LaShunda Smith is a native of Asheville North Carolina where she attended Asheville High School. Her love for music began when she was about 5 years old. She and her mother would use combs and brushes as microphones as her mom would take the lead in the songs they sang by artists such as Candice Storm, (Young Hearts) The Temptations (Silent Night), Gladys Knight, Patty Labelle, as well as other extremely talented artist.
Her first real experience came while on the choir at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church she sang (Take Me Back) when she was nine years old. It was a song she and her mother practiced for weeks. Shy, but eager to sing her first solo, Lashunda practiced that song night and day. Despite her mother telling her she could be anything she wanted to be, LaShunda kept her hopes and dreams of becoming a singer from the world, every since she was a little girl.Because there was neither family nor friends to emulate in the music industry, pursuing her aspirations just did not seem realistic. As a result Lashunda switched her focus towards a more “realistic” career: Business Management.
Lashunda’s mother attempted to remind her daughter that at the age of 4, both of them agreed she would go to college, a conversation Lashunda does not remember to this day. However, that was her mother’s story, which came true with Lashunda receiving her M.S. in Human Resource Management from Troy State University. Her mother loved to tell that anecdote every chance she got, until she went to be with the Lord on June 23rd 2005.
Lashunda has served in the U.S. Army for four years, Fort Benning Georgia and Camp Casey Korea. While in Korea, Lashunda auditioned for the All Army Choir, and sang to the soldiers at a Christmas Event. Her love for music and singing was known throughout the army because she would sing everywhere she went: in the hallway, bathroom, and sometimes standing at attention, in formation. Singing has always been therapy for her soul, something that would never depart from her heart.
Several years later after relocating to Maryland, LaShunda joined another choir called the Message of Hope.
This group traveled to different locations to sing GOD’s praises. She also participated in a Talent show at work where she shared a song she wrote about the loss of her mother. She currently is taking voice lessons to perfect her gift and plans to have a demo completed at the first of the year 2007. In her journey to be discovered LaShunda auditioned for Monique’s show called PHAT CHANCE, and attempted to go on American Idol but did not meet the age requirements. She plans to audition for the Apollo next year and will continue voice lessons until then. Furthermore, she attended an (Artists & Repertoire) A&R Summit in NYC November 2005 and plans to attend another A&R Summit in NYC on November 11, 2006. Within one year she has written over 20 songs, she will continue to write until she is discovered by a record label or meets an artist who is willing to sing her song(s).
LaShunda is filled with so much wisdom and love that she is compelled to share her gift with the world. She describes herself as a creative free spirit with a zest for life, who has the ability to positively influence the lives of others. Because she believes that meeting new people is an opportunity to experience something original and fresh, Lashunda sees unfamiliar persons as welcomed guess in her life. She truly enjoys inspiring people to love themselves, and to seek GOD’s purpose for their lives. Knowing that GOD is forming her path between a record label, a creative artist, or an excellent contract, Ms. Lashunda Smith will continue to pursue her writing and sing career. But she’s not limiting herself and she’ll welcome all three!
The Personal Touch
SHAYNOTES
