i was lucky enough to have seen GE and Tbone play in local bars back in the early 80's together- During the Hall and Oates years they had a little band that went out locally and played in these small bars- Not many knew who they were- they were called Domino- had great drummer and lady singer with them- these guys were hands down the best "Bar band" you ever saw. Imagine having three hours to sit as close as you wanted to hear GE play guitar and Tbone play guitar or bass all night long- man they were great times- GE was always friendly , and TBONE became a friend- nicest guys rip bone
I work as a high school English teacher and I play guitar between passing periods. I always feel like the great GE Smith when jamming outside my classroom.
I remember watching GE Smith on SNL when I was a kid and even then before I really knew much about music I thought he was a cool cat. Now that I've been a guitar player for more than 20 years, I have even more respect for the guy, his playing and the cool guitars he played back in the SNL days.
My Dad LOVED when G.E. Smith popped up. As did I. The man clearly LOVED what he did, and he did it well. Everytime I see Mr. Smith, I think of my father glowing. Maybe one day I can go onstage and make him glow the same way.
You know, my dad emigrated here in the early 70's, and he always loved watching SNL, especially the early years. He would prolly admit it helped him learn English. He gave up on it for a bit, but I remember watching it with him in the late 80's early 90's, and he always lit up when the "guero" would come on absolutely jammin' on the guitar. The whole band was amazing during those years. These clips bring back that nostalgia, that bonding moment I had with my pops, where he showed me what good music and musicianship was.
Thanks for sharing this. This was by far the best TV band ever. 🎷and GE Smith were always total class. This music 🎶 has such a vibe it says Manhattan and NYC at night like nothing else. 😎👍
During the commercial breaks, the TV audience is severely short changed. The studio audience gets the treat of the whole tune. I was always a bit jealous during the G.E. Smith years. Since then... Not so much.
g.e. smith said that it was lorne micheals greatest gift to him. they called it "band shots" it was lorne's idea to transition from the end of the sketch into comercial. he said hey, why dont we get a close shot of the band while the fire up a jam for the studio audiance, and lead the home audiance into comercial, then when it comes back from comercial, show the band finishing up a number, and it will lead everyone back into the show. g.e. smith said "if i was known anywhere in the streets, by anyone at all it was because of those band shots that lorne micheals thought up."
Bullshit HiredGun. G.E. Smith is great, but Lenny Picket is the co-star of this video, and he's also great. Lenny is still there, never left. Sounds just as amazing today. So get jealous again.
3:43 - 3:57/ Dear God, I actually got to grow up during THIS era of SNL and watch those musical bumps when they were live! And to see the sheer joy the band got out of reminding audiences about their musical influences in those brief snippets. For those not up on pop culture of the 60's, the number being performed on this time stamp is the opening theme to THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.
Had a chance years ago to meet G.E. We played at blues festival on the same bill. Super nice guy!! We sat around on a beautiful day and smoked Henry Clay cigars and drank green iced tea. One of my fondest memories! Have always loved the way he keeps things pure and true. Respects the music and the history of it and the tools that made it. Understands it as true ART. God bless ya G.E.!
always had the great vintage gear.....and really knew rock, r and b and blues very deeply...great player....those were the days...god its been almost 30 years...geez, can't believe it.
A lot of great things went down along with the last century especially the 90's. Great simpsons episodes, and great music and especially G.E. Smith on SNL great shame we can't go back to simpler times
years ago he played an outro to commercial break around xmas - Jingle Bell Rock on his tele. I leapt off the couch, grabbed my tele and instantly figured it out ( he was key of G). every xmas I enjoy playing it over and over. GE was kinda like Santa for me for 15 seconds in December in early 90s thanks for posting this
I associate SNL with the saxophone sound but this guy is a killer guitarplayer. Sax has a place in rock and roll but I don't care for many sax driven songs personally
GE Smith is a national treasure. I dont throw that phrase around much. But no one in the music world could have compiled such a resume of real world experience with so many different names. Through SNL, recording, and performing on the road, I bet he’s played alongside thousands of professional musicians and can probably tell you every little detail. Awesome dude! I feel blessed to have watched him so many Saturday nights. As the night turned to early morning and things were winding down, GE was always there playing some cool tune with a big smile. Rock on GE Smith!
