Julius Burns Smith was born in 1952 in the heart of the Northeast Bronx, into a world brimming with jazz, faith, family dinners, and block parties. Raised by a trailblazing mother and a tight-knit community that crossed cultural lines, Julius grew up at a time when neighborhoods truly raised children. His storytelling is shaped by lived experience, one marked by resilience, hope, humor, and a deep sense of belonging.

From a young age, Julius understood that every corner of the Valley held a memory, and every neighbor was part of his extended family. Whether watching Sugar Ray Robinson from a Harlem church pew, exploring the woods with his dog Jason, or sneaking a phone call to his first love through a walkie-talkie, Julius lived a childhood filled with rich moments that demanded to be remembered.