Billy Smiley
Billy Smiley is a musician, songwriter, and producer. He first entered the music world playing acoustic guitar, and trumpet with the Gaither Vocal Band. That experience opened the door to his future career not only as a performer but also as a producer, eventually working on the first several Gaither Vocal Band albums.
In 1982 Smiley co-founded the pioneering Christian rock band WhiteHeart, serving as guitarist, vocalist, and one of the primary songwriters throughout the band’s run. WhiteHeart would go on to sell more than 3 million albums, receive multiple Grammy nominations, and rack up 23 Dove Award nominations, becoming one of the most enduring and influential bands in Christian rock. Smiley helped shape some of WhiteHeart’s biggest hits, including Fly Eagle Fly, Desert Rose, Independence Day, Unchain, Powerhouse, Sing Your Freedom, and The River Will Flow.
Alongside his work with WhiteHeart, Smiley built a reputation as one of Christian music’s most versatile producers. He has produced more than 150 albums and over 30 No. 1 songs, working with artists such as Geoff Moore, Margaret Becker, Johnny Cash, Gaither Vocal Band, John Schlitt, Newsboys, & BeBe & CeCe Winans. His songwriting and production credits earned him five Grammy nominations and numerous Dove Award honors, as well as recognition as Christian music’s Songwriter of the Year in 1988.
In recent years Smiley has continued to perform and record as part of The Union of Sinners and Saints, a super-group that unites the legacies of WhiteHeart and Petra. The group also includes John Schlitt and Jason Fowler and other members of WhiteHeart. The band performs classics from both catalogs alongside new material, carrying forward the spirit of Christian rock’s formative years. Smiley is also a part of the emerging super-group, The River Cryers with Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay), Ron Hembry (Imperials) , Steve Hildalong (The Choir), and Matt Nelson (The Chosen). Smiley has also been associated with other collaborative projects, including independent artist development through his Music City Collective initiative.
Smiley places emphasis on helping emerging artists through his venture Music City Collective, which not only helps artists produce and distribute music that reflects their faith across various styles (country, rock, worship, americana, pop, R&B) but also collaborates with independent labels and provides a forum for legacy artists to “pay it forward” to the next generation.
Billy Smiley holds degrees in music theory and composition and endures as a respected figure in Christian music — as a performer, songwriter, producer, and mentor. His legacy spans decades of groundbreaking work with WhiteHeart, landmark productions for some of the biggest names in Christian music, and an ongoing commitment to raising up new generations of artists to share faith through music with excellence in craft and authenticity of message.