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NORTH Vancouver country star Bobbi Sinith plays a hometown gig at Centennial Theatre on Cec. 2

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& Bobbi Smith, Thursday, Dee. 2, 7:30 p.m. at Centennial
‘Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver. Call 984-
4484 or 351-4283 for ticket information.

Randa!! Mang
Contributing Writer

DURING her April 3 concert in Vancouver,
Canadian Country Music Star Shania Twain gen-
erously tipped her hat to Bobbi Smith when she
allowed the 12-year-old to come on stage and
sing, “What Made You Say That,” from Twain’s
self-titled debut album, released in 1993.

So how does one go from being virtually unknown to sud-
denly appearing onstage With one of country music's top per-
formers?

Well, vou starr by being Bobbi Smith; an incredibly talent-
ed and adorable North Vancouver youth who possesses not
only a powerhouse voice but who also came into the music
business with confidence, poise and a dynamite stage presence.
Smith ended up on stage with Twain after JR Country radio
listeners voted her there, as part of a contest in support of
local talent.

Smith's music had been heard on JR since her first single
“Sweetwater” was released back in April 1998.

“Listencrs phoned in to vote who they felt should be able
to go on stage with Shania,” says Bobbi. “I was very excited
to earn that I had won with 44% of the votes. It was a huge _
thrill.”

If you think that is fast-tracking get a load ef this: ic was
the dedication and persistence of her grandfather whe man-
aged to first get Smith recorded and later to persuade JR
Country Radio to give her a chance to reach a liscening audi-
ence.

The story goes like this: Bobbi’s grandfather, Barry
Newton, recognized her talent and was eager to get his gi grand-
daughter's voice recorded professionally. Boldly, he took a
karaoke rape-recording of Bobbi’s voice to country music
artist Al Rogers’ Crosstown Studio on the North Shore.

There he personally asked Rogers if he would give the taps”
a listen.

According to reports, the studio owner was so impressed
by her raw talent that he gave the youngster a tape of country
songs he’d written and asked her to choose one to learn.
Within days she was ready for her first recording session.

“I had to get a headphone mix for her and Pd barely put
up the high-hat and some kick drum and a taste of bass and
she starts singing along with it,” said Rogers in an interview.
“She was right in; it was nailed. The pitch is there, the phras-
ings there, the groove is there : :

The song was called “Sweetwater” and Rogers would go ’
on to write and record a second song for Smith, titling it after
the line she was already using on her promo material, “Little
But Loud.”

Suddenly little Bobbi had her first single and grandfather:
Barry Newton once again hit the streets in his ccusade. for her“:
stardom. a

Unaware of the intricacies of music-industry protocol,
Newton simply took the new single over to JR FM,

Sce Radio Page 2