Growing up in a musical family makes for an interesting childhood. Independent artist Stuffy Shmitt says he can’t remember a time when making music wasn’t part of his life. His mother was a beatnik drummer and song writer who regularly hosted a house full of musicians. Shmitt began making music for himself at twelve years old when a family friend left a semi-hollow body Gibson guitar and an amp at his house for storage and the gear ended up in Shmitt’s childhood bedroom. By the time he was fifteen, his frequent and volume heavy rehearsals in the basement of his family home had loosened the tiles in the foyer floor above. And Shmitt was permanently hooked.

On his new release, Other People’s Stuff (Realistic Records), Shmitt delivers an upbeat and thoroughly enjoyable musical journey of fourteen cover tunes, expertly spanning decades and genres. Shmitt’s interpretation of these songs is a departure from his previous two self-penned releases, Dog Steal The Moon and Nothing Is Real (Realistic Records). Yet his understanding and respect for the songwriting process is clearly evident, shining through in his production, musical arrangements, mixes and vocal performances.

Shmitt’s supporting cast of players on Other People’s Stuff is outstanding and includes special appearances by celebrities and legends such as David Johansen (NY Dolls, Buster Pointdexter, The Harry Smiths), Levon Helm (The Band), Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes), Jayotis Washington (The Persuasions), Willy DeVille (Mink DeVille), and Stockard Channing (The West Wing, Grease).

Through his production choices on Other People’s Stuff, Shmitt pays tribute to the original songwriters and performers of the tunes, while at the same time putting his personal thumbprint on the work, making it fresh and undeniably his own. His lush vocals and top-notch guitar playing make the CD timeless and infinitely listenable.The CD possess the warmth of the past, yet manages to be thoroughly modern.

On Dog Steal The Moon, Shmitt followed up the critical success of his debut release, Nothing Is Real, by delivering a new collection of original songs; Shmitt’s trademark ballads are made even more poignant, on Dog Steal The Moon, by their juxtaposition to a set of uptempo rockers that prove Shmitt’s ability to crank it up. (Anyone who has seen Shmitt perform live already knows the boy can rock.) Written, performed, arranged and produced by Shmitt, this independent artist demonstrated with his first two albums his audio-fluency, and capacity to conceptualize and actualize his project. His confessional style of writing possesses a familiarity and a uniqueness. “A singular voice whose songs get as much power from the words as from the music... lyrically poetic,” wrote New York Post rock reviewer Dan Aquilante.

Shmitt’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. Radio personality Vin Scelsa (NYC) sang praises, “artist Stuffy Shmitt... his tunes knock me out” and called Nothing Is Real “a mesmerizing piece of work.” And radio host Peter Bochan (NYC) named the debut CD “one of the best indie releases this year.” Shmitt has two songs featured in the independent feature “Thirty Days” (An Araca Group/Arielle Tepper Production). He composed and produced the soundtrack for the documentary, “Abandoned,” (Crowing Rooster Arts, Inc.) which premiered at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City last June and won the Dupont/Columbia University Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism. Other film music credits include “The Heavenly Kid” (Orion Pictures) and the award-winning educational children’s film “Whatever Happened To The Dinosaurs?” (Blackwatch Productions). Shmitt also co-wrote the theme song for the Ace Award winning MTV show “Turn It Up.” He has performed his own material in venues coast to coast.

Stuffy Shmitt’s albums Other People’s Stuff, Dog Steal The Moon and Nothing Is Real are available at cdbaby.com.