Heart of Sorrow

Bluegrass / Traditional / Driving / Edgy

Artist: Valerie Smith

Album: Renaissance

Label: Bell Buckle Records Bluegrass

ISRC: TCAFQ2109602

Written by Claire Lynch and Frank Serio

Published by Shiloh Rising Music, ASCAP Thrill Hill Music, BMI

Acoustic Guitar: Bob Minner

Fiddle: Stephen Burwell

Banjo: Sammy Shelor

Bass: Tom Gray

Mandolin: Andy Leftwich

Harmony Vocals: Lisa Kay Howard-Hughes, Wally Hughes

Produced by Valerie Smith and Tim Carter

Engineer: Tim Carter Studio: Tree House Studio Ridgetop Ridgetop, TN

Mastering: Dave Harris Studio B Mastering, Charlotte, NC

Photography, Art, and Design of Album Cover: Gabrielle Minikiewicz's

"Heart of Sorrow" is a swampy, soulful bluegrass driving tempo number from Valerie Smith's latest album, Renaissance. Written by the award-winning artist Claire Lynch and Frank Serio, the lyrics showcase heartbreak, loss, and the disappointment of a close relationship ending. The song is produced with bluegrass instrumentation and high-lonesome vocals. 

The track was produced by Valerie along with notable producer and engineer Tim Carter in Nashville, TN. She also had the rare opportunity to team up with a "Liberty Pike" member from the past, Andy Leftwich. Adding to the fun, Sammy Shelor lent his unique and recognizable banjo style, adding the driving bluegrass sound. Fellow Missourian Bob Minner arranged and recorded the acoustic guitar for this track. Many other memorable musicians joined in, such as the legendary bassist Tom Gray, up-and-coming fiddle player Steve Burwell, also her band Wally Hughes, Lisa Kay-Howard, and Joe Zauner. 

The song has become a fan favorite amongst audiences that attend the shows with Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike. Valerie's "Heart of Sorrow" performance displays her music and presentation's dynamic energy and versatility of her style.

DJ Steve Martin (Unreal Bluegrass, Syndicated Radio Program) states, "Valerie Smith seeks music in life. Renaissance rises from this search with stories of love, separation, celebration, overcoming, and devotion."

Grammy-Nominated Roots/Bluegrass Artist Valerie Smith’s Latest 

Chart-Topping Album Renaissance Continues To Soar In 2022 

After Hitting #2 On The Folk Alliance International Folk Charts With FOUR Songs In The Top 20, Making Her The #2 Artist, As Well As Topping The Roots Music Report And Bluegrass Today Charts, The Bluegrass Star Reveals Plans For Several New Single Releases And Performances 

Bell Buckle, TN (January XX, 2022) – On the heels of a successful 2021 that saw her critically-acclaimed album Renaissance top nearly every chart across multiple genres, Grammy-nominated, American roots artist Valerie Smith has revealed that she has much more in store for her 18th studio album. According to the Bluegrass veteran, she will release a new single and video from the record in February and has plans for performances later this year.     

Renaissance, which was five years in the making, found unprecedented success on the following charts: 

¨ #2 on the Folk Alliance International Folk charts, with FOUR songs landing in the Top 20; 

¨ #2 Artist on the Folk Alliance International Folk charts the month of release; 

¨ #22 on the Roots Music Report Contemporary Bluegrass Album chart;  

¨ "Heart Of Sorrow" debuted at #12 on the RMR Contemporary Bluegrass singles chart;  

¨ "Heartbreak Hill" hitting #15 on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana singles chart; 

¨ "Enter In" debuted at #8 on the Bluegrass Today Gospel singles chart; 

¨ "I Found" (Renaissance’s advance single) debuted at #5 on the Roots Music Report chart and #7 on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart; 

The album not only resonated with fans but with the media as well with rave reviews coming in from such esteemed outlets as Bluegrass Today (Bluegrass Today Renaissance Review) who wrote “Emotionally speaking, you won’t be able to stay in one place too long as you’re listening” and rambles.net, whose writer Jerome Clark named it “One Of The Best Albums Of 2021” and wrote “Smith, it appears, is fashioning a mature style of what might be called post-bluegrass” (Renaissance rambles.net review). 

This momentum is exactly what Smith plans to harness in 2022. In addition to the initial new releases, she says she’s ready to give her fans more access to her and her music. 

“The past year has been a blessing for me and for the album,” said Smith. “It truly was a labor of love and is my most deeply personal record to date. So, to see listeners and the media respond in such a positive way is truly invigorating. I can’t wait to release more video content and perform live – whether it’s in-person or virtually!” 

