As I entered into the second yr of my doctoral research on the College of Illinois, it got here time to decide on a subject for my dissertation.
After brainstorming, deciding, reconsidering, and ranging from scratch many instances on a subject of analysis, I had an extended and vital dialog with my buddy Marc.
Throughout that dialog he requested me, who’s a participant that has all the abilities and performs the guitar in a approach that I love, however the place there hasn’t been loads of analysis achieved on their output.
The reply to that query was Johnny Smith.
Having chosen Johnny’s taking part in for the subject of my dissertation, there have been two important areas of the analysis that I needed to conduct as a way to get the knowledge I wanted for the paper – transcribing and analyzing his taking part in, and interviewing Johnny in particular person.
The primary half was comparatively straightforward, it simply took time to put in writing out the solos and break them down for the principle textual content of the dissertation, however making an attempt to get a Johnny Smith interview was a bit harder to place collectively.
I rapidly realized that Johnny didn’t have a web site, and there have been no apparent methods on-line to trace him down, no telephone quantity or deal with listed, and so I needed to do a little bit of detective work as a way to contact him for the interview.
I discovered {a magazine} that had achieved and interview with Johnny a couple of years again, and I emailed the editor to see if he had any contact info for Johnny.
He stated he did, however needed to test with Johnny earlier than handing it over to me.
After a couple of weeks I obtained an electronic mail again with an deal with, and the directions that I used to be to ship Johnny a letter explaining what I used to be writing about and ask him for an interview.
So, I rigorously crafted the letter, despatched it off, and hoped I might get a response.
A couple of days later my telephone rings, it was Johnny calling to arrange the interview.
We picked a date that labored for us each, and I deliberate my journey, together with my good buddy Marc, to go to Johnny in Colorado Springs, the place he’s lived because the late 1950s.
The interview happened on the morning of September 4th, 2007, within the foyer of the lodge we have been staying at in Colorado Springs, and it has turn out to be one of many highlights of my musical profession.
I didn’t know what to anticipate from Johnny. If he would have an interest within the interview, or simply humoring me, or how he would deal with it.
However Johnny couldn’t have been nicer, extra form, or extra giving along with his time that morning. An throughout class act of a person.
As we sat nervously within the foyer ready for Johnny, hoping he would present up however not figuring out if he would, a big truck pulled into the lot and out stepped an older gentleman, wearing a cowboy hat full with bolo tie, it was Johnny Smith.
The dialog beneath took about an hour to file, and the time flew by.
There have been moments when Johnny didn’t need to speak about sure topics, however was good about it, and others the place his face lit up as he spoke about previous occasions in his life. It was a enjoyable, partaking, and memorable expertise.
I haven’t printed this interview up till now, and I’m undecided why, however I feel it’s time to share this dialog, with certainly one of my musical heroes and a guitar legend, with others. I hope you get pleasure from it.
I used to be new to interviewing individuals, particularly individuals I admired as a lot as Johnny, so moreover modifying out a couple of “ums” and “ahs” your complete dialog is there, warts and all, to get pleasure from.
Johnny Smith Interview
Matthew Warnock: Whenever you have been first studying guitar you have been listening to loads of huge bands. I’m questioning how a lot this affected your chord voicings, as they’re so distinctive in comparison with different guitarists.
Johnny Smith: I’m positive they have been an affect, however I used to be listening to loads of completely different kinds of music on the time so it’s onerous to inform the place all the pieces got here from. And I don’t know if I agree together with your selection of subject, me, I’m positive you could possibly have discovered somebody extra fascinating to review. [Smiling]
Matt: Oh, I don’t learn about that.
Johnny: Effectively…
Matt: Effectively, the place do you see your self becoming into the general scope of music? As a guitarist, a jazz musician, an arranger?
Johnny: I’m not a jazz participant.
Matt: No?
Johnny: No. I love jazz gamers that follow that you already know, however I used to be concerned with all completely different sorts of music, so I can’t think about myself a jazz participant.
Matt: So that you by no means targeted on simply finding out jazz, you targeted on finding out music typically.
Johnny: Proper.
Matt: Are you able to discuss just a little bit about your experiences as an arranger at NBC? How that affected you as a musician, did you discover it troublesome at first or did it come straightforward to you?
Johnny: Effectively, once I first obtained to New York Metropolis in 1946, I needed to put a residency in for six months earlier than I may work. So NBC labored it out the place I may do one association per week for varied issues and that obtained me by till I obtained my Union Card.
Matt: Proper.
Johnny: It was like a contract deal you already know?
Matt: Yeah. Whenever you have been first employed on because the workers arranger, you didn’t have loads of classical coaching in comparison with others who have been doing jobs like that. Did you discover it onerous to step into that place?
