Paul Smith

Updated: Mar 9

Paul Charles Smith (born October 17, 1953, in Waco, Texas) is a contemporary Christian music performer and songwriter. He is best remembered for his early years with influential gospel group The Imperials. Smith spent four years with that group, recording four albums and one live video. Smith was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of The Imperials. He has recorded several solo albums and is a songwriter.

Prior to Smith joining The Imperials, Smith released two independent albums in the late 1970s while he was a student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Smith joined the group in 1981 after Russ Taff's departure. Smith was familiar with the group through his booking them for concerts at Baylor University. Smith finished out the "Priority Tour" and rapidly earned the respect of The Imperials' fans. For the 1982 album Stand By The Power, Smith co-wrote the title track and the hit "Lord of The Harvest."

In 1983, The Imperials released Side by Side. It was a double record set featuring five solo performances from each member. Smith had the last five songs on the album. Side by Side won The Imperials their final Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. Smith recorded four albums and one live video with The Imperials before leaving the group in 1985. He continued to submit songs to The Imperials—Including his song "Wings of Love," which was recorded by the group in 1987 for their album This Year's Model. Smith co-wrote the song "How Excellent is Thy Name" for Christian gospel singer Larnelle Harris and won a Dove Award as a songwriter in 1987 for Song of the Year.

Smith resumed his solo career in 1986 with the release of Live and Learn on Word Records' DaySpring label. Two more albums followed on the DaySpring label: No Frills (1987) and Back to Who I Am (1989). Smith moved to Star Song Records in 1991 for his one and only album Human Touch. Smith released his next album Extra Measure in 1994 on the Intersound Christian label. He later served as Music Minister at the First Baptist Church of Colleyvile, Texas. In 2005, Smith's long awaited album Soli Deo was released independently. Smith reunited with The Imperials in 2010 with Armond Morales, David Will and co-lead vocalist Rick Evans under the name The Classic Imperials for the album Still Standing. Smith is currently with The Imperials with Evans, Ron Hemby (Imperials member from 1987 to 1990) and Rod Fletcher touring and recording.