Biography

... 82d Airborne Division service gave James Wesly Smith a first filmic experience--projection wise. He was hooked. Upon discharge, he returned to being a West Coast regional writer/recording artist and session musician, his talent previously honed by Moonglows singing group co-founder, Danny Sanford Coggins.

Three years later, a Coggins colleague, Moonglows leader Harvey Fuqua, hired the South Carolinian-born bassist into Motown (ITMI) for Gladys Knight & The Pips.

Most Motown acts had no complete rhythm sections of their own during the "Sound of Young America" zenith. Smith was called upon to bass aid such acts as, the Originals, Spinners, Martha & Vandellas, David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin, and even Brenda Holloway, initially.

Smith said because of his Army film training, he always studied the duties of the sound personnel, grips, directors, and other stage folks during actual gigs and national television appearances. Qualified Detroit company industry staffers often took time to converse with Smith.

Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson show appearances, among others, accorded valuable insight into above and below- the- line functions. This gave Smith a leg up when he finally enrolled in Los Angeles Loyola University Film School ((M.A., Communication Arts-Film,TV, Writing).

"Due to all the TV shows, the writing execution, set design and decoration, grips, lighting, proved quite familiar ", Smith said. And appearances on most '60s TV Variety shows, smoothed preparation of future media project soundtracks. World tours with the Johnny Otis Show and David Clayton-Thomas, allowed Smith to peripherally work with international film and television craftspeople.

"A musical background helped film, video, and television composition, arranging, and scoring. But my initial writing chops developed at LA Valley College, and San Fernando Valley State College (now CSUN), as a Journalism major,and music minor", Smith said.

Later, the Jesuit- trained writer was commissioned to author a screenplay on Black Family issues. The resultant " With Just A Little Trust"(Franciscan Communication Center/Teleketics), took a top prize at the Virgin Island Film festival in the early '70s.

As writer/director/producer/composer, Smith delved into other seldom served, faith based, diaspora projects as within traditions of Melanesia, Polynesia, Oceania, and Africa, including of projects film: "Camino de Vida" ("Way of Life"), 1994 for Melanin Catholics,Coptic, Orthodox; Teach All Nations "Upon this Rock" programs: "Who Is Christ", "Maryam & Family", "What Is Sin", "What Is A Sacrament", "The Liturgy", & "The Mass", (distributed through the now defunct Los Angeles Archdiocese Black Catholic Vicariate);

Audio podcasts followed, such as, "Transubstantiation", "Prayer", "Death & Resurrection", "Morality", "Salvation", "Justice", to name a few.

All projects buttressed Smith's tome,"Black Saints, Mystics, and Holy Folks (The Ancient African Liturgical Church, Vol I)" (Ingram/Booklocker), another under-served, faith based demographic, Smith reported.

James Wesly Smith, with his wife and projects co-producer, RJ Anthony-Smith (Roz), for more than 50 years enjoys (sometimes) three children, 7 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

A Loyola Juris Doctor Law degree and and 34 years practice helped with the lay of the legal "film land", before retiring to writing and recording full time.

Current writing and development projects include, "Thomas", "Martin de Porres", "The Cyrenaican" (The African Libyan carrier of Christ's Cross), "Another Side of Midnight", and others.
- IMDb mini biography by: James Wesly Smith