Curtis Smith is an American Publicist and Public Relations Consultant in the entertainment and nonprofit industries. A graduate of California State University, San Bernardino in 1988, after being involved in studio engineering/ recording and live sound reinforcement for concerts and plays he went on to serve as President of A&R for a small production company before moving into public relations. He also worked in publicity for American Recordings, Scotti Bros Records, Interscope Records, and in addition to various public relations firms. He’s worked with bands such as the Aquabats, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Reverend Horton Heat, Ron Sexsmith, Les Claypool and Primus, Marilyn Manson, and No Doubt. In 1993 he founded Maelstrom Music PR and went full time with it in 1998 and continues to the present time. Curtis began developing the independent public relations firm Maelstrom Music and officially started the PR firm in 1994 while also serving as a sound reinforcement engineer at Theatre West in Hollywood, CA. In 1994 he worked at American Recordings and was involved in the promotion of such artists as Johnny Cash, Slayer, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and others. In 1995 he worked at Scotti Brothers records being involved with such artists as James Brown, Skee-Lo and Freddie Jackson. Later in 1995 he was hired and worked in the PR department at Interscope Records until late 1997 being involved with artists No Doubt, Marilyn Manson, Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Wallflowers, Limp Bizkit, Smashmouth and Death Row records. Late in 1997 he took on head of publicity at Risk Records where he was involved with such artists as Jack Off Jill, Rita Coolidge, and James Intveld.

In October 1998 Smith officially started a full time presence with Maelstrom Music PR after leaving Risk Records. working with indie bands, labels, and developing bands on the major label level to help develop their awareness among media outlets. Handling public relations in both non-profit entertainment working with Music For Mankind’s Kelly Moore, who was involved as an ambassador to the Friends of the World Food Program in Washington D.C., TPRF (The Prem Rawat Foundation) and for haute couture fashion designer Randy McLauglin of Jeran Design for his Hollywood Graffiti Gown. On the music side he handled all press relations for Andy Fraser formerly from the band Free and his Mctrax label and streaming service in 2011.

Curtis is a member of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), The American Music Society, The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) and the National Association of Record Industry Professionals. He has been featured in numerous interviews including Artists House Music Fat Robot Radio, The Die Laughing Radio Podcast and was nominated for publicist of the year and was recognized in the Who’s Who of music industry professionals.

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