Reggae rock singer-songwriter Kyle Smith, from Ventura, California, offers his blend of Southern California style reggae with Ska, Punk Rock, & Hip Hop that is catchy, truthful, and humorous. Kyle's roots come from years of his troubled youth and addiction while living in Long Beach, CA. His songs explain his life as a young addict with songs like “Dope Fiend” and “Jaded” all the while keeping an uplifting spirit and tempo. Kyle is a warrior, and a beacon of light whose goal in life is to give hope and spread positive vibes with his music. His talent is raw, natural, and unforced. Whether solo with his guitar, or backed with a band, Kyle stands tall and proud. With a flash of his smile he immediately warms up the room and invites you into his world.
On 9/24/2021, his first full length album "Lost Cause" was released on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and all other major digital outlets and charted at #2 Reggae Album. Kyle has been touring nationally for years and has recently been on the festival circuit for California Roots Festival, Reggae Rise Up Festival (Florida & Vegas), Mammoth Reggae Festival, and being added to more every month. Kyle has also been featured on internet and radio stations all over the country including, 92.9 KJEE, 91.9 KCSB, Surf Roots Radio, and more.
As for the future, Top 40 domination is inevitable. Kyle’s music is going to spark and inspire a new generation of reggae rock enthusiasts.
C-level is a high-energy three-piece band with a unique blend of funk, punk, reggae, bluegrass and rock. Their exhilarating sound is driven by the philosophy "Honest Self-Expression is the Path to Good Music" (George F. Hartwig).
C-level began when Dave (Ziggy) Deitke (guitar, throat) met Coda Crose (bass) at an open mic night in North Olmsted. Upon playing together, the two found a sweet sound that could only be produced by their musical union and shared passion for the melding of many diverse musical styles. The two then began to play in various projects around North Ridgeville and Olmsted. Aberration featured Dave and Coda both on bass and guitar; periodically, they would switch instruments during their sets.
Since 2011 C-Level has been actively playing and recording. C-Level has played everything from house shows to music festivals such as Nelson Ledge’s Winter thaw bash (headlined) Mid-summer samba, Tribal connection, to multiple Cumulus Entertainment raves. Dave Deitke of C-Level leads his mic nights at bars and cafes in cities such as Lakewood, Cleveland, Parma, North Olmsted, Berea, and Olmsted Falls, to which he invites C-Level to play often. C-Level consistently continues to play in all of these types of venues.
Throughout their journey C-Level has gone through a few line change-ups and gained a few new members, continually changing and adding a new dynamic. C-Level is Dave Ziggy Deitke guitar and throat, Coda Crose Bass, and Pat Boland Drums.
2020 brought up many challenges for everyone, but C-Level found a way to stay busy and help keep their culture and community alive despite those difficulties. C-level accomplished this by organizing benefit shows throughout 2020 to support various local venues, galleries, and individuals to ensure the survival of the creative culture that Cleveland has to offer.
The first significant benefit of 2020 that C-Level organized was a week of streamed shows to keep Negative Space (a non-profit art) gallery open. 4-to 6 artists streamed an hour show from their homes every night of the week. C-level streamed from Negative Space with Gadi Zamir ( NS founder) as he painted with them during their set at the end of the week. The fundraiser raised over $5000, enough to keep the gallery open for the rest of the year.
C-level's next fundraiser was to support the local venues The Grog Shop and The Beachland Ballroom. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, C-Level hosted a two-night socially distant concert series at The Grog Shop and The Beachland Ballroom. Both nights sold out. C-level donated 100% of the money made from these shows to the venues raising over $4000. Each show featured an array of special guests that significantly impacted the band throughout their musical development.
The last fundraiser C-Level organized during 2020 was the Dog For Diego benefit. Dave Ziggy Deitke is a music educator at a charter school for kids with autism. One of Dave's students, Diego, is 11 years old boy battling autism, depression, ADHD, and severe anxiety. Diego and his family were trying to fundraise for a service dog but saw little results. C-level organized a week for streamed shows to promote his Wags-4-Kids campaign. Each night featured four bands live from two venues, the Beachland Ballroom and The Winchester. The shows had socially distant crowds and streamed on the internet and, together with an art raffle from Negative Space, raised over $9000, getting Diego his service dog and helping other kids with their Wags-4-Kids campaigns.
Since 2020, C-Level has put together another fundraiser in 2021 called Kitting for the NICU, an Amy baker benefit. Which was a week of streamed/ in-person concerts proceeds were donated as follows 90% to support Amy Bakers and 10% for supplies to make Hope Hearts for the NICU. Also, another goal of the event was to collect as many knitted /crocheted infant hats, blankets, and booties as possible to donate to the NICU. Who is Amy Baker? Amy is a mother of two and a passionate full-time teacher who teaches adapted core curriculum at a charter school for kids with autism. (Diego's teacher) Amy had some pregnancy complications, which led to weeks in the hospital and the premature birth of her second son at 31 weeks. Amy has always gone over and beyond for all of her students. What are Hope Hearts? Hope Hearts are small crocheted hearts ( designed by Amy) in which one stays with the infant at the NICU and the other stays with the parent, so that way both parent and child will always have a piece of each other even when they can't be together.
Kitting for the NICU went for seven days out of five venues and was supported and blessed with the talents from 24 bands. Altogether about $4000 was raised to help Amy, and an absurd amount of Hope hearts were donated (3, 1-gallon glass jars full). Also, three big boxes of handmade knitted/crocheted infant hats, blankets, and booties!
-Zig
C-Level is currently in the works on their 4th album, with an estimated release date of 2025.
