Kenny Smith (bluegrass)

Kenny Smith is an American guitarist and vocalist in the bluegrass tradition.

For other uses, see Kenneth Smith (disambiguation).
Kenny Smith
Born (1967-09-19) September 19, 1967
Nine Mile, Indiana
GenresBluegrass music
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1993–present
LabelsSugar Hill, Rebel, Gat3, Farm Boy
Associated actsClaire Lynch, Lonesome River Band, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Band of Ruhks
Websitekennysmithguitar.com
1948 Regal Milord[1]

Biography

Early years

Smith is originally from Nine Mile, Indiana. His father and grandfather played fiddle, and Smith started playing guitar at age 4.[2] He learned to play fiddle tunes on the guitar by listening to Norman Blake's albums.[1]

Lonesome River Band

Smith began playing professionally with Claire Lynch and the Front Porch Stringband in 1993.[3] In 1996, Smith joined Sammy Shelor, Don Rigsby, and Ronnie Bowman as a member of The Lonesome River Band, replacing Tim Austin. While a part of this group, Smith won the International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) Guitarist of the Year award in 1999 and 2000. He left the band in 2001.[4]

Kenny and Amanda Smith

Kenny and Amanda Smith met at a Lonesome River Band concert, where Amanda gave Kenny a tape of her music. They decided to collaborate, and then decided to marry.[5]

Their first album Slowly But Surely in 2001 was recorded when Kenny was still with the Lonesome River Band and Amanda was working a day job. The album was popular enough to be listed on the bluegrass charts, and the Smiths decided to form the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band. They won the IBMA's Emerging Artist of the Year award in 2003.[1]

In 2004, they released the album House Down the Block. Ronald Inscore played mandolin, Steve Hubers played banjo, and Greg Martin played bass.[6]

The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band released Live and Learn in 2008, along with Zachary McLamb (bass), Aaron Williams (mandolin), and Ron Stewart (fiddle, banjo).[7]

On their album Unbound they were assisted by Wayne Winkle (vocals), Kyle Perkins (bass), Jacob Burleson (mandolin), and Justin Jenkins (banjo).[8] The lead single "You Know That I Would" stayed at the No. 1 spot for consecutive weeks on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay charts.[9]

Solo recordings

Smith's debut solo album Studebaker was released in 1997, featuring Amanda Smith (vocals), Barry Bales (bass), Adam Steffey (mandolin), Sammy Shelor (banjo), Don Rigsby. Daniel Carwile (fiddle), and Ronnie Bowman.[10]

On his 2011 album Return, Smith employed a variety of vintage guitars: his 1935 Martin D-18, Norman Blake’s sunburst 1933 D-28, and a Gibson 1935 jumbo prototype.[11] Musicians on the album included Bales, Steffey, Aubrey Haynie (fiddle), Jim Denman (banjo), and Adam Hurt (clawhammer banjo). Glenn Tabor co-produced the album with Smith.[12]

Band of Ruhks

Smith is a founding member of Band Of Ruhks, along with Don Rigsby and Ronnie Bowman. During a Lonesome River Band reunion performance, all three discovered a mutual longing to once again perform together.[1] Band of Ruhks released a self-titled album in 2015. Brian Fesler plays banjo in the band.[13]

Music instruction

Smith has taught at guitar workshops and master classes. In 2004, AcuTab Publications released Smith's Tunes and Techniques, a two-DVD instruction set. In 2017, Smith launched KennySmithGuitar.com, with instructional videos, product reviews, interviews with other musicians, and information about classic vintage guitars. Guitar lessons are priced based on length, but all other content is free to view.[14]

Guitars

Luthier Randy Lucas designed the Kenny Smith model guitar using Smith's 1935 Martin D-18 as a conceptual starting point. Only twenty one were built.[15]

Personal life

Smith lives in Lebanon, Tennessee with his wife Amanda and their daughter Annabelle.[16]

Discography

Solo records

As Kenny and Amanda Smith
  • 2001: Slowly but Surely (Farm Boy)
  • 2004: House Down the Block (Rebel)[19]
  • 2005: Always Never Enough (Rebel)[20]
  • 2007: Tell Someone (Rebel)[21]
  • 2008: Live and Learn (Rebel)[22]
  • 2012: Catch Me If I Try (Farm Boy)[23]
  • 2016: Unbound (Farm Boy)[24]

With the Lonesome River Band
  • 1996: One Step Forward (Sugar Hill)
  • 1998: Finding the Way (Sugar Hill)
  • 2000: Talkin' to Myself (Sugar Hill)

Also appears on

Music instruction
  • 2004: Tunes and Techniques DVD (Accutab)

References
  1. Penn, Casey L. (November 1, 2016). "Kenny And Amanda Smith: New Music And New Reason". Bluegrass Unlimited. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  2. Yap, Timothy (August 29, 2016). "Kenny and Amanda Smith Talk About the Emotions & Passions Behind Their 7th Album "Unbound"". Hallels. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  3. Hicks Henry, Murphy (May 1, 2013). Pretty Good for a Girl: Women in Bluegrass (1 ed.). Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  4. Bogdanov, Vladimir; Chris Woodstra; Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2001). All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music (1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  5. Reed, Talia (June 1, 2008). "Bluegrass leads to marriage, new band". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  6. Weisberger, Jon (February 29, 2004). "Kenny & Amanda Smith Band - House Down The Block". No Depression. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  7. David McGee (October 1, 2008). "Live and Learn - Kenny and Amanda Smith Band". The Bluegrass Special. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  8. Garry Moore (December 13, 2016). "Review: Kenny & Amanda Smith - Unbound". Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  9. Markos Papadatos (September 16, 2016). "Amanda and Kenny Smith score No. 1 single 'You Know That I Would'". Digital Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  10. George Graham (November 12, 1997). "Kenny Smith: Studebaker". Graham Weekly Album Review. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  11. Lawless, John (October 5, 2011). "Kenny Smith: Return". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  12. "Kenny Smith Brings Vintage Guitars Into Studio for Newest Project". Prescription Bluegrass. March 30, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  13. Tunis, Walter (June 8, 2017). "Still Lonesome, bluegrass vets form Band of Ruhks". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  14. Lawless, John (February 9, 2017). "Kenny Smith launches guitar instruction site". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  15. Tan, Terence (August 13, 2008). "Randy Lucas Kenny Smith model". Guitar Bench Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  16. "Kenny & Amanda Smith, 'Unbound'". Bluegrass Notes. October 3, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  17. George Hauenstein. "Kenny Smith - Studebaker". Country Standard Time. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  18. "Kenny Smith - Return". Bluegrass Unlimited. December 1, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  19. Steven Stone. "Kenny & Amanda Smith Band - House Down the Block". Enjoy the Music. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  20. Mike Joyce (December 18, 2005). "Always Never Enough - Kenny and Amanda Smith Band". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  21. Baxter, David (April 30, 2007). "Kenny & Amanda Smith Band - Tell Someone". No Depression. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  22. Lawless, John (August 4, 2008). "Kenny & Amanda Smith – Live And Learn". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  23. Jason Verlinde (October 1, 2013). "Kenny and Amanda Smith – "Catch Me If I Try"". Fretboard Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  24. Charlie Shelton; Frank Stasio (September 30, 2016). "Kenny And Amanda Smith Get 'Unbound'". WUNC. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
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