Johnny Smith was amazing! He was the guitar teacher of William Frejek. When I attend Berklee in 1978, William was my teacher. How lucky I was ...and I am! Thanks for sharing this video!
My Father Ray and Uncle, Willie Wilson had been employed at Johnny's store in Colorado Springs, I'll never remember better day's as a youth, Johnny was always such a kind and humble individual, thanks for the Memories, these are very special recordings.... all of the musicians on these tracks and arrangements are beyond talented..... from, Always Sincere, JD
Such a mastery over such a variety of styles...he can shred to his heart's content or play a slow ballad that will bring the burliest man to tears. I've been playing guitar for years and heard countless performers, but this man is one of the few guitar players i've truly sat in awe of and who has moved me to tears with a solo performance of an original piece.
What a great great GREAT player he was. You would know his style immediately as I honestly don't think anyone played like him. Those harmonies...give me chills. We miss you Mr. Smith.
you could call him johnny. he was such a nice guy and didn't stand on ceremony. he was one of the nicest people i ever knew. i asked him why he retired and he said he had done everything he could with the guitar and was tired of practicing. absolutely my favorite player.
When I was a teen, I dug out of my dads records a pink EP with a very ugly drawing, I guess it was of Johnny Smith. These were the recordings he made with a young Stan Getz, and Johnnys band, I think. I became obsessed with these great recordings, I still am. If you havent heard them yet, get on it! What a great sound these catss made!
Yes a very sweet man and monster player. I did a video documentary of him in 1985. He plays, we talk, he demonstrates, and at the end we play a couple of tunes together. I've got to get that up on TH-cam. Tom Ross
Finally Johnny Smith live at the peak of his virtuosity on some of these cuts. Thank you, a great post, and a service to music lovers and historians. As a young guitarist I called Johnny in 1977 to tell him of my admiration for him as a guitarist and man. Told him I was making a trip to Colorado, and he immediately invited me to dinner. Never got to take him up on his offer. But it shows how gracious he was.
I learned from NW Legend Jim Day - a student and friend of Johnny Smith. Pat Martino, Larry Coryell, Larry Carlton, and Chet Atkins have all praised Johnny Smith. Moreover, his original song; based on the changes of "Softly as a Morning Sunrise," was recorded by Chet Atkins and then made into a classic rock tune by the Ventures - Walk Don't Run.
He was my idol for 30 yrs..well...still is! And the reason many of us picked up a guitar. I met him a few times..in fact I was at the JVC tribute which begins ur video. He was sitting there with Tony Mattola as we filtered out..you can see more pics of that on my website (charliex dot com) and my tribute to Johnny on you tube if u search Charlie x guitar. Thanks again for posting!
Ah, there are so many great guitarists, almost too many to list without risking leaving out one great or another, from this genre, and each has fans and followers. JS is certainly in the pantheon. Maybe someday Rolling Stone will have heard of them, although so many of them are gone now.
Well said, the great players I listen to (Johnny, Les Paul, Nokie, Django, Wes , HR, Jim Hall, Herb Ellis, Tony Motolla etc.) all play slow ballads with visceral beauty. Jim told me Johnny was an exceptional Classical guitar player as well. But for single lines; the pick is better (in his opinion - mine too).
Tony is another favorite - both could be zippy players but had an uncanny ability to play beautiful melodies. I have a Tony Motolla playlist - thanks for the link.....mt
How have I never heard of this guy! Holy crap it’s like Someone took Django Reinhardt Grant Green And Rev. Horton heat and put them together in one bag. Very cool.
Equivocation is an informal fallacy, Smith never developed it in the sense of highly accomplished fingerstyle players. Jim Day, his friend and student, told me Smith studied Classical guitar music (confirmed by his plectrum style arrangements of Classical songs). All players at some level dink with garden variety guitar techniques. I have learned - and forgotten - a lot of classical and Atkins/Tommy toons. But I think that a pick has better sound for line games (opinion) - especially on stage with a band. - Good Pickins' Bro....
