Nobody would have guessed that after a brief stint subbing for an under-the-weather vocalist on the most famous show in late night television, that Sy Smith would become a permanent fixture in the band. But that’s exactly what happened, and now Sy Smith is the newest member of the Rickey Minor Band and sings to millions of viewers 5 nights a week on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno!

Sy Smith has long since solidified her place in underground soul music. This Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter/producer helped cultivate the nu-soul scene in that city more than ten years ago, a scene which now easily boasts some of the most progressive artists of that genre to date, some of whom came directly from Sy’s own band line-ups.

But never one to rest on her laurels, Sy has continued to take her sound and her songs to new heights. With 3 albums, 2 EPs, 1 greatest hits collection, and a live DVD already under her belt, Sy released her fourth studio project “Fast And Curious” in March 2012. Her past projects usually include contributions from numerous producers, including James Poyser, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Dre King, Nicolay, and Ty Macklin. With “Fast And Curious”, the entire production is aptly handled by jazz musician, electronic remixer, and deejay Mark de Clive-Lowe (aka MdCL). Sy and MdCL together have created a brilliantly executed project with a soul that transcends its electronic foundation. Once again, Sy has created her own lane, cruising very comfortably in the land of Electronic Soul. Sy and fellow soul-crooner Rahsaan Patterson even take on a Billy Ocean classic with her latest single “Nights (Feel Like Gettin’ Down)”! The video for this dance-floor delight is a psychedelic trip into Syberspace, complete with clips from a Sy & Rahsaan show at Los Angeles’ famous El Rey Theater and cameos from some of Sy’s contemporaries in the soul music scene.

Many fans are aware of Sy’s previous work providing supporting vocals for the likes of Me’shell N’degeocello, Usher, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Macy Gray, The Rickey Minor Band (as seen on American Idol for six seasons), and quite notably, Chris Botti (her performance of “Look Of Love” on his Grammy-nominated live DVD is a favorite among his listeners), but Sy continues to gain new fans in the trenches of the underground scene touring with acts like The Foreign Exchange and Orgone. And even more recently, she’s teamed up with Sheila E. and the Escovedo Family, providing them with her well-known supportive vocals and vibrant energy!

She’s pushes her own boundaries in duo shows with her recently-found musical brother Zo! (of The Foreign Exchange Music), and in their dynamic duo shows, Sy can be seen not only manipulating her own vocals with self-controlled effects pedals, she is also playing synth bass! Calling her a triple threat is truly an understatement.

Sy has been a featured guest and/or co-star on The Monique Show, The Tonight Show (sitting in with The Rickey Minor Band), DC’s Fox Morning News, Chicago’s WGN Midday Show, and even on CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother”, she is no stranger to television. She was a special guest performer at Constitution Hall for the Horatio Alger Awards with a full orchestra and mass choir backing her as she awed the audience with stunning gowns and a level of extravaganza that had yet been unseen in that annual gala. Sy’s easy elegance, professional stature, impressive resumé and refusal to stand stagnant has garnered her the title of “the hardest working woman in underground soul”. But she’s determined to surpass that in 2012. She’s going for the crown.