Caleb Smith
Musician · Haywood County, North Carolina
Caleb Smith is a North Carolina-born guitarist, lead singer, and luthier who has anchored Balsam Range as a founding member since 2007 — the IBMA Entertainer of the Year-winning Haywood County band — while running Smith Custom Guitars and building instruments for Zac Brown and Bryan Sutton.
- Founding member (2007) and guitarist/lead vocalist of Balsam Range, the IBMA Entertainer of the Year (2014, 2018) bluegrass band based in Haywood County, North Carolina.
- Began playing music at age 7; first influences were his father, Pastor Steve Smith, and both grandfathers.
- Co-founded the bluegrass gospel band Harvest in 2002 before Balsam Range.
- Won Guitarist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2006 PowerGrass Bluegrass Gospel Music Awards.
- Luthier who runs Smith Custom Guitars, building roughly one to two guitars per month due to touring schedule.
- Has built custom guitars for Zac Brown and Bryan Sutton.
- Performs primarily on his own handmade Smith dreadnought (#007) and OM (#10) instruments built from Brazilian rosewood and red spruce.
- Has shared stages with Tony Rice, J.D. Crowe, Larry Sparks, and Ralph Stanley.