This was from a series of shows from the 1992-1993 season. The rest of the band - Earl Gardner (one clip has Joe Shepley filling in), Steve Turre, Lenny Pickett, George Young, Lew Del Gatto, Paul Ossola, Leon Pendarvis, Cheryl Hardwick, and Shawn Pelton. Only Pickett, Pendarvis, Pelton and Turre are still in the band in 2022.
Awesome! Thank you for your early Internet work! I have been lucky enough to be GE’s web/social media guy for over a decade. I have been a massive fan of his since I was a kid. Hence why he was the first thing I looked for on my first visit to the Internet. Glad to run into you in the comments! I knew it had to be you based on that extensive member knowledge.
The digeridoo clip starting around 1:50 is great. Missed that one back in the day. Always loved Smith's tone(s) and vibrato. His sound had a glow and a snap to it.
There's still a piece they did that I can't find. GE starts it with about a secs piece and then the horns kick in, it used to give me goosebumps, can't remember who the hell the guest was for it though.
saw him play with Dylan in 90,he has been my favourite guitarist ever since,in fact would go as far as to say he's part of the reason Bob never faded into inerelivancy
@vintagekarmatattoos I remember that the first few weeks that Shawn Pelton first joined the SNL band, he was sporting a green jacket, but midway through that season, it was dropped in favor of a black jacket instead. He wasn't wearing a jacket in the final few episodes of the 20th season.
Jason Nadle the whole band was sporting technicolour duds for a while there, then yeah, after the holiday break everybody’s wearing dark suits and Lenny’s trimmed his beard. GE said in an interview that around 1992, with the success of Wayne’s World, NBC suits were starting to pay attention to the show again, hanging out in the halls, taking notes. I doubt it’s a coincidence that that was the same time the band suddenly cleaned up. Suits like to think they know about art
Its not about the cats it’s about the music. The 60,70,80 had some very special music and there were guys that played and guys that didn’t. GE played it.
I used to cry like a flowery little girl pushed down in a mud puddle when SNL would give GE just 10 seconds of air time: forget the hosts, jokes...skits...musical guests: GE Smith jammin' for 1 hour would be suffice; perfectly. What a brilliant guitarist, composer, arranger....plus that impeccable guitar tone :)
Ever since G*E* Smith left SNL I always felt the show went down hill and I so rarely watch now a days* I guess "our era" was the best of times , great music great memories*
What song is he playing starting at 3:20? It sounds like something I should know but I can’t remember. I’m near retirement and trying to learn how to play guitar and that is something I would like to work on.
GE Smith hid in plain sight all throughout his career.. He IS one of the greats but you will never hear that from him.. Hat's off Mr. Smith..
"Those were the real cats"
The cream of the NY studio cats.
i was lucky enough to have seen GE and Tbone play in local bars back in the early 80's together- During the Hall and Oates years they had a little band that went out locally and played in these small bars- Not many knew who they were- they were called Domino- had great drummer and lady singer with them- these guys were hands down the best "Bar band" you ever saw. Imagine having three hours to sit as close as you wanted to hear GE play guitar and Tbone play guitar or bass all night long- man they were great times- GE was always friendly , and TBONE became a friend- nicest guys rip bone
mrsullyrox the lady may have been Christine Ohlman. Did she have a beehive-ish hairdo?
The singer was Elly Brown 🙂
He was the reason I watched SNL when he left so did I GE Smith Bad Ass Guitar Man 👍🔥🎸🦅
Same.
I work as a high school English teacher and I play guitar between passing periods. I always feel like the great GE Smith when jamming outside my classroom.
Awesome! GE was going to school to be an English Teacher and got his first break before graduating in the early 70s.
Man, I didn't know that. That honestly made my day
I remember watching GE Smith on SNL when I was a kid and even then before I really knew much about music I thought he was a cool cat. Now that I've been a guitar player for more than 20 years, I have even more respect for the guy, his playing and the cool guitars he played back in the SNL days.
My Dad LOVED when G.E. Smith popped up. As did I. The man clearly LOVED what he did, and he did it well. Everytime I see Mr. Smith, I think of my father glowing. Maybe one day I can go onstage and make him glow the same way.