About Renaissance 

Originally released on September 3, 2021, Renaissance explores Smith’s personal growth and her journey through learning, forgiving, and finding love within herself and others. The songs cover subject areas including love, regret, finding love, acceptance, and redemption. She’s also included some upbeat, happy songs that encourage the listener to "move to the groove," as she says, and some lush ballads with meaningful lyrics and melodies that touch the soul.  

Crossing multiple musical genres, Renaissance still stays true to Smith’s signature sound by encompassing an acoustic flair with a touch of bluegrass – all performed with exceptional musicianship. Produced by Smith and Tim Carter, it features two original tracks "I'm Fine Bein' Me," which hit #20, and "A Dollar Looked Mighty Good," (co-written with Ashley Lewis) which hit #12, as well as 12 carefully-chosen cover songs by seasoned songwriters including Claire Lynch, Irene Kelley, Jude Johnstone, and Daniel Crabtree.   

The album was meticulously-crafted and features an all-star lineup of musicians including Smith's long-time band Liberty Pike (Lisa Kay Howard Hughes, Wally Hughes, Tom Gray, and Joe Zauner) and special guests Stephen Burrell, Tim Carter, Tanya Dennis, Rob Ickes, Cody Kilby, Andy Leftwich, Tim Lorsch, Kevin McKendree, Bob Minner, Dave Roe, Jerry Salley, Sammy Shelor, Donna Ulisse, and Evan Winsor.  A stirring number featuring Gospel greats The McCrary Sisters (Ann, Alfreda, and Regina) round out the record's sound.   

Smith has also written and recorded Maggie’s Journal, a bluegrass-folk opera based on her great-grandmother's diary (release to be announced). She also tours regularly and continues to create music released by her company Bell Buckle Records. Bell Buckle Records, Media, and Radio houses a variety of talented artists, and radio shows, and creates video productions. 

# # #  

About Valerie Smith  

Originally from Missouri and now based in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Valerie Smith is an American Roots artist and songwriter with a unique style and sound, who has rocked the bluegrass world for almost two decades with a string of national and international tours, critically-acclaimed recordings, Grammy, IBMA, and Dove Award nominations.  When one listens to Smith's unique and expressive voice, one can hear influences from bluegrass, blues, gospel music, and even Broadway show tunes. Her range is expansive and she conveys a fantastic array of emotions. Smith has been touring and recording with her band Liberty Pike for 22 years (seven with the current configuration) and she has 18 albums to her credit. She has appeared on various television shows, including “Ronnie Reno's,” “Bluegrass Underground,” “Song of the Mountains,” PBS, and more. 

Smith's hit single, "Red Clay Halo," (Gillian Welch and David Rawlings) climbed the Bluegrass Unlimited, Country Music, and Americana reporting charts, receiving heavy radio airplay for five years. BU included the song in their list of the top 60 songs of the decade.  Renaissance is the follow-up to her successful 2020 hit single "From A Distance" (Julie Gold), featuring Claire Lynch and Irene Kelly, which hit #1 in July of 2020 and spent an entire year on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana Chart as well as hitting # 2 for two months on the Folk Alliance International Folk DJ Chart. 

Follow Valerie Smith:  

Website: http://www.thevaleriesmith.com 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/valerievalpal/?hl=en 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALVALERIESMITHMUSIC 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/valerievalpal    Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HatXUnhVl4 

To learn more about Valerie Smith’s Bell Buckle Records, Media, and Radio, visit:  

Bell Buckle Records http://www.bellbucklerecords.com    Bell Buckle Radio  http://www.bellbuckleradio.com 

LYRICS

HEART OF SORROW 
By Frank Serio & Claire Lynch 

WISH I COULD STAY 
BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE 
OUR SONGS HAVE BEEN SUNG 
THIS LOVE HAS NO VOICE 
HOPE AND DESIRE BOTH HAD THEIR CHANCE 
NOW THEY'RE LONG GONE 

NO LOOKIN' BACK 
TO THE GARDEN OF LOVE 
WE'VE FALLEN FROM GRACE 
OUR PARADISE LOST 
BRIDGES ARE BURNING. IT'S HIGH TIME 
THAT I-- WAS LONG GONE 

    HEART OF SORROW 
    YOU’VE HAD YOUR WAY, BUT THIS TIME TOMORROW 
            OUR DREAMS WILL BE DUST 
    AND I'LL BE LONG GONE 

MEMORIES AND MOONS  
FLY THRU THE SKY   
THEY'VE ALL DISAPPEARED 
LIKE THE STARS IN YOUR EYES 
NOTHING IS WORSE THAN THE CURSE OF A LOVE  
THAT IS LONG GONE 

BRIDGE 

I WILL LAY THIS BURDEN DOWN 
I WILL WEEP NO MORE 
WITH YOUR LOVE BEHIND ME NOW 
THERE’S A DISTANT SHORE….