Thursday, March 15   Hosting
Club One 15   (115 San Jacinto St)

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Webster defines wordsmith in the form of a noun as a person who works with words; especially a skillful writer. Defined by those who write professionally as journalists, authors, newscasters or spin doctors - it is very much a verb. They wordsmith documents, speeches, quotes and letters. Many times this action involves finding more powerful, meaningful words that paint a picture and more clearly deliver a message. Mr. Blakes is the ultimate wordsmith by both definitions. He is the 2006 Austin Music Award winner for best hip-hop act, a freelance journalist who has published stories in the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and the programmer/host of soul/reggae/gospel/jazz show "Smooth" on Music and Entertainment Television.

Mr. Blakes is a May graduate of The University of Texas at Austin in Broadcast Journalism. He is also emerging as a key player in the Texas music scene and an active advocate of soul and rap music. Blakes has contributed music to multiple films accepted into the South By Southwest Film Festival, and recently voiced the Austin American-Statesman's "Leave or Die" documentary on www.statesman.com