You know, my dad emigrated here in the early 70's, and he always loved watching SNL, especially the early years. He would prolly admit it helped him learn English. He gave up on it for a bit, but I remember watching it with him in the late 80's early 90's, and he always lit up when the "guero" would come on absolutely jammin' on the guitar. The whole band was amazing during those years. These clips bring back that nostalgia, that bonding moment I had with my pops, where he showed me what good music and musicianship was.
What I remembered most about G.E. on SNL is that when he played, he ALWAYS had a smile on his face!
Because he is having a blast and loving what he does. A very lucky and talented man.
Because he was high as fuck...
@@MrBighairyass or he was just enjoying the music
BOTH! Saw in in person several times and he loves what he does and appreciates the audience. Truly a gentleman, a true professional.
GE was the perfect fit for this role, he was indeed ‘a cool dude’😎
These cats wer SO heavy! They made beautiful music, well played, with subtle complexity that people loved. We need this back in the world.
When he was gone it was the end of the house band. I think many times they were better than the musical guests.
Agreed. That was the death of showing the band leading into commercials
I still love the band. I just preferred them with G. E.
@@vintagekarma I started watching some of the live episodes this year and they've actually starting bringing the band bump shots back!
Thanks for sharing this. This was by far the best TV band ever. 🎷and GE Smith were always total class. This music 🎶 has such a vibe it says Manhattan and NYC at night like nothing else. 😎👍
Met GE last night. A true gentleman and a supreme musician
He’s my cousin and I’ve never met him! I can’t wait until that day comes
G.E. was terrific on "SNL." He was there during some of the show's great years! Thanks for sharing!
During the commercial breaks, the TV audience is severely short changed.
The studio audience gets the treat of the whole tune.
I was always a bit jealous during the G.E. Smith years.
Since then... Not so much.
I ALWAYS looked forward to the little teaser they gave us of him playing, lol, so I feel the same way about the audience. Damn them lol
g.e. smith said that it was lorne micheals greatest gift to him. they called it "band shots" it was lorne's idea to transition from the end of the sketch into comercial. he said hey, why dont we get a close shot of the band while the fire up a jam for the studio audiance, and lead the home audiance into comercial, then when it comes back from comercial, show the band finishing up a number, and it will lead everyone back into the show. g.e. smith said "if i was known anywhere in the streets, by anyone at all it was because of those band shots that lorne micheals thought up."
Bullshit HiredGun. G.E. Smith is great, but Lenny Picket is the co-star of this video, and he's also great. Lenny is still there, never left. Sounds just as amazing today. So get jealous again.
He could play anything. That great smile!
I'm jealous of all the beautiful guitars GE got to play.
3:43 - 3:57/ Dear God, I actually got to grow up during THIS era of SNL and watch those musical bumps when they were live! And to see the sheer joy the band got out of reminding audiences about their musical influences in those brief snippets. For those not up on pop culture of the 60's, the number being performed on this time stamp is the opening theme to THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.
Had a chance years ago to meet G.E. We played at blues festival on the same bill. Super nice guy!! We sat around on a beautiful day and smoked Henry Clay cigars and drank green iced tea. One of my fondest memories! Have always loved the way he keeps things pure and true. Respects the music and the history of it and the tools that made it. Understands it as true ART. God bless ya G.E.!
I miss G. E. on SNL, please come back, if only for a cameo.
I stopped watching snl. It's sad to see that show completely devoid of humor and talent.
He was on a few episodes, 20 years ago.
SNL has been a shit show for too many years. It's sad... I tried to watch one a while back and didn't even laugh.
@@I_like_turtles_67 The pookies grunge alternerds and rolling stones magazines kill's SNL every weeks since long 3 decade now
Met him an a hamptons restaurant . Perfect gentleman
always had the great vintage gear.....and really knew rock, r and b and blues very deeply...great player....those were the days...god its been almost 30 years...geez, can't believe it.
Hear ya loud & clear, Ian. Where did the time go? But GE and the boys were the best SNL band, ever!
He is so under-rated. C'mon, GE, I live n the Philly area, I've played drums for over 50 years - gimme a yell and let's jam!
GE...l watched the show. Guitar in hand just to see u. I say this proudly! I sound alot like u. Thanks and God bless U.. Kookie Jeanne
man watching that brought back all those old memories of when SNL was good.
Loved seeing GE and Tbone together.
I love G.E. Smith. He's who all the big names want because he's massively talented.