Jim Day was my connection. Regrettably, I never did get to meet Johnny Smith - although I did meet many of my favorite guitar players... Here is Jim: th-cam.com/video/ET-fK9WlDxY/w-d-xo.html
Johnny Smith was amazing! He was the guitar teacher of William Frejek. When I attend Berklee in 1978, William was my teacher. How lucky I was ...and I am! Thanks for sharing this video!
Oh ! what a rare gem this is ! deep gratitude for keeping the memory alive of Johnny Smith - a truly fabulous player !
Thank you for posting I miss my Uncle Johnny and listening to him play at family reunions this brings back good memories. RIP Uncle Johnny
Jim Day (a friend and student) introduced me to his music when I was a puppy.... I love his velvet playing as much today as I did then.....mt
堅実で聡明 確かな技術 隠すことのできない芸術の香り
Steady and intelligent, reliable technique, the scent of art that cannot be hidden
My Father Ray and Uncle, Willie Wilson had been employed at Johnny's store in Colorado Springs, I'll never remember better day's as a youth, Johnny was always such a kind and humble individual, thanks for the Memories, these are very special recordings.... all of the musicians on these tracks and arrangements are beyond talented..... from, Always Sincere, JD
Such a mastery over such a variety of styles...he can shred to his heart's content or play a slow ballad that will bring the burliest man to tears. I've been playing guitar for years and heard countless performers, but this man is one of the few guitar players i've truly sat in awe of and who has moved me to tears with a solo performance of an original piece.
What a great great GREAT player he was. You would know his style immediately as I honestly don't think anyone played like him. Those harmonies...give me chills. We miss you Mr. Smith.
you could call him johnny. he was such a nice guy and didn't stand on ceremony. he was one of the nicest people i ever knew. i asked him why he retired and he said he had done everything he could with the guitar and was tired of practicing. absolutely my favorite player.
堅実で聡明 確かな技術 隠すことのできない芸術の香り
Steady and intelligent, reliable technique, the scent of art that cannot be hidden
God , he just tears it up ! no holding back ! so refreshing brings back fond memories the 2 times I saw him in Denver. Thanks for sharing !!!!
Wonderful.Thankyou.
When I was a teen, I dug out of my dads records a pink EP with a very ugly drawing, I guess it was of Johnny Smith. These were the recordings he made with a young Stan Getz, and Johnnys band, I think. I became obsessed with these great recordings, I still am. If you havent heard them yet, get on it! What a great sound these catss made!
Thank you so much for posting this, without a doubt one of the greatest guitarists and teachers of all time.
Yes a very sweet man and monster player. I did a video documentary of him in 1985. He plays, we talk, he demonstrates, and at the end we play a couple of tunes together. I've got to get that up on TH-cam.
Tom Ross
Tom, that would be awesome if you uploaded that. I would love to see that.
Tom Ross Hi Tom, it should be delicious if you oculd share this documentary. Thank you, Silvio.
Kevin Huang
Sorry to say, Johnny passed away some time ago RIP......mt
Hi Tom please keep us informed if you post that documentary!
Kevin Huang Hi Kevin any chance I could get a copy of that video or could you post it somewhere so everyone can have access? thank you
There would be equity in the universe if every mention of Kenny Burrell was replaced reference to this bizarrely under appreciated genius.
Beautiful performance. I met him once during jazz school around 1983. Very nice person and a deep player.
I have been listening to him and Jim Day since I was a puppy and I never get tired of listening to them - Thanks for your input.
What a sound.Nobody plays those harmonies.One of my favorite players.
This song is really special.
J. Smith, Tall Farlow, Judie Garland... Very cool guitar.
Finally Johnny Smith live at the peak of his virtuosity on some of these cuts. Thank you, a great post, and a service to music lovers and historians. As a young guitarist I called Johnny in 1977 to tell him of my admiration for him as a guitarist and man. Told him I was making a trip to Colorado, and he immediately invited me to dinner. Never got to take him up on his offer. But it shows how gracious he was.
I'm sure this is a true story! :note, DAngelico, truly a amazing Guitarist, one of the Best!
The best.
The stuff Johnny did with Getz is my favorite.
