Marc Kelly Smith

Marc Kelly Smith, an American poet born in 1949 in Chicago, is considered the founder of the slam poetry movement. A graduate of James H. Bowen High School, Smith spent his early years as a construction worker while nurturing his passion for poetry, which began around age 19.

In 1984, Smith initiated the Monday Night Poetry Reading at the Get Me High lounge to challenge the elitism he perceived in traditional poetry circles. His desire to democratize poetry led to the creation of the first poetry slam at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in 1986. This event, initially a variety show rather than a competition, included audience-judged performances and prizes, a format that Smith is credited with developing.

The poetry slam quickly found a permanent home at the Green Mill in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. As featured in the PBS series “The United States of Poetry,” Smith’s innovative approach revitalized the poetry scene, making it more inclusive and entertaining. His efforts led to the global spread of poetry slams, influencing over 500 cities worldwide.

Smith’s philosophy, as described in Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz’s book Words in Your Face (Soft Skull Press, 2007), emphasizes poetry as a reflection of raw humanity rather than a lofty ideal. Smith’s approach, marrying discipline and fearlessness, has been pivotal in redefining poetry’s cultural role in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Since July 1986, Smith has hosted the Uptown Poetry Slam, which features open mics, guest poets, and slam competitions. He played a key role in the inaugural National Poetry Slam in 1990 in San Francisco, an event that has attracted up to 80 teams.

Despite opportunities to commercialize the slam movement, Smith has resisted, focusing on maintaining its artistic integrity. He has voiced concerns about the commercial exploitation of slam poetry and its under-recognition by major literary institutions. This stance has led him to engage more with the European poetry scene.

Smith, an author of several books on slam poetry and two of his own collections, continues to perform his blue-collar, Carl Sandburg-inspired poetry. He also hosted “Sandburg to Smith, Smith to Sandburg,” a show blending poetry and live jazz.