Joel Smith may be the best kept secret in the world of bass but record producers and Gospel musicians worldwide know him as a double threat: a genius on both bass and drums. Born into Gospel's legendary Hawkins family, Joel has laid the musical foundation for the brightest names in contemporary worship, including the Rev. James Moore, T.D. Jakes, Beverly Crawford, and Kim Burrell. In addition, he's recorded or performed with popular secular artists like The Jerry Garcia Band, Carlos Santana, Tony Toni Tone, Patti Austin, Al Jarreau, Frankie Beverly, Bobby McFerrin, Patti LaBelle and Michelle Shocked to name but a few. The list seems endless. Legendary bassists Fred Hammond and Andrew Gouche cite Joel as a constant source of inspiration and acknowledge his musical contributions to be extraordinary. Giving back to the community is of utmost importance to Joel. He not only performs and records but also is an established educator in the Bay area. He conducts workshops and gives private lessons - he even has a training DVD titled "Bass Masters Series 1" available through his website at www.joelesmith.com.