G. E. Smith - Career

Career

In the early 1970s, Smith left the Poconos for the New Haven, Connecticut area, where he played in a group called the Scratch Band. In late 1977 Smith got his first break, in the form of Dan Hartman, fresh off his hit "Instant Replay". He hired the guitarist to front his band for a "lip-sync tour" of Europe and the US. Upon his return to the East coast, Smith moved to Manhattan and became the guitarist for Gilda Radner's 1979 Broadway show Gilda Live. Radner and Smith became friends; shortly afterward they got married. In 1981 he put out his first solo album, "In the World", with Paul Simon and Radner singing backup on the album.

Smith was also David Bowie's guitarist on many of Bowie's tracks throughout the years. He can be seen on the official Fashion video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA27aQZCQMk

During this same period of Smith's increasing fortunes, he was hired to play lead guitar for Hall & Oates. He stayed for six years (1979–85) constantly touring and recording with them, with songs such as "Private Eyes", "Maneater", "Kiss On My List" and others. "It was insanely fun," he recalls. "We were so big that one year, we decided we would perform during summer — all year 'round! We toured the northern hemisphere in the summer and the southern hemisphere during New York's winter." Another event was the Live Aid and Farm Aid benefit concerts in mid 1985. During the Philadelphia portion of Live Aid day (there was also a Live Aid show in London) the Hall & Oates band ended up being the house band. Smith ended up being the de facto music director for a lot of the show, as his band backed Mick Jagger, Tina Turner and others.

When Hall & Oates decided to take a long break from the music scene, Smith was chosen to be musical director for Saturday Night Live. Smith knew Howard Shore, the show's original musical director, and producer Lorne Michaels, from his relationship with Gilda Radner. Leading the SNL band for 10 years (1985–1995) Smith won an Emmy Award. "I definitely grew a lot from playing with those world-class musicians, especially the horn section. I really had to learn to play in time and in tune. It was a great education." Smith was joined by bassist Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, Smith's colleague in the Hall & Oates band. In 1992 he recorded his second album, this time with the Saturday Night Live Band entitled "Get a Little".

The SNL roster of guest musicians included Eddie Van Halen, Keith Richards, Rickie Lee Jones, Al Green, Bryan Ferry, David Gilmour, Lonnie Mack, Dave Edmunds, Johnny Winter and Buddy Guy. The Buddy Guy visit eventually resulted in the 1996 Grammy-nominated Buddy Guy — Live CD, with Smith and the SNL band.

SNL also provided Smith with a songwriting opportunity when Mike Myers asked him to help write a tune. "Mike had this bit, called Wayne's World, and he needed a theme song. Aerosmith was the musical guest that week, so Mike and I sat down and wrote a song that Aerosmith could sing and play along with." Wayne's World became a hit film, the soundtrack (and song) a platinum-selling smash hit.

In the midst of his SNL tenure Smith toured for almost two and a half years with Bob Dylan during the "Neverending Tour" from 1988 until October 1990.

During his SNL years Smith was the musical director for special events such as the 1988 Emmy Awards, the 1993 Rhythm and Blues Foundation Awards, Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden as well as acting as the musical director at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert in Cleveland. Smith also has written with his friend and fellow musician Jimmy Buffett. "Six String Music" appears on Buffett's album Fruitcakes. He also appeared in the music video for Fashion by David Bowie.

Following his departure from Saturday Night Live in 1995, Smith and his wife, Taylor Barton, created the record label Green Mirror Music. Smith released his CD Incense Herbs, and Oils in 1998. Between live dates, he has been the musical director and band leader honoring Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. He also led bands for The Muddy Waters Tribute, and the 1998 and 1999 Mark Twain Awards honoring Richard Pryor and Jonathan Winters which aired on PBS, and Comedy Central.

Another highlight of Smith's history was hosting an interactive show on the electric guitar over the internet, on NPR, and a live presentation at the Smithsonian Institution.

1999–2000 brought Smith back to SNL, appearing in the 25th Anniversary show and other guest appearances. He was featured on VH1 in the history of SNL, and hosted the New Year's Eve bash inaugurating the new Rose Center for Earth and Space (formerly the Hayden Planetarium). In recent years Smith has been a regular instructor of electric guitar at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch.

In the early to mid 2000s, Smith played inside Cleveland Browns Stadium at Browns home games, along with a band. They would play during game timeouts.

Smith has played with a broad spectrum of artists, from Red Buttons to Allen Ginsberg, from Desmond Child to Bob Dylan. "I've had an incredible ride in the world of rock 'n' roll and American music," says Smith, looking back over his career.

He toured with the band Moonalice acting as their musical director. In Spring and Summer 2010 he toured with Electric Hot Tuna.

Since September 15, 2010, Smith is performing as a part of Roger Waters' band during the 2010–2011 tour The Wall Live.

In February 2011, Smith was on tour with Hot Tuna, appearing as "Hot Tuna Blues." Charlie Musselwhite and Jim Lauderdale were also on the tour, and all three musicians perform with Hot Tuna on certain songs. In their February 18, 2011, performance, Smith came onstage during the opening acoustic set, and remained to play the rest of the evening. He played a vintage Gibson J-200 in the acoustic set, and an early '50s Fender Telecaster in the electric set.

In April of 2012, Smith began touring with Roger Waters for performances of "The Wall."

In August of 2012 Smith performed for the Republican Party and Mitt Romney at the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay, Florida.