Johnny: Effectively, once I was within the Air Corps through the conflict they wouldn’t let me fly so that they put me within the band. And that’s really the place I realized to learn music, on the cornet. So that basically saved me once I obtained to New York, and I did some arranging within the service, you already know. That’s the place I obtained my coaching.
Matt: What did you want extra, being an arranger or a performer? Did you may have a choice?
Johnny: Oh yeah, I’m allergic to pencils so…however the preparations obtained me by, like I say, till I obtained my union card.
Matt: OK, so it was extra of a method to an finish so you could possibly….
Johnny: Proper, get out and carry out.
Matt: Are you able to discuss just a little about your early performing expertise in New York? Who you have been taking part in with, how you bought on the scene, that type of factor.
Johnny: Effectively, at NBC I did so many reveals per week, they usually have been all various things. Backing up singers and folks like Eddie Albert, Bob and Ray, and the NBC symphony, all the pieces. I form of look again on the expertise I had, I used to be working at Birdland till 4 o’clock within the morning. And on one event I completed 4 o’clock within the morning, and at 9 o’clock I used to be in the midst of the New York Philharmonic. Speak about a transition.
Matt: So that you have been taking part in all kinds of kinds of music right now.
Johnny: Oh sure.
Matt: Did you discover that it helped you discover work, the truth that you could possibly play completely different kinds?
Johnny: Sure. And at the moment there have been solely a few guitar gamers in New York that would learn music. Tony Mottolla, and myself, so something that concerned studying I often obtained a name for.
Matt: Whenever you went out and shaped your jazz teams that you just carried out with, what did you search for in deciding on who was going to be in your band?
Johnny: With the quintet I didn’t should look too far as a result of I had helped Stan Getz get on the workers at NBC. As a result of he needed to get off the street, so he was there, that was it.
Matt: So that you employed the individuals who have been round you on the time?
Johnny: Effectively they have been all NBC individuals, Sanford Gold, Don Lamond, Eddie Safranski.
Matt: Whenever you have been studying improvise did you hearken to musicians who weren’t guitar gamers? Say Charlie Parker or Bud Powell, or did you focus extra on guitarists?
Johnny: Folks ask me who, you already know, did I’ve a instructor or what. And I say no, really music was my instructor, all completely different sorts of music. So perhaps that’s what influenced my jazz taking part in, if I can name it that.
Matt: I’d name it that however…what musicians or composers have been you listening to if you have been in New Work? Who did you want?
Johnny: Effectively, once I obtained to New York, 52nd avenue was in full blossom, you already know. Door to door to door, Lester Younger, Artwork Tatum and all the nice jazz gamers. You went into the place, there was no cowl cost, and it was so crowded you couldn’t get to the bar, which was simply as effectively trigger I didn’t have any cash for booze anyway.
Matt: Do you may have any favourite classical composers or musicians that you just prefer to hearken to?
Johnny: You imply so far as guitarists?
Matt: Oh no, it may very well be anyone, Mozart, Schoenberg or….
Johnny: Effectively, Schoenberg and all, like Tchaikovsky, Alban Berg, and so far as musicians, Horowitz was certainly one of my favorites.
Matt: How about on classical guitar, did you may have any favorites?
Johnny: Oh yeah, Segovia. He was the, within the early days he was about the one classical guitarist of observe. I nonetheless respect him as being actually the forerunner of classical guitar. Then got here Julian Bream and all these completely different guys.
Matt: Did you ever get an opportunity to listen to Segovia carry out?
Johnny: Oh yeah, I positive did. Once I was with Bing (Crosby) in London on one event. He was staying on the similar lodge, and this lodge was, they form of catered to huge names, you already know. And hell, he’d stroll across the foyer and no person’d hassle him. However I obtained him to autograph his guide for me.
Matt: Are you able to speak about your time with Bing Crosby? You have been taking part in with him, however weren’t you additionally writing a few of the preparations as effectively?
Johnny: Yeah, I did some. He, effectively I travelled with him the final two years of his life. And all over the place we went it was royalty, you already know. Particularly in Europe, they worshipped Bing. And as a matter of truth, the final tour we have been in Brighton, England, down on the South Coast. And we completed this on a Monday evening, and all of us went our separate methods, and that following Thursday is when he dropped lifeless on the golf course.
Matt: Wow.
Johnny: Yeah. 
Matt: Are you able to speak about a few of the musicians, like Bing and others, of any style of music that you just preferred to play with?
Johnny: Effectively, Hank Jones, Don Lamond, Eddie Safranski, and a drummer that I labored with in Denver; he’s certainly one of my favorites, Daryl Goes. He saved my neck once I first obtained out right here in 1958 and I began taking part in in Denver.
Matt: Have been you in a position to carry out lots if you moved out right here, was that one thing you have been trying to do, proceed performing frequently?
