Tim Akers is a keyboard player and band leader for Tim Akers and The Smoking Section, songwriter, arranger and producer living in Nashville, TN. His work as a studio session player has landed him on recordings for Kid Rock, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald (including the Platinum selling “Motown” record), Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Megadeth, Michael Bolton, Rascal Flatts, SHeDAISY, Jewel, LeAnn Rimes, Trace Adkins, Glen Campbell, Barry Manilow, actor Jeff Bridges, Pam Tillis, Patti LaBelle, Joss Stone, Wynonna, Josh Gracin (of American Idol fame), and many others too numerous to mention. He has also performed on the movie soundtracks for “Chicken Little”, “Evan Almighty”, “Herbie Fully Loaded”, “The Prince of Egypt”, “We Were Soldiers”, “Kissing Jessica Stein”, and “Anastasia”.

For 3 years (from 1997 through 1999) Tim was the Music Director for TNN’s flagship music/talkshow “Prime Time Country” starring Gary Chapman. He performed with literally hundreds of artists from all genre’s including Dolly Parton, SHeDAISY, many of the founding stars of country music, as well as Bruce Hornsby, Paul Williams, Jimmy Webb, Lou Rawls, and actor/performer Kevin Bacon. As a conductor/arranger/bandleader, Tim has directed countless “all-star” shows with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Patti LaBelle, Donna Summer, Gino Vanelli, Isaac Slade (The Fray), Jamie Cullum, John Legend, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Alan Parsons, and many, many others too numerous to mention. His songs have been played on such television shows as “Lois and Clark”, Late Night with Conan O’Brian, and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. Tim is currently touring with Big Machine recording artists Rascal Flatts.