Gayle Mae Smith was born on September 2, 1943 in Glendale, CA to Mary Louise and Bill Smith. She was predeceased by her parents and older sister, Nina Kathryn Johnson. She grew up in Glendale where she began taking cello lessons at a young age. By the age of 14 she went to Puerto Rico for private lessons with legendary cellist Pablo Casals. She later studied with Gregor Piatigorsky at the University of Southern California's Institute for Special Musical Studies. While there she also earned a B.A. degree in art history. She pursued graduate studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music as a recipient of a US government Fulbright grant. 

Gayle went on to perform her solo debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, with additional debut performances in London, Vienna, Moscow and the Los Angeles Music Center. She has taught at University of California, Irvine, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley College and Glendale Community College. Internationally she taught at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, England, The Inner London Saturday Music School and at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.

After converting to Catholicism Gayle's later years were spent playing her cello at several Catholic churches in the Los Angeles area along with her good friend, Grammy Award winning composer, pianist and conductor, Victor Vanacore and his son Victor Vanacore III. In 2020, suffering the affects of Alzheimer's, she moved to an assisted living facility in Northern California where she was near family. Since then she has performed with her pianist cousin, delighting the residents of the homes she lived in. In 2023 she moved to Victorville, CA where 2 of her nieces could visit her often.

Gayle passed away on June 9, 2024 at the age of 80. She is survived by three nieces, three nephews, many cousins, and a host of friends and musical colleagues who love her and will miss her smile and beautiful music.

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