From JMU theater to VJ stardom
When Steven Smith graduated from JMU in 1994, he had a lot to brag about. He lived in the biggest room on campus, had a roommate named Steven King and was the hit drummer of the Harrisonburg-bred band, The Ice Cream Socialists. With a degree in theatre, Smith was looking to combine his antics and soul with a job. After a few less-than-swanky stints in Hollywood, Smith literally fused them with the aptly named music-television network, Fuse.
Smith is the handsome face of Fuse, charming viewers with his rock-star looks and impressive knowledge. Smith’s love for music flows through him, oozing in interviews with rock legends such as Marilyn Manson and explosive young bands like Paramore. He talks to bands, connects with viewers and acts as Fuse’s music guru with his show, “Steven’s Untitled Rock Show” (SURS). The title says it all—when something’s too good to be true, you can’t put a label on it.
And with that sly sense of humor enacted on his show, Smith readily remembers his years at JMU.
“My roommate and I decided to throw a party that we called The Hamburger Party,” he says. “The catch was that it was on Good Friday. The first year about 30 people showed up, but soon word spread all over campus. The next year we had about 70 people come. It was a tradition every Good Friday. ”