Darden Smith with special guest Marci Geller in The Loft in Rahway 11/8/14

Darden Smith is an Austin-based singer-songwriter who redefines what it means to be a musician. With fourteen critically acclaimed albums in a career that spans almost three decades, Smith continues to write and tour across the US and Europe along with exploring new and innovative ways to use the craft of songwriting in education, entrepreneurship studies, and service.

Recording since 1986 from Austin, to New York and Nashville, from London to Los Angeles, his albums weave together rock, pop, country, folk and Americana influences with the musical roots of his home state of Texas. He has long transcended traditional singer-songwriter boundaries, and the evolving nature of his work since 2000 reflects his consistent creative excellence.

Smith founded The Be An Artist Program nearly a decade ago, and his seminars to encourage students to explore their own creativity and interests have reached more than 15,000 students across the United States and Western Europe. HisSongwritingWith collaborations find him teaming with, among others, U.S. soldiers transitioning to civilian life after combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, homeless youth in New Jersey and HIV-affected villagers in Africa. Darden also adapts his programs for corporate retreats and conflict-resolution workshops.

While continuing to expand his SongwritingWith collaborations and touring regularly, Smith is currently Artist-In-Residence at Oklahoma State University’s Institute for Creativity and Innovation, where he seeks to share with students the challenges, joys and know-how in succeeding in creative business pursuits. His workshops and creativity sessions for Fortune 500 companies use songwriting to inspire new ways to listen, collaborate and learn in the traditional work environment.

Smith’s latest album, Love Calling, was recorded and produced in Nashville during the spring of 2012 and was released in August 2013 on Compass Records.

Marci Geller will open the November 8th show. Marci is a piano-based contemporary singer-songwriter whose latest CD Open Book is garnering airplay on radio stations across the country. It debuted at #33 on the Folk DJ Chart and was named one of the “Top 100 Albums 2012” on the Cashbox Magazine/Roots Music Report Folk chart. She has performed on Live with Regis, Good Day NY and Fox Morning Show, and her music can be heard in a multitude of TV soundtracks. Her music has a cinematic quality to it, giving light to “small moments” prompting the listener to ask the bigger questions.

Advance tickets are just $20 and can be purchased at www.ucpac.org or at the box office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway. The concert is part of the on-going Split Level Concert Series which highlights critically acclaimed singer-songwriters in a uniquely intimate setting.