Born in Chicago, IL., Damian began his career in entertainment at boyhood as the son of legendary Lyric Opera baritone Robert Smith, and was initially trained in voice and music theory by his father in their home studio. He began his stage experience appearing in many of his father's musical theater productions around the age of 10. Damian’s pursuit of Rock & Roll style vocal and guitar skills followed soon thereafter.

     Not long after graduating Fenwick High School in 1984, Damian’s imminent pursuit of a music degree at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL was interrupted when he passed the audition as singer/guitarist for the popular regional Caribbean Rock band Mr. Myers. That led to three years of extensive touring, and writing & performing credits on Mr. Myers’ critically acclaimed album "Go The Distance”. In 1988 Damian moved back to Chicago to form his own band, Funkhouse.

     Throughout the early 90’s, Funkhouse was an eight-piece Funk-Rock ensemble that performed all over the country, released two CDs; “Come In” in 1996, and “Restoration” in 2002. Throughout their nearly eight year run, Funkhouse shared the bill with such bands as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Steppenwolf, Sonia Dada, Dread Zeppelin, The Freddy Jones Band, The Ides Of March, and The BoDeans. During that same era, Damian also spent several years performing with the classic rock & soul ensemble Rockestra, led by legendary Chicago radio personality Bob Stroud.

      Upon moving to Aspen, CO in 1996, Damian released his first solo CD entitled "Rise & Shine”. In 2001 he went on to contribute his unique vocal, guitar and songwriting skills to local band Little Blue and their CD “Straight For The Moon” produced with rock phenom Jed Leiber, & John Oates (half of the legendary Pop duo Hall & Oates). That experience led to several years of live performances with The John Oates Band and guitar & vocal contributions to Oates’ solo CDs “Phunk Shui”, “1000 Miles Of Life” and Oates’ 2004 DVD release ”Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera House”.

     In 2004 Damian completed his second solo CD entitled "Altitunes", written & produced in Aspen, CO with Richard Hathaway of The Dirt Band. That same year, Damian became a founding member of Aspen-based rock band Take The Wheel. Take The Wheel went on to release their self-titled CD in 2006.

     In over three decades in the entertainment business Damian has appeared on stage and in the studio with the likes of Jimmy Ibbotson (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), David Crosby (CSNY), guitar virtuosos Jerry Douglas & Jeff Pevar, Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Matt Nelson (Nelson Bros.), Paris Delane (Sonia Dada), Jim Capaldi (Traffic), Natalie Cole, Drew Emmit (Leftover Salmon), Steve Holley (Paul McCartney & Wings), Mark Epstein (Johnny Winter Band), and Tony nominated Broadway/film superstar Beth Malone.

     Additional facets of Damian’s vast entertainment industry experience include decades of live sound installations & engineering, music production, bookings, songwriting, artist development, special event co-ordination & promotion, Pro Tools studio production, commercial voice-overs, stage & film acting, & the instruction of over a hundred satisfied guitar students.