Perry D. Smith

Hudson, Illinois – Perry D. Smith was suddenly called home on January 6, 2026 while visiting in Church Hill, Tennessee.

Perry was born in South Bend, Indiana to his parents Alexander and Virginia Smith and grew up in the town of Culver. He attended Culver Military Academy where he was very active in sports and music. In 1966, he was trained at Fort Sam Houston, Texas for the Olympic event, the Pentathlon. Unfortunately, a foot injury ended that training. His parents also recognized Perry's talent in singing and Perry finished his high school education at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy. From there he attended Oberlin College where he received a degree of Bachelor of Vocal Performance. Perry then attended Indiana University for a Masters degree in Vocal Performance. Later in his professional career, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky.

Perry had an illustrious professional singing career as a tenor in opera, oratorio and Broadway musicals and as a recitalist both in the USA and in Europe. He performed roles with the Indianapolis Opera, Lexington Opera, Central Kentucky Opera, and sang oratorios with such groups as the Louisville Bach Society, North Carolina Symphony and the Kingsport Symphony. In 1983, Perry attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. After an audition tour of Germany, he accepted a position as the leading tenor at the Pforzheim Stadttheater in West Germany. He was also a regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera Competition.

Later while maintaining his singing career, Perry taught voice and vocal pedagogy at Eastern Kentucky University and at East Carolina University. Many of his students have gone on to have both singing and teaching careers. Recently, Perry taught voice lessons and vocal pedagogy at Orvieto Musica, a chamber music festival in Orvieto, Italy.

Perry loved swimming, weight training, coffee, great food, and all his pets. He loved life and laughing.

Perry is preceded in death by his parents, Alexander and Virginia Smith; brother, Coke Smith; and his former wife, Kathleen Smith. Perry is survived by his loving Partner in Life, Amy Gilreath. He is lovingly remembered and survived by his children, Luke, Isaac, Erin and Bridget Smith and his grandchildren, Lauren and Liam Smith.

A funeral service will be held on January 12 at 10:00am at St. Anne Orthodox Church in Oak Ridge, TN with Father David Gresham officiating. Following, a graveside service will be held in Church Hill, TN at Church Hill Memory Gardens at 2:00pm with Heath Davidson officiating.