TERRENCE WINTERSMITH
BIOGRAPHY
If you had to sum up Terry Ayers, aka Terrence Wintersmith’s musical career in one singular word, it would be easy to do: diversity. Over a career spanning forty years, Wintersmith has performed and recorded with such eclectic artists as eighties pop diva Laura Branigan, surf music pioneer Dan Hamilton, country legends Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph , and jazz musicians Chester Thompson , and Jeff Coffin to mention a few.
His musical roots run deep in the foothills of southeastern Oklahoma where Wintersmith played back road honky tonks on Saturday nights, and then sang southern gospel music at little churches around the area on Sunday mornings.
In the summer of 1978, Wintersmith relocated to the west coast and immediately landed a job with Chrysalis Records. Chrysalis was the hot label in town in the early eighties. Their roster included, Jethro Tull, Blondie , Pat Benatar and the Babys
The following year, Wintersmith purchased John Fahey’s Takoma Studios which was located across town in Santa Monica, California. Wintersmith began recording artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur and Taj Mahal, to mention a few.
In the mid-eighties, Wintersmith returned to the stage performing alongside of his dear friend, Danny Hamilton in the Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds Show. Their hits included ‘Don’t Pull Your Love’ and Fallin’ in Love. 1n 1984, Wintersmith and Hamilton joined Laura Branigan’s Self Control tour as her support vocalists.
In 1989, Wintersmith began to direct his talents toward the world of jazz. Along with Patricia Lee, and fellow band mate, Frederic Boyle, they founded the jazz vocal group, Triad. Triad began playing jazz festivals and clubs across the country. Consequently, they were signed to Nashville based jazz label, Artifex Records. Their 1995 release, Terry’s Tavern, was a critical success. While touring to support the album they were invited to perform onboard the famous ocean liner, the Queen Mary, which was permanently docked in Long Beach, California. They were a huge hit with southern California jazz aficionados and they became the house band performing nightly in the Queen Mary’s Observation Lounge.
In 1997, Triad decided to go their separate ways. Wintersmith and his wife, Patricia decided to stay in Nashville. Wintersmith was offered the position of label manager for Artifex and accepted. During his tenure, he signed jazz saxophonist, Jeff Coffin , among several others. Wintersmith also produced the Third Coast Jazz Ensemble which featured many of Nashville’s top studio musicians playing their original smooth jazz compositions.
In 2012 Wintersmith began composing and producing kindie rock music which was gaining in popularity with young moms and their kids. Wintersmith set all of his kindie tunes to animation. He began to work with his three young daughters, and the following year, they became known in kindie rock circles as the Treetop Sisters. In December the following year, The Treetop Sisters released an original holiday song written and produced by Wintersmith and performed by the Treetop Sisters. Nicki and the Crew was a huge success, making it’s way onto the holiday radio charts.
So what is Terrence Wintersmith doing these days? He has recently completed production on his first solo release in over twenty years. A Walk In The Woods features twenty incredible musicians spread out over three continents playing on this collection of Wintersmith's original jazz and world compositions. It includes guest performances by legendary drummer Chester Thompson, Brazilian guitarist Marcel Camargo, who tours with Michael Bublé , as well as his old friend Jeff Coffin , saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band. Wintersmith’s friend, and former Head of A&R for Warner Discovery Records, Michael James mixed the songs at his northern California studio. He has an outstanding talent for bringing out exceptional performances sonically, and they really enjoy working together. Wintersmith could not be more excited about getting his latest music out to the global community.