Fraser T Smith

Fraser Thorneycroft-Smith
Background information
Born	(1971-02-08) 8 February 1971 Buckinghamshire, England
Genres	Grime pop hip hop indie rock progressive rock
Occupation(s)	Record producer songwriter musician
Instruments	Guitar bass drums keyboards
Years active	1995–present
Labels	70Hz My Audiotonic
Associated acts	Adele Sam Smith Stormzy Kano Drake Craig David Ellie Goulding Plan B DJ Mustard Birdy Example Lily Allen Rita Ora Taio Cruz Katy B Kaiser Chiefs Britney Spears Keane Tinchy Stryder James Morrison
Website	frasertsmith.com

Fraser Lance Thorneycroft-Smith (born 8 February 1971), known professionally as Fraser T Smith, is an English record producer, songwriter and musician.

Smith has co-written, produced and mixed six number one singles and has contributed to fifteen number one albums in the UK and US.^[1] Some of the singles he collaborated on include Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain", James Morrison's "Broken Strings", Tinchy Stryder's "Number 1" and Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart".^[2] He contributed to seven tracks on Kano's album Made in the Manor. Smith has also worked with Sam Smith, Craig David, Kano, Britney Spears, Ellie Goulding, Stormzy, Katy B, Tinchy Stryder, Plan B, DJ Mustard, Bipolar Sunshine, Jon Bellion, and Gavin James.^[3]

In 2012, Smith won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year with Adele for 21 having produced, co-written and mixed "Set Fire to the Rain". He was also nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for his writing on "Broken Strings". In 2015, Smith was also nominated for Album of the Year in the 57th Grammy Awards for his contribution to Sam Smith's album, In the Lonely Hour.

Early life and education

Fraser grew up in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and received education in Marlow and Reading having attended Reading Blue Coat School and Sir William Borlase's Grammar School. After leaving school, Smith attended Woolwich Polytechnic for a year before leaving the faculty having won a scholarship to study at the West London Institute.

Having spent a year at the West London Institute studying music, Smith started his career playing guitar in pubs and clubs both as a solo musician and in bands.^[4] In 1992, Smith met Rick Wakeman with whom he toured and recorded.^[5] Smith then went on to work with Tony Hadley.^[6] He also worked extensively with Adam Wakeman.^[7] In the mid-1990s, they formed Jeronimo Road; a progressive rock band. Smith then became involved in playing guitar in studio sessions, performing on over 200 records, including hits such as Rui Da Silva's number one "Touch Me" and Tim Deluxe's "It Just Won’t Do".^[8][9]

Career

In 1999, Smith was introduced to the then-unknown Craig David and spent the next five years working as his guitarist performing on television and radio around the world, as well as at concerts including the John Lennon Tribute Concert at Radio City Hall in New York, the Tsunami Relief Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and Live 8, London.^[10] By working with Craig David, Smith was able to develop his production skills, remixing and songwriting. They remixed songs together under the pseudonym of Treats and have written songs such as “World Filled With Love”, “6 Of 1 Thing” and “Hot Stuff”. Smith decided to stop touring and performing and went on to focus on songwriting and production full-time.

In 2015 and 2016, Smith has been working with Stormzy, Calum Scott, Gorillaz, The Manor, Anne-Marie, Dakota, Craig David, WSTRN, Jon Bellion and Ray Blk, as well as developing his recording and publishing label, 70 Hz. 70 Hz's roster includes Dakota, Melé, Javeon and Lostboy.

Discography

References

External links

• Official website