saxophonist in his newspaper "The Rise". Other publications have included The Suburban Trends and Long Island Newsday. His story has been featured on various gospel websites such as clubpraise.com, ensoundentertainment.com and gospelflava.com to name a few.
Tony has appeared at the Soul Cafe and Justin's Restaurant in New York City a number of times. At Justin's he opened for gospel singer Tonex and was joined on stage by legendary gospel saxophonist Donald Hayes. Tony has opened for Leon's Inner Voice three years in a row and was a featured artist in a concert that showcased Pastor Hezekiah Walker and The Love Fellowship Tabernacle Choir. From New York City to Alabama to Florida, Tony has blown the rafters off numerous churches along the way. Parishioners at Macedonia A.M.E. Church in Flushing, Queens, where Rev. Nicholas Genevieve-Tweed is the pastor, get to hear his music ministry on Sunday mornings.
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With the assistance of Pastor Robert E. Wilson II, Tony has hosted a gospel music workshop for children who were given guidance on how to use their God given talent to minister to people in song. The children performed gospel songs that were taught in the workshop at a concert later that evening featuring Tony and Pastor Wilson. Tony continues to go to schools to have show & tell about music and the various forms of the saxophone.
Tony has also been blessed to host his very own gospel-instrumental radio show on WFDU 89.1 FM. He has interviewed the likes of Kirk Whalum, Angella Christie, Howard Hewitt, Ron Brown, Tim Bowman, Allen & Allen and Ben Tankard to name a few. You can catch Tony’s radio ministry on "Gospel Jazzations" every Wednesday morning from 1:15am - 6am est. You can also log on to to get the live stream over the internet.
Born in Jamaica, New York on September 14, Tony now resides in West Milford, New Jersey with his wife and two children. He has a degree in Lithographic Offset Technology and is currently employed as an electronic image retoucher at RGA Reproductions in New Jersey. He created and maintains his own websites, tonysmith.com and gospeljazzations.com.
Despite his busy schedule, through the grace of God, Tony's ministry continues to grow. He actively shares his musical experience with the young. He says, "My focus is to impart to a child that it is more gratifying to impress the Lord with your talent than any individual or group". Tony exclaims, "I want to give back to God the talents and gifts that he has given me; it doesn't matter how you lift Him up, as long as you lift Him up with your whole heart, as you praise His name".