Check Out Will Smith II’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Will Smith II.

Hi Will, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed with your story and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Nuremberg Germany. My Dad William B Smith, Sr. was in the army and was stationed in Germany. The following year my family and I moved back to their hometown of Akron OH. I grew up in Akron Oh for 34 years minus the four years that we lived in Harrisburg PA in the early 80s for my dad’s job! Once my family (dad, mom, older sister, and younger brother) moved back to Akron Oh I lived there for 20+ years. 

I grew up loving music and I started playing drums at 5 years old by beating on pots and pans as a toddler. My dad was a preacher by the time I was 3 years old, and he became a full-time pastor in 1982. I continued to grow up in music and began to play in church. I played drums on stage (church) from age 7 to 16, and then I picked up the bass guitar and learned it by ear. After a year of playing bass, I added to my musical journey piano and organ, I learned by ear, learning songs and then playing at my dad’s church in Twinsburg Ohio. I met a man named Micheal Dotson who I watched play Hammond Organ at a church concert while he conducted the choir and the band. I was so intrigued that I said to myself “I want to do that”. 

Not only did he just play, but you also felt moved by his passion for God. So, I met him through a family member, and I signed up to get lessons from him. He gave me only three lessons and due to his busy schedule, he wasn’t able to continue lessons. However, those three were enough for me to catch the spirit in which he played and not just the notes. I began playing and conducting our church band and choir. The choir at my dad’s church grew from a handful to over 60 people. I then began to play piano for and eventually conducted The University of Akron Gospel Choir. I continued to help other Universities, High schools, Church choirs, and bands grow! 

At the young age of 19 years old, I got engaged to Sa’Mon, and we got married at the age of 20. I then began to work at the U.S. Post Office. We then started building our family. We then were expecting a baby after a year and gave birth to our daughter Jasmin. Two years later, we were pregnant again and gave birth to a son, William B. Smith III. We bought our first home at the age of 22 years old. We grew as a family, and we did ministry together at my dad’s church, I’d help other churches grow in their worship departments. After some years, I was interested in learning about studio recording. I was blessed to learn and grow from some studio gurus who were musicians and producers from New York. 

I then toured with a group called “Kyle Bynoe and Praise” where I was able to grow in music production and writing. After some time that group was dropped by the independent record label that carried us, I began our group called “Will Smith Presents True Worship” in which we recorded a 4 song EP. My group then began to play at the House of Blues in Cleveland on what was called The House of Blues Gospel Brunch. That went on for a few years. By this time, I was praying to God about what was next for my musical journey. We wanted to move but we had no idea where. After something I made a career change as far as the Post Office due to a work injury. 

At this point, we felt it was time to transition, however, we didn’t have the finances to move anywhere. At this time, we were attending a church called The House of The Lord… I began to help restart a youth choir that had been dismantled a few years ago. I started it and on the first rehearsal call, we got about 15 kids from age 13 to 18 years old there. After the 2nd rehearsal, we had over 30 kids in this choir. After 3 months of rehearsing and singing twice the choir had almost one hundred kids that were on fire and excited! After some time at The House of The Lord, my singing group (True Worship) got some attention from someone in Nashville. So, as I connected with this person, I realized that it was a high school friend of mine (Kent Bell) that I lost track of. He ended up being a music producer in Nashville. 

So, we went to visit him to make some musical connections and after visiting Nashville we felt a possible desire to move to Nashville. We prayed and began to believe by faith that we could get the finances to move to Nashville. So, after that prayer, I began to work at a cable company 12hrs+ per day. After 3 months, we had the finances to move. That was 2007! Dreams that I had of doing things in the music industry, my faith, and walking by it caused some incredible things to happen. Just to move this story along I have worked with some amazing people in the industry even to the point of recently winning a Dove Award with Toby Mac. My story is about going after your dreams and the how!! 

Today, I am a Consultant and Coach for church worship teams! I’m also an award-winning producer. I started a regional worship group called Nashville Worship Collective! 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road was not all the way smooth. The struggle of being taken advantage of early in my music career journey before moving to Nashville. 

The struggle of being married young and growing together and growing through challenges to making it to 31+ years! The challenge of leaving your hometown/family to a place where everything is new. 

The challenges and expectations of being a Pastor’s kid. Growing in faith! 

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I consult and coach church worship leaders, and teams. It’s artist development for churches. I also write and produce music. 

I’m known for identifying the strengths that are in a person (Musical Artist) and assisting in pushing them to their next level! I’m most proud of my children who are succeeding in life and music, and others that I’ve poured into and trained over the years! 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes, I learned how to stay positive about the future after Covid and I have made it my purpose to check on the health of others that were not so positive afterward. 

The way I’ve stayed positive was by finding others to discuss life with and encouraging them to lean into a community that helps you through challenges! 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @willbsmith2
• Youtube: WillbSmithII

Image Credits
Sa’Mons Photos and Jeremy Westby Anastasia (Ottofocus Photography)