Having begun writing songs while a seminary student at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, Smith drew inspiration in the liturgical songs and "folk masses" that were part of his environment and was especially intrigued by the pairing of scripture to music. Still, he had little luck with song publishers until his "Our God Reigns" was popularized by traveling evangelists and the song's fame spread across the globe. Having exchanged teaching Latin for house painting, Smith grew into a prolific writer, with over 160 songs to his credit. Releasing his first album at the age of 58, 2001's Deep Calls to Deep found Smith running through an eclectic set of rock-based gospel that may not have had much in common with the music of his offspring but showed a similar, if quite differently communicated, religious fervor. ~ Matt Fink