Skip navigation

Ed Smart Bio

Ed Smart MusicEd Smart launched his career with bachelor's and master's degrees from the groundbreaking Studio Music and Jazz program of the University of Miami, after being recruited from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas, with a full four-year scholarship. He then earned a master's degree in Studio Jazz writing, also from the University of Miami, where he taught as a vocal conductor and jazz instructor.

Now, Ed’s film and television composing repertoire extends from the inspirational to the intriguing to the zany. Composing credits for feature length productions include Denzel Washington’s Oscar-nominated and Peabody award-winning documentary HANK AARON: CHASING THE DREAM (directed by Mike Tollin), Shaquille O’Neal’s award-winning movie series, SPORTS THEATER (Nickelodeon), and BLUETOPIA:THE LA DODGERS MOVIE. Recent awards include the Telly and Accolade awards for his scoring and songwriting for the children's animated series IESODO (Capitol).

Comedy television credits include 7 seasons of ARLI$$, one of HBO’s longest running comedy series, and ASSUME THE POSITION WITH MR. WUHL (HBO, D.A. Pennebaker, prod.), both resulting from a long-time collaboration with Emmy award-winning actor/comedian/writer Robert Wuhl.  

Current television credits include FANTOMWORKS (Velocity) and A HAUNTING (Discovery). Other television credits include INTERPOL INVESTIGATES (National Geographic), and songwriting for TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL (CBS). Ed’s orchestration clients include AMERICAN IDOL (FOX), for which Ed was also a member of the original on-air house band, plus Beyoncé, Jewel, Peabo Bryson, Angie Stone, and Donnie McClurkin. Additional scoring credits include the HARPO SOUNDS library for Harpo Productions (OPRAH, DR.OZ, SUPER SOUL SUNDAY), DUCK DYNASTY, the off-Broadway play HIT LIT (Queens Theater, New York) and the short film A TEMP FOR ALL SEASONS, for which Ed was honored with Best Original Score from the 168 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL in Pasadena, California.

Ed’s work as a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist with award-winning and legendary artists has taken him all over the world with numerous Grammy winners, including Amy Grant, Bob James, Michael W. Smith, Kirk Franklin, Chayanne and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Even the inimitable Pat Boone. Latin artists such as Braulio and Marisela have featured Ed as a producer, performer, and orchestrator. His jazz performances have taken him from the 25TH MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL featuring composer Quincy Jones, to the Hog’s Breath Inn, the establishment of Clint Eastwood, where the iconic director characteristically instructed: “Give ‘em hell, kid!” 

Ed Smart MusicEd grew up with a solid musical foundation beginning as a soloist with the Singing Boys of Houston, often featured with the Houston Symphony. Sports, however, were equally his passion, making him perhaps the first, if not the only, operatic ball boy for the NBA’s Houston Rockets.

But having Texas roots means more than business. Ed contributes his talents to charitable causes close to his heart, serving as the musical director for three annual Literacy In Media Awards charity galas for the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Times and Universal Studios, and lending scoring talents to The Long Black Line Organization, dedicated to preserving the history of rural communities founded by African-Americans in Texas. He has also served as a worship leader in many churches throughout the country.

A sought-after speaker on college campuses and performing arts high schools, Ed also enjoys working with students in devoloping careers in composing and recording.

Ed and his family reside in Greater Los Angeles, the next best thing to Texas.