A lot of great things went down along with the last century especially the 90's. Great simpsons episodes, and great music and especially G.E. Smith on SNL great shame we can't go back to simpler times
years ago he played an outro to commercial break around xmas - Jingle Bell Rock on his tele. I leapt off the couch, grabbed my tele and instantly figured it out ( he was key of G). every xmas I enjoy playing it over and over. GE was kinda like Santa for me for 15 seconds in December in early 90s
thanks for posting this
Exactly how he played it on the Hall & Oates record, too, an exact copy of the original one from Bobby Helms in the 50s.
I remember watching it live as well. I was about 12 or so and just starting to play guitar. Always thought he was the coolest
When i was a kid i thought g.e smitth was willem dafoe!.
You know I was trying to figure who g e smith looked like...thanks
I thought it was general electric, smith and the SNL band. I though GE was their sponsor.
I thought G.E. was the sax player who always did the solo at the end of the show.
Lots of nice guitars in these clips, but my favorite is the ‘52 Telecaster that his Mom bought him when he was 11 years old.
Imagine growing up in a time where your first real electric is a 52 blackguard
Love this confidence and MASTERY !!!
Great hair too!
I saw GE in Bob Dylan's band, summer of 1988. GE could play anything!
The outro with the didgeridoo that begins at 1:47 is sick!
Yessir...just straight nuts.
Leo Marchena that‘s the great Steve Turre playing that!
GE Smith, the closest thing there ever was to a guitarist born with a telecaster in his hands.
I associate SNL with the saxophone sound but this guy is a killer guitarplayer. Sax has a place in rock and roll but I don't care for many sax driven songs personally
I miss watching GE Smith on SNL
always loved him. his facial expressions are as fun to watch as his guitar licks. i bet he's played with everybody at one point or other.
GE Smith is a national treasure. I dont throw that phrase around much. But no one in the music world could have compiled such a resume of real world experience with so many different names. Through SNL, recording, and performing on the road, I bet he’s played alongside thousands of professional musicians and can probably tell you every little detail. Awesome dude! I feel blessed to have watched him so many Saturday nights. As the night turned to early morning and things were winding down, GE was always there playing some cool tune with a big smile. Rock on GE Smith!
The master of making faces like he's wailing a difficult solo while playing a 12 bar blues. Lmao
This was from a series of shows from the 1992-1993 season. The rest of the band - Earl Gardner (one clip has Joe Shepley filling in), Steve Turre, Lenny Pickett, George Young, Lew Del Gatto, Paul Ossola, Leon Pendarvis, Cheryl Hardwick, and Shawn Pelton. Only Pickett, Pendarvis, Pelton and Turre are still in the band in 2022.
Omg is this Dave Mackey? Your SNL band website was literally the first website I went onto when I got the internet as a teen in the mid/late 90s.
@@vintagekarma it me!
Awesome! Thank you for your early Internet work! I have been lucky enough to be GE’s web/social media guy for over a decade. I have been a massive fan of his since I was a kid. Hence why he was the first thing I looked for on my first visit to the Internet. Glad to run into you in the comments! I knew it had to be you based on that extensive member knowledge.
how young Pelton looks in these clips!
Amazing player..the only reason I watched SNL during this period
The digeridoo clip starting around 1:50 is great. Missed that one back in the day. Always loved Smith's tone(s) and vibrato. His sound had a glow and a snap to it.
thought the same thing..caught me off guard..exceptional!
Steve Turre is playing the didgeridoo. He also plays the shells. Trombone is his main.
Niiiice...a little Freddy King in there
Amazing player, snappy dresser, great guitars and uber cool hair…..damn!
"Things Ain't What They Used to Be" at :57. Where else are you going to hear that on network tv? Love it.
He loves his TELECASTERS AND He can make them sing. I wish I could've seen him do a jam session with Roy Buchanan.
Woooweee, GE Smith always had a Great Time making Good Tunes seem like a Cake Walk in his sleep!
What do you thing is Googled more. GE Smith, or "The Blonde Guy with the Guitar"?
Blonde guy is good. Very popular ending to sketch. I take it that you like the juice?
@@vintagekarma the juice is good!
The blonde guy with the guitar. Lol. I just discovered him. My youth was lacking.
G.E. Smith... A true "GREAT"!!!!
GE had the best guitars...I always liked looking at them...
