Simply Bowie April 2022 Publication

Arts &Entertainment

BRENCORE

Entertainment Presents

Robert Smoot shares his love of music by bringing LIVE Entertainment for events, concerts, tributes, and more.

Article By Alyson TurnerPhotography By Ro Moreno

For so many people, music is soothing, it brings happiness, and fosters creativity. For Robert Smoot, the love of music led him to chase his dreams of being a live concert promoter and start his own entertainment company to bring music to people for concerts, tributes, private events, and more.

“I worked in the Federal Government and Private Industry as an IT Project Manager for 22 years. I realized that I loved music and wanted to pursue it as a career. I left that career to focus on BRENCORE Entertainment full-time in 2008. I knew that I was going to chase this dream and stepped out on faith,” Robert says, “In 2006, I started BRENCORE Entertainment. The name of the company, BRENCORE Entertainment is a combination of my son’s names BREN(T) and CORE(Y). When I started BRENCORE, my sons were just 14 and 11 years old. I wanted to leave a legacy for them. I named my company after them because I wanted something unique and recognizable. They are part of my business as well these days. Today, Brent now operates as my Lead Event Planner and DJ. Corey serves as my Marketing Director. I never thought I would be working in the Music Entertainment Industry and now I look up and it has been 16 years.”

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Robert grew up in church singing and loves music. He would always go to music lounges to listen to the different artists and bands. He decided that he wanted to host his own events. In 2007, The Marriott Crystal Gateway BIN 1700 in Arlington, VA gave Robert an opportunity to host a Friday Night Live Jazz Night and the rest was history. The Friday Jazz Nights became very popular and a lot of people started attending from Maryland, DC, and Virginia. He would showcase a lot of the top local artists and bands there. It blossomed into an event where people would host their birthdays, retirement and graduations at the venue. When the economy crashed in 2008, Robert lost the BIN1700 project, but continued to promote events at various locations including the upscale The Carlyle Club in Alexandria, Virginia where he honed his craft in promoting high end Tribute concerts.

“Today, BRENCORE Entertainment does it all for its clients. We put the events and concerts together with detailed planning and coordination. Our strong point is event planning with a focus on music. We develop and work with clients, put together contracts, complete the budgets, bookings and marketing the events. We execute the events from start to finish in a timely fashion. We work with the clients on identifying the needs for the events. We have done weddings, corporate and private events over the years,” Robert says, “We have sold out many venues such as The Historic Howard Theatre, The Carlyle Club, The Roanoke Rapids Theatre, and The Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club to name a few. We work every year to provide entertainment to Maryland’s National Parks & Planning and other clients. I bring the music and good times; I am the producer and presenter for each event. I have years of experience in managing as well as , booking artists and I am currently managing my own Band “The BRENCORE ALLSTARS Band”.”

BRENCORE is currently partnering with The Bowie Center for the Performing Arts to bring some of the Tribute concerts to the Bowie area including the “Tribute To The Music Concert Series”. The staple Tribute that travels across the country is the “Tribute To The Music of MOTOWN”. Robert tells us, “We are paying homage to these amazing MOTOWN artists over the years. We also have done many Tribute concerts to artists such as Chaka Khan, Phyllis Hyman, Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Donny Hathaway, Patti Labelle, Luther Vandross and more.”

Robert has been vital to reviving many music venues and has worked with National Artists such as Mike Phillips, Pieces of a Dream, Walter Beasley, Norman Connors, Frank McComb, and more.

BRENCORE is currently working on a Jazz Benefit Festival entitled “JAZZ IN THE COUNTRY” featuring many National Artists at the Mount Bethel Retreat Center in King George, Virginia on Saturday, August 27th.

Robert is also planning to do another BRENCORE Entertainment Presents “Music on The Seas Cruise” in 2023. The first cruise was a 7-Day Royal Caribbean Cruise to the Caribbean in 2019. Over 200 guests cruised with BRENCORE Entertainment where they hosted several events with a variety of popular bands and comedians including Brian Lenair, Faycez U Know, and The BRENCORE ALLSTARS Band.

BRENCORE Entertainment is a true professional in the music and event planning industry. Their services include corporate events, weddings, retirement and graduation parties by offering live entertainment and more.

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Get Your Tickets!

*Tickets can be purchased online at BRENCORE.com

Saturday, April 9, 7 p.m.Bowie Center For The Performing Arts

BRENCORE Entertainment Presents “A Tribute To The Music of Maze & Frankie Beverly” featuring the BRENCORE Allstars Band and National Recording Artist Jamar Dukes.

Friday, April 15th, 7 p.m.,Bowie Center For The Performing Arts

BRENCORE Entertainment Presents “JAZZ in the Black Box Theater at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts.” Join us as we feature National Recording Artist, Keyboardist Kevin Howard and his Smooth Jazz sounds for your enjoyment.

Friday, April 16th, 7 p.m.The Groove Music Hall (Woodford, VA)

BRENCORE Entertainment Presents “A Tribute to the Music of MOTOWN” featuring THE BRENCORE ALLSTARS BAND. The BRENCORE Allstars Band is a tremendously talented 14 – piece musical anomaly from Washington, DC comprised of music dynamo’s that bring a depth, richness and appreciation to some of Motown’s greatest hits. Performers have a deep seeded musical connection and sweat in honor of some of Motown’s Greatest Greats!

Saturday, May 7, 7 p.m.Bowie Center For The Performing Arts

BRENCORE Entertainment Presents “A Tribute to the Ladies of Soul” featuring the music of Aretha Franklin, Stephanie Mills and Teena Marie”. Don’t miss the incredible vocals of Ameya Taylor (Aretha Franklin), Halima Peru (Gladys Knight) and Pam Ward (Teena Marie) as they pay Tribute to these Ladies of Soul hit music.

Brencore Entertainmentwww.BRENCORE.com

Entertainer Photos/Rashid Hassan

To book your entertainment, purchase tickets, or learn more visit BRENCORE.com.15 | April 2022

The Community Loves BRENCORE Entertainment

"It is not too often a promoter provides opportunities and at the same time supports your brand. In my case I'm blessed that Mr. Smoot supports two of my brands; On Kee Jazz Band and Kee Kakes. Robert Smoot is a respectful and savvy business man. He works hard and provides smiles to his clients. When you see the name BRENCORE Entertainment you already know it is quality."

Lenny McLean OnKee Jazz Band

"Robert Smoot of Brencore Entertainment is a joy to work with. He is courteous, professional and flexible, and the musicians and entertainers he provides are tremendously talented and always professional."

Deletta Gillespie, Arts Specialist

Arts and Cultural Heritage Division The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County

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