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Larry Smith is a teaching artist currently residing in the Rogue Valley of Oregon and specializes in bass playing, composition/songwriting, education and audio engineering. Larry holds a Master of Music in Commercial Music Performance Electric Bass from California State University Los Angeles as well as a B.M. in Jazz Studies and B.A. in Music Technology from California State University Stanislaus. Most currently studied under Tim Emmons for electric bass and Steve Wight as his mentor and Thesis advisor.

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As a performer, Larry writes, records, and produces his own work under Smittybass: an all bass project where-in the entire sonic soundscape is being created exclusively from his bass. Most recently, Smith has been part of a duo that collaborates on a video project covering influential Progressive Rock songs with various colleagues from across the country. His role includes arranging music, mixing, video editing and organization of all projects in addition to playing bass. In Los Angeles, he had the opportunity to write, record, and perform with a variety of artists as a session musician. Larry is the founding member and composer for MAMA (Modesto Area Music Award) nominated band, Wait For Sleep, which has shared the stage with national and regional acts. He has been in the pit for various musical theatre productions that includes: In the Heights, Rent, South Pacific, Cabaret, and Anything Goes on both electric and upright bass. He has also been recognized with the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award in 2008 and Reno Jazz Festival Outstanding Musicianship Award 2013.

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As an educator, Larry's most recent position is at Rogue Community College teaching, Music Theory, Songwriting, Commercial Music Ensemble, Guitar, History of Rock and Jazz. At this time, more classes are in development including Recording and Music Industry Studies courses. Before joining RCC, Larry taught at St Mary’s School as Director of Music and teacher for grades 5-12. He was tasked with revamping the music program as a whole including but not limited to class development, curriculum, culture and community, and performance opportunities as part of St Mary’s 2.0. One innovative approach to modernize the program was to develop courses that fit the needs and wants of the students and the ever changing world of music. Some of the courses that fit this criteria include: Modern Band, Guitar, Ukulele, Recording and Electronic Music, Songwriting, STEAM Powered Instruments, and other special topics in music.

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In addition to these positions, Larry has been fortunate enough to have taught in a variety of capacities as a graduate assistant for CSULA, an after school music teacher at an arts focused charter school, rhythm section clinician, and his own private studio lessons.

Larry is currently serving the community as a member of the Medford, OR Arts Commission.

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Smith's published work includes his thesis titled, "A Study of The Modern Electric Bass Through Technique, Tone, and Stylistic Interpretation". It is able via ProQuest (1014026) as well the recordings available on my site. Larry is always working with other artists live and in the studio, active creating content that can be found on his Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Soundcloud channels as well as teaching, session work, mixing, and transcription/arranging services.