He was a member of the Seattle-based alternative and indie rock bands Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed, and The Twilight Singers, and also performed as a solo artist.

[3] Other influences he noted are Steven Tyler, Bon Scott, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Andy Wood, and Chris Cornell.

Smith's only major chart hit came in 1999, when the British techno group Lo Fidelity Allstars remixed the Pigeonhed song "Battle Flag" and released it as a single.

[13] On April 14, 2010, the four surviving members of Mother Love Bone reunited for the first time in twenty years, with Smith serving as frontman, as part of a sold-out "Brad and Friends" evening at Seattle's Showbox.

"Leaving California" and "Wrapped in My Memory" from Smith's solo album Shield of Thorns were both featured prominently on the "Long Term Parking" episode of The Sopranos (fifth season, 2004).

Yet another Shawn Smith related song has been featured on the show: Pigeonhed's "Battle Flag" appeared on the "46 Long" episode (first season, 1999) and was later included on "The Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs: Music from the HBO Original Series".