Craig Smith
Times available
Anytime
Author/Illustrator Time/Rates
30 minutes $65
45 minutes $90
60 minutes $115
75 minutes $140
90 minutes $165
All charges include an administration fee. I don't charge GST.
Book Titles
The Wonky Donkey
Willbee the Bumblebee
ABOUT
In Brief
Craig Smith is a singer songwriter who performs original and covered music. He was born in 1972 in Central Otago New Zealand. His hugely successful book Wonky Donkey has now sold 300,000 copies. Willbee the Bumblebee has sold 90,000.
In Detail
Craig Smith first picked up the guitar when he was 12. Initially wanting to play the tunes he grew up with it wasn’t long before he was playing the songs of Neil Young, Bob Dylan and various blues artists. This folk, basic rock and blues background still influences his original music today as well other contemporary music. He loves to sing/play the classics and has committed himself to continue to learn and cover more of them. His passion however, to write and perform his original music, continues to grow. His songs are a real eclectic mixture. Lyrical, thought provoking, from the heart and are sometimes humorous. He plays them in a mixture of styles too. Generally they are played in an easy listening, contemporary, folk, blues or even country style. In 2005 he released a self produced album with 13 originals. Recently, he has started to write and perform music for kids. He saw that a lot of kids were going from nursery rhymes to teenage music as they hit the ages of 6-12 and decided to do something about it. He is excited to see how far he can go with my music and indeed see if he can make a living from doing something that he loves to do.
• March 2009 - Wonky Donkey song was voted into the semi finals of the ISC (International Song Competition), the largest international song competition in the world. This effectively means that it was judged one of the top 25 childrens songs of 2008 IN THE WORLD!! Unfortunately it didn't make it into the final 10.
• March 2009 - Smith released his reproduced single "Lest We Forget", a tribute to all those who fought for our freedom.
• January 2009 - Not Just For Kids (Smith's kids album) goes eco. Recycled paper case, corn starch trays and even the printing ink is done using sustainable technology. The first of it's kind in NZ.
• November 2008 - Wonky Donkey song is given the go ahead to be turned into a childrens book by Scholastics. Another song "Willbee the Bumblebee" gets the same honour. Books to be released by Christmas 2009.
• July 2008 - Wonky Donkey song becomes the APRA NZ Childrens Song of the Year.
• July 2008 - Wonkey Donkey song from Smith's kids album "Not Just For Kids" is nominated for APRA NZ Childrens Song of the Year.
• June 2008 - A wonderful couple from Denver, Colorado, USA see Smith playing at a gig in Christchurch and offer to fly him to Denver for their wedding... wow! On his way there Smith organises gigs in South East Asia and Canada. The trip is a wonderful success and a great time and experience.
• April 2008 - Christchurch City Council and the RSA ask Smith to play his ANZAC song "Lest we forget" (a song Smith wrote for ANZAC service people including his great-uncles) at the official Christchurch Cathedral ceremony at 10am on ANZAC day to play just after Mayor Bob Parkers speach. Smith says he was honoured as many people who were returned soldiers and their families approached him after the ceremony and thanked him.
• March 2008 - Smith stepped into a new area of music - event organising. He organised all the artists, sound engineering, stages, lighting and MCing and also played for the Montieths Wild Foods in the City. This event had 12 bands and solo artists playing for 24 hours over 2 days.... Phew!.
• January/February 2008 - Smith went on tour throughout Canterbury, Otago and Southlad starting the new "combination" of gigging. He promoted his kids album at primary schools during the day and played in pubs and restaurants in the evening. The tour was hugely successful and tonnes of fun. Smith says it reinforced why he does what he does.
• November 2007 - Smith finally takes the hint from the kids and parents to record and release an album full of his own kids songs. Working with Voodoo records again Smith's kids album entitled "Not Just for Kids" is officialy released on CTV for their morning show "Good Living" in late November. Smith's Nana was very proud!
• 2007 - Smith's new album "Don't Shake My Tree" was finished and released into Real Groovy and Radar record stores. Tracks from the album got air play on Plains FM , RDU FM, More FM and Kiwi FM. Smith performed two tracks live on CTV to promote the release.
• 2006 - Smith moved to Christchurch and started to pick up lots more music work. He started working with indi label, Voodoo Records. Smith starts working on a new album and contracts Web Chalk to create a website. Craig Smith is in cyber space!.
• 2006 - Smith made the decision to follow music full time. He made a 100% commitment to his craft and heart and never looked back.
• 2005-2006 - Smith moved down south and plays gigs from as far as Stewart Island through to Queenstown
• 2005 - Smith performed in front of 19,000 people at the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival. He sold 300 singles of the song. Smith continued gigging at pubs, folk clubs, restaurants and venues. He received his first APRA royalty cheque. Smith worked with Graeme Wardrop on “The Gollywog Song” at his studio in Christchurch. This song was then added to the 12 originals album. 12 originals became 13 originals.
• 2005 - Smith performed in front of 19,000 people at the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival. He sold 300 singles of the song. Smith continued gigging at pubs, folk clubs, restaurants and venues. He received his first APRA royalty cheque. Smith worked with Graeme Wardrop on “The Gollywog Song” at his studio in Christchurch. This song was then added to the 12 originals album. 12 originals became 13 originals.
• 2004 - Smith hired a studio and produced his first album entitled 12 originals. Hokitika Wild Food Festival organisers heard him perform. They commissioned him to write a theme song for the festival and then bought it! Smith registered with APRA.
• 2003 - Smith made it back to New Zealand. He moved to Dunedin and performed in pubs, folk clubs, restaurants and venues.
• 2003 - Smith made it back to New Zealand. He moved to Dunedin and performed in pubs, folk clubs, restaurants and venues.
• 2000-2002 - Smith was still working in South East Asia and continued gigging. He started composing original songs seriously. Smith was asked to perform at the New Zealand Wine and Food Festival in Saigon by the Ambassador of New Zealand to Vietnam.
• 1999 - While working in the field of Marketing in South East Asia, Smith was asked to perform (and was paid for his performances) at a variety of bars clubs and private functions. The comments Smith received only encourage him to pursue his passion even more. Smith had a guitar custom made just for him.
• 1999 - While working in the field of Marketing in South East Asia, Smith was asked to perform (and was paid for his performances) at a variety of bars clubs and private functions. The comments Smith received only encourage him to pursue his passion even more. Smith had a guitar custom made just for him.
• 1995-1998 - Smith continued to learn and wrote a few more originals he was happy with.
• 1994 - Smith wrote his first original that he was actually proud of! He discovered he has a talent for writing lyrics.
• 1985-1993 - Smith continued to learn and played at the odd party and family gatherings. He wrote the odd original.
• 1984 - Smth picked up a guitar and began to strum. Smith got lessons from Gary Kernahan, he says thanks Gary! Smith discovered his passion for music.