Aaron "The A-Train" Smith is a Nashville-based drummer and percussionist who has played as a member of multiple bands, and as a studio musician, starting in 1970.
Background
With a singular focus, Aaron Smith began his career playing drums in marching band during the sixth grade practicing on the cafeteria tables since there were so many kids wanting to play that instrument. Smith has stated that his influences include James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stax, RCA, Motown, Ringo Starr and the Beatles' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. On his first recording session for the song "Push, Push", Smith was paid with "all the hamburgers he could eat". At the age of 20, Smith played drums on The Temptations' recording of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also won two Grammy Awards at the 15th Annual Awards ceremony - one for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group Or Chorus and the other for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Although not formally a member of the Funk Brothers, he performed with them on several Motown albums as a part of the rhythm section. These records include Sky's the Limit, Solid Rock, All Directions, Face to Face with the Truth, Masterpiece, The Temptations in Japan, Keep on Trucking, Me and Rock and Roll Are Here to Stay. He has also worked on Renaisance, Prime Time, A Girl In Trouble. In 1984 Smith contributed to the 77s' album All Fall Down. He later joined the group officially in 1987, taking part in their albums The 77s, Sticks and Stones, Eighty Eight, The Seventy Sevens, and Drowning with Land in Sight at which point Smith left the group. Smith has also appeared on the following recordings: Simple House, Love Life, Listen, The Loving Kind, Brother's Keeper, Hope Is Born Again, The Jesus Record, Prayers of a Ragamuffin, A Long Way Back and many more. In his career, Smith has done many live tours as well with artists he has recorded with: Chuck Jackson, The Undisputed Truth, The Temptations, Mirosla Vitous, Club Nouveau, Miroslav Vitous, The 77's, Michael Card, Englebert Humperdinck, Michael W. Smith, Charlie Peacock, Rich Mullins and Kevin Max. An autographed pair of Smith's drumsticks, part of the Peter Lavinger collection which was on display in the Main Exhibition Level through Feb. 2002 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, can be found next to a pair of sticks used by Ringo Starr, one of his early influences. Smith is married and has two daughters.
