Sadly, one of the all time greats, Johnny Smith has passed away.
A great artist...a greater man. Please keep Johnny's family and friends in your prayers.
Re: Johnny Smith has passed
"Walk, Don't Run" is an instrumental composition written and first recorded by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith in 1954.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBBDCV2Fzno
Then Chet did it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W57f5RU-6xM
The Ventures heard Chet and then they did it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owq7hgzna3E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBBDCV2Fzno
Then Chet did it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W57f5RU-6xM
The Ventures heard Chet and then they did it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owq7hgzna3E
- ajbremer
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- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:11 am
Re: Johnny Smith has passed
No one played with more musical taste than Johnny. He could play as fast as anyone if he wanted, but even the fast runs would have sounded great slowed down. His chord voicings were beautiful and fluid.
He is missed.
He is missed.
Thanks,
George
George
- George Beasley
- Posts: 387
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:08 pm
Re: Johnny Smith has passed
What's odd (or sad) is that I can't find any mention of his passing. Not even in the Colorado Springs or Denver newspapers.
...that's how it looks to me...The opinion expressed above is my own and does not necessarily reflect the views of this station. Your mileage may vary...
Audio samples: http://www.youtube.com/user/acountrygent/videos
That should do it.
Audio samples: http://www.youtube.com/user/acountrygent/videos
That should do it.
- Norm
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- Location: redwood city ca
Re: Johnny Smith has passed
George Beasley wrote:No one played with more musical taste than Johnny. He could play as fast as anyone if he wanted, but even the fast runs would have sounded great slowed down. His chord voicings were beautiful and fluid.
He is missed.
I agree. Johnny Smith was amazing and tasteful in his playing. He just had the touch. Here is one of my favorite Johnny Smith songs - Black is the Color". One of the books or one of the Quarterly issues that John Knowles published has a great finger style arrangement of the song.
Ray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucJzsJwyZxI
- Ray Bohlken
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Re: Johnny Smith has passed
Norm wrote:What's odd (or sad) is that I can't find any mention of his passing. Not even in the Colorado Springs or Denver newspapers.
Yes, this is rather strange, however he apparently just passed away yesterday, and sometimes the news media is a little slow on the uptake.
Wikipedia mentions his death on their site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Smith
- David Elliott
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- Location: Simi Valley, California
Re: Johnny Smith has passed
I first heard of Johnny Smith back when I was taking lessons, he wrote the forward to the Joe Fava guitar method books. I thought he looked kinda like Mr. Rogers.
Years later I found a double cd (his pieces and also George Van Eps) and loved it! Got his "Approach to guitar" book and ocassionally check it out. Great player, RIP sir.
Years later I found a double cd (his pieces and also George Van Eps) and loved it! Got his "Approach to guitar" book and ocassionally check it out. Great player, RIP sir.
- Dave
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2011 12:52 pm
Re: Johnny Smith has passed
David Elliott wrote:Norm wrote:What's odd (or sad) is that I can't find any mention of his passing. Not even in the Colorado Springs or Denver newspapers.
While not an obituary per se, this article covers much of Johnny's life and career.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013 ... r-has-died
I met Mr. Smith only once, at a music store in West Denver where he was giving a workshop on jazz guitar back in the mid sixties. Very personable and courteous man.
David
- David Elliott
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- Location: Simi Valley, California
Re: Johnny Smith has passed
That works. That's what I was wondering about.
...that's how it looks to me...The opinion expressed above is my own and does not necessarily reflect the views of this station. Your mileage may vary...
Audio samples: http://www.youtube.com/user/acountrygent/videos
That should do it.
Audio samples: http://www.youtube.com/user/acountrygent/videos
That should do it.
- Norm
- Posts: 1333
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:36 pm
- Location: redwood city ca
Re: Johnny Smith has passed
I was 17 when I wrote Johnny Smith a letter asking if I could take a lesson. I ended up spending a couple of hours with him. He essentially interviewed me to see what I knew and then gave me a list of topics to pursue. Apart from the advice he gave me, he put me at ease and took me seriously.
The NPR story that David Elliot posted has some good musical clips plus Johnny talking about music and his life as a musician. Check it out if you haven't.
John
The NPR story that David Elliot posted has some good musical clips plus Johnny talking about music and his life as a musician. Check it out if you haven't.
John
- John Knowles
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