Raymond J. Smyth

Raymond has been involved in Music all his life. His roots are steeped in Traditional Irish Music. At the early age of five years he commenced learning the chromatic accordion and throughout his youth achieved all the top awards in Ireland. He is a very accomplished musician.

In 1969 Raymond opened is own Academy of Music in a Dublin suburb taught all types of music, classical, modern, jazz, traditional etc., to children and adults.

He travelled extensively with his group ‘BROGUE’ and presented a cultural Irish presentation of Music, Song and Dance. He toured America and Canada on twenty occasions, where he entertained vast audiences. He has appeared many times on American television and radio shows. While touring the USA the Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, paid him a special tribute, gave him a presentation and addressed him as a true Ambassador of Irish Culture. He has also toured extensively throughout England, Scotland and Wales, Europe and the Far East. One of the highlights of his musical career came when he performed to an elite audience of 1200 Senators, Congressmen and their guests at Gaston Hall University, in Georgetown, Washington.

On retiring from his teaching, Raymond established his own ethnic Record Label, promoting many young Irish artists. He has produced over 60 albums to date and arranged over 900 musical compositions. His Record Company – RSE Records established a firm foothold in the Irish market.

Ten years ago, Raymond began his songwriting career. He writes all types of music, Romantic Ballad, Rock, Dance, Folk, Country and Traditional. He composed music for the Yorkshire Television series STAY LUCKY, filmed in Ireland, featuring Denis Waterman and Niall Tobín, which has been broadcast in 38 countries worldwide.

He has won many premier awards for his song writing worldwide. To date he has achieved awards in America, including the North American Mid-Atlantic Song Contest,held in Washington D.C., Jacksonville Song Contest, Florida, and the Utah Song Contest.

In February 1999 he won the 21st Cavan International Song Contest with his composition ‘I’m in Love Again’. In September 1999 he won the Best Irish Songwriter Award in the Benelux International Song Contest, Holland, with his composition ‘Missing You’. He also represented Ireland and won an award in the London International Song Contest in November 1999 with his composition ‘I’ll Never Let You Go’. In February 2000 he won Ireland’s Eurosong competition with his composition ‘Millennium of Love’.

In May 2000 he represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest held In Stockholm, Sweden with his composition ‘Millennium of Love’ which achieved sixth place in Europe.

In June 2000 Raymond won an award at the Unisong International Contest held in Hollywood, California for his song ‘More Than You’ll Ever Know’. His most recent achievement came when he won the Country Music Category and the Best Irish Songwriter Award In the Benelux International Song Contest held in Holland, in September 2000.

Raymond has just completed a new sixteen-track album featuring his composition ‘The Land of Green and Gold’ performed by his group ‘BROGUE’. It was specially commissioned for the Jeannie Johnson Project — a famine ship that sailed from Ireland to America, 150 years ago. A replica ship has been built and will sail on a two-year voyage around the world commencing January 2001. ‘The Land of Green & Gold’ truly encapsulates the emotions, heartbreak and pain experienced by so many of our exiles, long gone but never forgotten and will be the theme music for the voyage.
His next project that he is currently working on is an album of his own origipal traditional Irish compositions. He expects to have the album released by summer 2001. The album will comprise jigs, reels, waltzes, and airs with a very modern arrangement.

Raymond will be inviting many of Ireland’s premier artists to perform his music, many of whom have already expressed a keen Interest in being part of this project.