EMPTY


Randy Smith, formerly of the Vermont-based band 8084, is a singer-songwriter based in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. A Billboard and international award winning musician, Randy has recorded 5 albums and has toured extensively throughout the US and Canada, performing over 4,000 live shows over the span of his career. He is also an accomplished web designer / web architect, and is the founder and principal of the web design firm, Synchronicity Web Designs.

Born in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, Randy began singing in his first band when he was 15. ("I remember playing an Aerosmith set at a bar mitzvah and seeing the look of shock on all of the parents' faces. The kids were loving it though! ")

Harry Signor

Randy's father passed away earlier that same year in an auto accident, to which Randy attributes as one of the sources of inspiration to begin his career in music. Additionally, his grandfather, Harry Signor, was a touring musician on the old Vaudeville circuit, making a living playing both banjo and marimba across the United States in the 1920's-30's. Gaining even more support and instruction from his brother, Brad, who also sang in a local group, Randy continued singing through his high school years in both local bands and the school chorus. An all-league basketball player in high school, his athletic background is evident in his live stage performances.
Early band.. Randy (L) with drummer Bill DeSanty

In 1980, Randy chose to quit college to move to Springfield, MA to form the group "Arabus". The band quickly became one of the hottest cover bands in the Western Mass. area. "When the drummer Bill DeSanty and I moved to Springfield, and we weren't sleeping in my car, we were living in a 3-room house occupied by the guitar player, his wife, 3 basset hounds and a pet skunk. Talk about crowded!"

After a brief two year tenure with Arabus, he left the band to focus on developing as both a better vocalist and a songwriter. Randy spent the next year "wood-shedding" by moving back home, setting up a work studio in his basement, and practicing his chops for 6-8 hours per day. "I was single at the time, so I never went out to clubs or on dates. I was completely focused on becoming a better singer and front man. And I did not want to be distracted."

Early 8084 live

8084 was formed in the spring of 1982. Keyboard player Charlie Hawthorne, Randy, and drummer Gary Spaulding met through a mutual friend and began planning the concept of a high energy, commercial original rock group. The goal was to perform the current rock hits of the day on the local bar circuit to make a living, and to also serve as a platform for an original album project. The band would be both musically --- and also visually stimulating during live performances. In the fall of 1982, bassist Frank Barnes and guitarist Andre Maquera joined the group.

From 1982 through 1985, the band performed throughout the east coast, performing and capturing audiences from Nova Scotia to New Jersey. Their high energy show and tight vocal harmonies soon earned them the reputation as the hottest bar band on the New England circuit.

8084 circa 1986

In 1986, the band left their families and friends in Vermont and moved to Manchester, NH. Renting a large house, the master plan was to spend 6 months living together, performing on the Boston club circuit and writing solid songs for their debut album. During this period of time, 8084 caught the eye of Boston producer and former New England drummer Hirsh Gardner. The team collaborated for the next few months, spending time in Boston working on demos and writing new material.

Debut album

In the fall of 1986, 8084 recorded their self-titled debut album, "8084". Released in early 1987 on a small independent label, they soon secured a European distribution deal with Semaphore Records, one of Europe's largest independent companies. European sales took off and soon 8084 was receiving press and fan mail from fans and magazines throughout Europe.

Backstage at
Olympic Stadium,
Montreal, Canada

Back home, 8084 was entered in an international music competition in Montreal, Canada in the spring of 1987. 126 bands from all over North America were chosen to perform and compete at Olympic Stadium. 8084 took the stage and, in front of 10,000 people, blew the competition away, receiving a standing ovation and the interest of many major labels. As winners of the "Rocksearch 87" competition, they soon found themselves speaking and negotiating with Canadian record labels such as Virgin and CBS Canada. They signed a management and recording project deal with a Montreal company, and began searching for a producer.

8084 - 1989

In the summer of 1987, Canadian superstar Aldo Nova ("Life is just a Fantasy", Celine Dion, Jon Bon Jovi) was secured as the producer. 8084 moved to Montreal and spent the next 5 months working on their second release.The album was 70% complete, when, for legal reasons, the project was put on hold. 8084 moved back to the States, and continued writing in their own newly opened recording studio in Rouses Point, NY.

In 1988, 8084 began touring the East coast to promote their debut album, playing venues as far south as Panama City, Florida to Lansing, Michigan. During this time, they had the opportunity to perform with many of the top touring bands of the day. Henry Lee Summer, Blue Oyster Cult and Warrant to name a few. This exposure to other musicians and the schedule of playing 27 of 30 days monthly allowed the musicians and stage show to become tighter than ever.
Love & War

1989 brought about the beginning of the recording of their 2nd (or 3rd depending on their Montreal project) album. Enlisting the efforts of Hirsh Gardner again, 8084 recorded "Love and War". Again, independent sales took off and 8084 began touring the Eastern seaboard to promote the album.
Satisfaction Guaranteed

Following the death of keyboard player and founder Charlie Hawthorne in 1989, 8084 released their third album, "Satisfaction Guaranteed" in the fall of 1991. That album was also received well regionally, and recently has been reissued in European countries such as Germany and Sweden as a sought after import.

The 1990's were full of line-up changes for 8084. Touring was reduced to the New England area as all members felt a need to spend more time with their families. Randy left the band in 1992 for personal reasons and to spend more time with his family. "Simply put, I was tired. We had been on the road for 10 straight years and my daughter was recently born. Add in Chuck's death in 1989, and I just felt it was time to take a break and enjoy my new family" said Randy.

He was replaced by Providence, RI frontman Gary "Vinnie" Focco. The band also went through many drummer changes during this period. The band continued until in 1994 they asked Randy to return. By 1996, Randy and Andre were busy at work on writing songs and the band hit the road again.
The Last Great Train CD

After years of touring and many line up changes, original drummer Gary Spaulding re-joined the band and 8084 signed an agreement with USA label GB Music, a compilation disc of material from the band's first three albums entitled "So Far" was released in Europe on January 5, 2000. To date, the album has sold very well as an import in the foreign and indie markets.

In 2005, 8084 wrote and recorded new material for their fifth international release, while entertaining distribution offers from labels throughout Europe and Japan.

Titled "The Last Great Train", the album had a simple yet powerful sound, with the strong melodic hooks and solid songwriting that had always branded the 8084 sound. This CD received very positive reviews worldwide and sold very well in both US and European markets. It continues to sell well today.

GB Music president
Gary Borress, Randy,
and producer Hirsh Gardner

In 2006, Randy decided to leave 8084 to relocate to the Southern United States. Landing with his family in Charlotte, NC, he immediately began writing songs for his first solo release.

Teaming up once again with producer Hirsh Gardner, the new release is currently in production and scheduled for a late 2007 worldwide release on the GB Music label.

A classically trained vocalist, Randy's many influences include Sting, Steve Perry, and Sam Cooke, to name a few. He is the proud father of a beautiful daughter, Savannah Jean, and currently resides very happily with his wife Carol, step-daughter Megan, two cats and two dogs outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.