What I like and iam a guitar player and collector is GE always is using a vintage guitar we get to see weekly.
Thumbs up if you only watch SNL for ge smith?
Lucky audience. This was one of the best parts of the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jazz Feeling
There's still a piece they did that I can't find. GE starts it with about a secs piece and then the horns kick in, it used to give me goosebumps, can't remember who the hell the guest was for it though.
It was Sloozy
Yeah! "Sloozy!" A beautiful, unstoppable, downright STANKY intro lick, and then those horns!! (Search, there are a couple clips online!)
@@Steve68686 Yeah man, found it a while back, what a tasty freaking lick from GE!
The last true blues/rock-inspired bandleader SNL ever had.
I would want more of the SNL bumpers in which the band plays musical pieces in between commercials.
True, that! I'd be smiling as well if I had that gig!
Smith had a great collection of guitars.
GE living the dream
G.E Smith is the Best,Period...
saw him play with Dylan in 90,he has been my favourite guitarist ever since,in fact would go as far as to say he's part of the reason Bob never faded into inerelivancy
How could dylan ever be irrelevant. Prick
Good to see T-Bone again.
That Feb 1993 guest lineup was damn good. Sir Mick one week, Sir Paul the next?
Love the tele
I would have gone to see a show just to see the band. That entire orchestra was fantastic!
I liked how he used to let T-Bone play his guitars. Most pro musicians are usually very protective of their gear...
I miss those days
Thanks for posting this. Love those guys
@vintagekarmatattoos I remember that the first few weeks that Shawn Pelton first joined the SNL band, he was sporting a green jacket, but midway through that season, it was dropped in favor of a black jacket instead. He wasn't wearing a jacket in the final few episodes of the 20th season.
Jason Nadle the whole band was sporting technicolour duds for a while there, then yeah, after the holiday break everybody’s wearing dark suits and Lenny’s trimmed his beard.
GE said in an interview that around 1992, with the success of Wayne’s World, NBC suits were starting to pay attention to the show again, hanging out in the halls, taking notes. I doubt it’s a coincidence that that was the same time the band suddenly cleaned up. Suits like to think they know about art
Its not about the cats it’s about the music. The 60,70,80 had some very special music and there were guys that played and guys that didn’t. GE played it.
Great to see those shots with tbone
00:33, you can hear Don Pardo cough. Nice
GE Cafe pretty intimate stuff!
This video is a treasure trove of killer licks! Thanks for posting...Back to the woodshed!
G.E. was another reason why I watch SNL.
G E and T-Bone 👌
Watching him play at 4.58 with Stevie ray vahn was awesome he looked like he was loving it
Not SRV, its T-Bone Walk
10 seconds to make a memory G.E Smith an american original and stand up player of chords so many many chords....man to have that kind of muscle memory
ooh I loved that bit with T Bone Love !
4:16 What is hip. I love it, throwin' in a little Tower of Power.
Love the vintage guitars!
G.E. is one of the favorite guitarists. T-Bone Wolk & Charlie DeChant were also hidden in some of these clips; also Steve Turre 👍🏾
Those were some glory days for sure. That saxophone style is a signature of classic snl
damn! I want to hear the rest of that 'What is Hip' song! Sucha tease!
I used to cry like a flowery little girl pushed down in a mud puddle when SNL would give GE just 10 seconds of air time: forget the hosts, jokes...skits...musical guests: GE Smith jammin' for 1 hour would be suffice; perfectly. What a brilliant guitarist, composer, arranger....plus that impeccable guitar tone :)
Hex was the only reason I used to watch snl I always loved the great guitars and his sound
You can’t NOT watch G.E. Your eyes are drawn to the blond musician playing lead or backup with a smile on his face.
Him jumping right into Hideaway was killer!!
Damn, that just took me back to my teens!
Judging by the dates, these are all from Season 18 in early 1993.
......... back when SNL was great!
That band was so damn good.
I am so broke. I ran out and bought all the exact same guitars as GE Smith.
Ever since G*E* Smith left SNL I always felt the show went down hill and I so rarely watch now a days* I guess "our era" was the best of times , great music great memories*
What song is he playing starting at 3:20? It sounds like something I should know but I can’t remember. I’m near retirement and trying to learn how to play guitar and that is something I would like to work on.
This is season 18 1992-1993
that haircut though
great band
Good memories