Wow
Stan was definitely the man - perfect pitch....Guitar and sax go soooooo well together....mt
A humble Master.
how about some more Johnny live there must be vids out there - thanks
incredible guitarist!
Great story. My guitar told me of Johnny. He had known him and Wes.
A master guitarist (Smith) playing a master guitar (D'Angelico)-- What a combination!
I learned from NW Legend Jim Day - a student and friend of Johnny Smith. Pat Martino, Larry Coryell, Larry Carlton, and Chet Atkins have all praised Johnny Smith. Moreover, his original song; based on the changes of "Softly as a Morning Sunrise," was recorded by Chet Atkins and then made into a classic rock tune by the Ventures - Walk Don't Run.
He was my idol for 30 yrs..well...still is! And the reason many of us picked up a guitar. I met him a few times..in fact I was at the JVC tribute which begins ur video. He was sitting there with Tony Mattola as we filtered out..you can see more pics of that on my website (charliex dot com) and my tribute to Johnny on you tube if u search Charlie x guitar. Thanks again for posting!
Thanks for putting this up!!
Ah, there are so many great guitarists, almost too many to list without risking leaving out one great or another, from this genre, and each has fans and followers. JS is certainly in the pantheon. Maybe someday Rolling Stone will have heard of them, although so many of them are gone now.
fuck rolling fucking stone
Well said, the great players I listen to (Johnny, Les Paul, Nokie, Django, Wes , HR, Jim Hall, Herb Ellis, Tony Motolla etc.) all play slow ballads with visceral beauty. Jim told me Johnny was an exceptional Classical guitar player as well. But for single lines; the pick is better (in his opinion - mine too).
The Best
Thanks, I hadn't heard that he passed away. My guitar mentor was a student and friend of his. Sad news,
Tony is another favorite - both could be zippy players but had an uncanny ability to play beautiful melodies. I have a Tony Motolla playlist - thanks for the link.....mt
RIP Johnny Smith!
Descanse en paz, virtuoso
Nobility. Where as George Barnes, who I respect as much, constantly made me chuckle.
How have I never heard of this guy! Holy crap it’s like Someone took Django Reinhardt Grant Green And Rev. Horton heat and put them together in one bag. Very cool.
That's right - Larry is another wonderful player with a blue bent....
El Maestro.
John Berry What a wonderful book that was
Johnny Smith to me the Greatest Guitar Man. I will take him over Wes and Charlie Byrd. Its Johnny Smith for me. A legend.
The second piece is classical piece called Sevilla (Albeniz)
+Aleksandar Stojceski Per Jim Day, Johnny was also an accomplished Classical Guitar player. But he preferred the pick for linegames.....
Equivocation is an informal fallacy, Smith never developed it in the sense of highly accomplished fingerstyle players. Jim Day, his friend and student, told me Smith studied Classical guitar music (confirmed by his plectrum style arrangements of Classical songs). All players at some
level dink with garden variety guitar techniques. I have learned - and forgotten - a lot of classical and Atkins/Tommy toons. But I think that a pick has better sound for line games (opinion) - especially on stage
with a band. - Good Pickins' Bro....
Does anyone have a track listing for this video? Such a genius.
You are welcome. although my motives were mostly selfish - I love Johnny's playing (lol),,,,,mt
I believe Carlton's "Strikes Twice" was borrowed from Johnny.
Love this video! What is the name of the song that starts at 12:12?
I found it. It's Shiny Stockings. I love this version of the song. Sounds like so much fun, especially toward the end!
ohmg is 39;00 tabbed anywhere
Lucky man you are ,you 've got talk and play with the man! bit jealous must admit
Jim Day was my connection. Regrettably, I never did get to meet Johnny Smith - although I did meet many of my favorite guitar players... Here is Jim: th-cam.com/video/ET-fK9WlDxY/w-d-xo.html
Thank you !
Good Pickins' and Happy Trails....
he was very accessible, worked in the music store, and he and his wife were very friendly people.
I transcribed several of his solo arrangements. Some of them are a bitch to play.
some of them,>? every one. he wasn't called 'the maestro' for nothing.
What song is this?
If you are talking about the song that starts at 2:09, it's "what are you doing the rest of your life"