The Guitar Player's Resource
With a common name like Tom Smith, it helps to be talented at something in order to distinguish yourself from all the other Tom Smith's out there. After years of seeing Tom Smith, the head of the regional grocery chain Food Lion, on television, another Tom Smith has popped into the consciousness of the nation, or the music world, at least. This is due in no small part to his CD-R release, entitled Juliet's Window, where he plays both guitar and banjo with great skill. Guitarists will love the slide work heard on "Like Ships In The Bay", while Kottke and Hedges fans (and fingerpicking devotees in general) will warm up immediately to songs such as "Child's Play". Banjo rolls and fills are not in anyone's comfort zone around here, but with his attention to detail where his guitar work is concerned, surely banjo lovers will give it a thumbs up. Worth a closer listen. Tom Smith was originally profiled in the June-July, 2007 edition of The Undiscovered.
It's been said that Tom could be referred to as a mixture of Kaki King, Michael Hedges and Leo Kottke but that would be too limiting. His early influences were Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis and Bob Dylan. Since he began playing in 1966, Tom has performed in 30 states and three countries. His musical career has taken him from coffee houses in North Carolina and bars in San Francisco to concert halls and festival audiences of 10,000. He has done PBS shows and has shared the stage with Tuck and Patti, Michael Hedges, John Hammond, Robben Ford, John Fahey, Jesse Winchester, Todd Phillips, Livingston Taylor, Melanie, David Pomeroy, Reckless Johnny Wales, Odetta, Robin Ford and Dave Van Ronk.
In addition to some positive press about Juliet's Window from Sing Out Magazine (United States) and Akustik Gitarre Magazine (Germany), Smith's music was recently included on Akustik Gitarre's compilation CD, in the company of artists such as John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Ralph McTell and T-Bone Walker.
Tom Smith
United States
Web site: www.tomsmithguitar.com