David Smith was born in 1949, grew up in Kensington Maryland and is a product of the Montgomery County Public School System where he graduated from Albert Einstein High School in 1967. David's father Johnny played music his whole life and was the owner of Smith's Drum Shop, located in Wheaton Maryland for 25 years.

Mr. Smith graduated from the University of Maryland in 1973 with a B.S. degree in Music Education. Mr. Smith moved to Los Angeles and in 1974 and became the Director of Percussion at Los Angeles City College. While in Los Angeles Mr. Smith finished his Master Degree in Percussion Performance with Mitchell Peters, at California State University at Los Angeles. At the time Mitchell Peters was the Principal Percussionist with the Los Angeles Symphony.

Mr. Smith was active in the recording studios in Los Angeles. Some of Mr. Smith's performing credits include film work, performing on "Apocalypse Now" and "Missing", recording with the "Beach Boys", and performing with many artists such as Bob Dylan, Herb Jeffries, Charo, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Michael Bolton, and locally with Chris Vadala, just to name a few.

With the birth of his first son in 1987 and wanting to get off the road, Mr. Smith accepted a job with the Baltimore County Public School System. Teaching there until 1993 when he accepted the position of band director at Mayfield Woods Middle School. In 1994 Mr. Smith was asked to co-conduct the Howard County Gifted and Talented Middle School Band. In 2001 Mr. Smith was hired as band director of Clarksville Middle School. Mr. Smith has a Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band all of which regularly receive superior ratings at festivals throughout Maryland and Virginia. In 2009 the CMS Wind Ensemble was invited to play at the 63rd Midwest Clinic, An International Band and Orchestra Conference.

Mr. Smith is still active as a performer, guest conductor and adjudicator. He has written many compositions for percussion and has authored a beginning percussion method "Time in My Hands", and produced a CD entitled "Dave Smith and Friends." As a private teacher he has placed many students in the All County and All State bands from around the area. Some of Mr. Smith's private students have gone on to have very successful careers, performing with James Taylor, Phil Collins, and Madonna.

Mr. Smith resides in Carroll County with his wife Valarie, and his two sons Elijah and Dakota. You can checkout Mr. Smith on the web.