Annette Warren Smith has played the piano since discovering it at the age of five in Cleveland, Ohio. Having won a prestigious national scholastic piano award at the age of 16, one thing led to another, and Annette set forth at twenty to study at Julliard in New York. Fate had other plans for her, and she was discovered as a singer. Soon she was garnering rave reviews for her performances at top New York nightclubs like the Blue Angel and the Bon Soir. Her singing took her to London and Montreal as well as across America and led to her Off-Broadway theatre performances with actors like Ed Asner and Bea Arthur.
Annette's career blossomed to include radio commercials, record albums, an appearance as an Esquire girl, and guesting appearances on "The Tonight Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show." Annette hosted her own show for CBS in the early days of live television and her singing voice was used for Ana Gardner in "Showboat" and Lucille Ball in "Fancy Pants" and "Sorrowful Jones."
With all the career momentum Annette had build up by the mid-Fifties , it was a bold move on her part to set it all aside in favor of her marriage to internationally renowned jazz pianist Paul Smith. They had met at a recording session in the 40's and again in the 50's. The second time they clicked, and soon had a family with four children. Through the years of raising a family, Annette has continued to nurture her own talents as well as those of her gifted students. She has continued to record albums and to sing and play the piano with her husband Paul. With the kids grown and out of the house, Annette and Paul have developed a theatre show: "A Marriage of Music and Mirth, " featuring themselves as duo pianists. Their naturally sparkling humor and fun-filled bantering give the show a special combination of entertainment and fun. The show's reputation is such that they sell out the theatre when they perform here in Southern California.
