VALERIE SMITH (AND LIBERTY PIKE)
- From Holt, Missouri. Lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Began performing at age 11 at the Gas Station Garage in her hometown.
- While in high school, she performed on shows with Vince Gill, John McEuen and Vern Gosdin.
- Studied at the University of Missouri’s Conservatory of Music. Graduated in 1989.
- Was an elementary school teacher before moving to Nashville in 1992.
- Performs regularly at the Bell Buckle Cafe and Music Parlor (in Bell Buckle, Tennessee).
- 1997, first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry as a guest of Charlie Louvin.
- 1997, recorded first album Patchwork Heart
(Bell Buckle), produced by Alan O’Bryant.
- 1998, formed her band Liberty Pike.
- 2000, released Turtle Wings album (Bell Buckle).
- 2001, Valerie’s mandolin player Eddie Lee Miller died in an auto accident on the way to the IBMA trade show in Louisville.
- 2002, released No Summer Storm album (Bell Buckle).
- 2005, Valerie and her band performed on the sound track to “Bell Witch: the Movie.”
- 2006, released Wash Away Your Troubles album (Bell Buckle).
- 2006, underwent surgery to remove cysts from her vocal chords. After several months of rehabilitation, she returned to performing with her band.
- 2008, recorded an album of duets with Becky Buller who was a member of her band at the time, Here’s a Little Song (Bell Buckle).
- 2008, released That’s What Love Can Do
album (Bell Buckle).
- 2014, released The Human Condition album (Bell Buckle).
- 2016, released “Small Town Heroes” album (Bell Buckle).
- 2021, released “Renaissance” album (Bill Buckle).
