December 22: Sy Smith & Zo! (of The Foreign Exchange Music) and Philly’s Phunkestra and DJ Zimmie @ Crown Room | Live Music, $5, 21+

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From Our Partner:
Sy Smith & Zo! (of The Foreign Exchange Music) + Philly's Phunkestra and DJ Zimmie

December 22, 2011 | 9:30pm | $5 | 21+

Crown Room
205 NW 4th Portland, OR

Sy Smith – Sy Smith is an American Emmy nominated singer-songwriter. Born in New York, New York, Smith rose to fame in the late 1990s when she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Smith released her first studio album Psykosoul in 2000, which spawned the singles “Gladly” and “Good N Strong”. Following the release of her first album, Smith left Hollywood. She often referred to as The Underground Queen of R&B and Soul. In 2004, Smith had signed another recording contract with Kajmere Records. Later that year, Smith appeared in the independent film, Black Rose. In early 2005, she began her own recording label known as Psyko! Inc. In mid-2005, Smith earned a NAACP Theatre Award nomination for her role in the film, If You Don’t Believe: A Love Story. In September 2005, Smith released her second album The Syberspace Social, which spawned the three singles “Fa’ Sho”, “Aquarius Rising”, and “Drop That”. In 2006, Smith received a NAACP Theatre Award nomination for her role in the film, Body Language. Later that year, she released a single “Fill in the Blanks”. While embarking on her tour in 2007, Sy Smith released her first live DVD Sy Smith Live: Worship At The Temple, recorded live at Temple Bar in Santa Monica, California.

In 2008, Smith released her third studio album, Conflict, with the lead single “Fly Away With Me”. The single charted at #38 on the Top 40 Hot Adult R&B Chart. In September 2009, Smith released her second single “Conflict”. In early 2009, Smith released the third single “Spies”. With album finally creating a buzz, Smith released two other singles “B-Side Love Affair” and “The Art of You”. In 2010, Smith released a single “Truth”, followed by her best-of album Syberselects: A Collection of Sy Smith Favorites. In January 2011, Sy Smith and Mark de Clive-Lowe recorded a version of Teena Marie’s 1984 hit “Lovergirl and Smith went on the “Authencity Tour” with the Foreign Exchange. In February 2011, Mark de Clive-Lowe announced plans to release “MdCL + Sy Smith: Collection Vol. 1″. In March 2011, Smith went on the “Sunstorm Tour” with ZO! and is currently working on new music to debut in 2012.

Zo! – Music was always present in and around the Ferguson house, which led to Zo! taking piano lessons at age 6¬Â¦ which he absolutely despised. The idea of working toward a Major League Baseball career served as the greatest inspiration through his teenage years much more so than the concept of practicing music. After his parents consistently pushed and encouraged him to stick with music, Zo! discovered a newfound passion by teaching himself how to play piano by ear by age 11. Zo! got his production start in 1992 when his parents brought home a Proteus MPS keyboard and a Brother PDC100 sequencer for him to figure out. Since then, he has emphasized the use of live instrumentation as the blueprint for his music while constantly looking to expand his sound with each album release.