Johnny Smith Tribute

Johnny Smith became a household name in 1952 when he released Moonlight In Vermont with Stan Getz. Barney Kessel once stated that no one played guitar better than Johnny. They might play differently but not better. While Smith himself maintains that he does not consider himself a Jazz player, critics and musicians alike continue to hail him as a giant among the Jazz elite. John Henry Smith Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama on June 25, 1922. After settling in Portland, Maine as a kid with his family, his love for guitar began to grow and he eventually taught himself how to play. He worked out a deal with local pawn shop owners; in exchange for keeping the instruments tuned he could hang out and play. Smith practiced diligently and progressed to a point where, by age 13, he had a number of adults studying with him. One of those adults presented Johnny with his first guitar while still in High School. Early influences included Django Reinhardt, Andres Segovia, Charlie Christian and Les Paul. He listened to a wide variety of music, but was drawn to the freedom, spontaneity and creativity of Jazz. He whole heartedly appreciated the musicianship and improvisational skill it demanded. He eventually dropped out of high school to concentrate on his music. When WWWII broke out, Smith enlisted in the Army Air Corp. and was assigned to the Air Corps Band. Since guitar was not suited for the military band he was given a Coronet and an Arban method book and told to lock himself in the latrine for two weeks until he could play it. It was either that or mechanics school. The following year he was reassigned and ordered to form a Jazz group. For this he was able to introduce guitar. Glen Miller heard Smith and his group and tried to requisition him but the Air Corp. said no. After the war he returned to Portland and became a staff musician at a NBC affiliate there. He became quite busy by performing on as many as 35 radio and later television programs a week for NBC. 1952 is when Smith signed with Roost Records and struck gold on his first session as a leader with his beautiful rendition of Moonlight In Vermont with Stan Getz. The rest is History!