Smith Pettis was born in the Jim Crow south in 1953. He learned to read and write at an early age and as he got older, he decided he wanted to write rather become the scientist that others wanted for him. He was placed in classes for advanced students and at age 15, was sent on a summer scholarship program for gifted kids to Michigan State University where he got strung out on heroin and cocaine and by 17, was a hardened drug addict and criminal.
Having been sent to prison twice, he decided he needed to change his life and has been drug and alcohol free for going on five years. Poetic Soul vol 2: A Voice From The Other America is his second book of poetry but he says the difference in this book, is that it's part biography, part commentary, with the poetry as the driving force. Poetic Soul is over 50 years of poetry and observations but most of all it is a spiritual journey through everything from the conditions of living in the hood, politics, religion, and some fascinating revelations.
Smith or Smitty as he's known now resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan and stays busy writing songs for his group, Wordsmith Feat. Smith Pettis, which is an ecclatic, mix of jazz, blues, gospel, funk and R&B, with Smith out front on vocals and percussion.
He is currently working on their debut album. Smith sites his influences from Gil Scott Heron, Langston Hughes, The Last Poets, to Beethoven, Homer, Shakespeare, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley. His ultimate influence is the word of God.