Johnny: I needed to. Yeah, I performed lots up in Denver. As a matter of truth, I used to be at this one membership referred to as Shaners for about seven years. Then I might return to New York, file, play in Birdland, and file there.
Matt: Did you want dwelling in New York?
Johnny: Hell no! The best website I ever noticed was trying on the skyline of Manhattan in my rear view mirror once I left New York. No, I didn’t like dwelling there; it’s completely reverse from my life-style. In fact, I used to be very lucky being there through the years that I used to be as a result of that was the very apex of jazz music.
Matt: I learn in an interview that you just had barely heard of Colorado Springs earlier than you moved right here. What have been your first impressions if you moved out right here?
Johnny: Effectively, I had household right here. Two brothers and my mom have been dwelling right here. My spouse died in New York, you already know, I had just a little 5 yr outdated daughter. I used to be working day and evening, there was no approach I may deal with her. So out of the tragedy at the least it gave me excuse to depart New York.
Matt: You have been able to go if you left?
Johnny: Sure, as a result of in 1957 issues had began to crumble. The three networks that used to have over 100 musicians on full time workers, and once I left, that had all gone. They have been the predecessors of rock, you already know, and I noticed these nice musicians coming in and honking on their horns, string gamers taking part in footballs, and so no, I used to be very lucky to depart once I did.
Matt: Whenever you got here out right here, how lengthy was it till you opened your guitar retailer?
Johnny: My spouse opened it in 1961.
Matt: How did you discover it, being a enterprise proprietor, after so a few years as a performer?
Johnny: Effectively, I wasn’t’ a lot of a businessman, my spouse helped me lots. So it at the least saved me off the streets.
Matt: So it was profitable….
Johnny: Not at first. I began off with a consignment of some guitars and amps from Gibson. That was a part of my settlement for the Johnny Smith Guitar. They consigned me a couple of issues after which I began paying it off and shopping for by myself. So it was a number of years earlier than I may take cash out of the shop.
Matt: Did you additionally train classes out of the shop?
Johnny: I had academics for all completely different devices. Then I had what I referred to as the glory band, younger guitar gamers. And I used to put in writing out preparations, I even had one association of the Previous Fortress by Mussorgsky, in order that was enjoyable.
Matt: Are you able to discuss just a little bit about your educating? I do know you’ve had some nice college students through the years, Gene Bertoncini, Invoice Frisell and others. Are you able to speak about your educating philosophy, the way you strategy educating?
Johnny: Effectively, Dick Elliot was with the NORAD band so I helped him, and Barry Swyde(Zweig?) was there and I used to go to high schools and universities. I taught with the Stan Kenton clinics at completely different schools. One of many individuals there was Tim Could and he’s a really wonderful guitarist.
Matt: The guide that you just wrote, how did you give you that guide?
Johnny: That form of got here out of my seminars. I had a weeklong seminar right here for a number of years, and I form of compiled that and when it got here time to do the guide for Mel Bay. Being allergic to pencils, and loving to fish, I had a ship up at one of many excessive mountain lakes. So I obtained a bunch of manuscript paper and a card desk and I went up, obtained on the boat, put the rods out, and that’s the place I put all of it collectively.
Matt: So that you have been catching fish, too….
Johnny: Oh yeah! In fact.
Matt: Glorious. Whenever you got here to Colorado Springs, have been individuals conscious of your experiences or did you reside just about a quiet life?
Johnny: I needed to have the quiet life, you already know. However finally individuals began to say, “Hey, he was…”
Matt: Effectively, you probably did accomplish lots as a musician. Even simply in your ten years in New York, you completed a lot. How do you look again on that point of your life?
Johnny: I don’t know.
Matt: Okay, that’s wonderful. Whenever you recorded the album of solo classical items together with the Previous Fortress, Seville, what was your inspiration for that?
Johnny: Truly, I recorded this at residence. The rationale for recording it was simply to exhibit the probabilities to completely different individuals at schools and my seminars and had no intention of getting this put out. However Carl Jefferson who owned Harmony Information, he had been after me to return out and file. I didn’t need to do this, I hate recording. So I discussed that I had this demo would he have an interest, and so he was, and I went out to California they usually put it out with some George Van Eps tunes. However I had no intention of releasing these as a file.
Matt: Are you able to discuss just a little bit about your selecting, since you recorded these classical items with a choose? Might you speak about the way you developed your selecting approach through the years?
Johnny: I used to be influenced by different devices and particularly the piano. I figured that if this man may go from the underside to prime and again, I figured I ought to be capable of do this on the guitar. And being a nut, that’s what I did.
Matt: And the choose made it simpler to get these sounds?
Johnny: Yeah. Managed selecting, I used to be influenced by the violin bow. And that’s the best way it labored out.
Matt: Did you ever play together with your fingers?
Johnny: I solely did two tracks; one was with a singer, Beverly Kenny, who got here to an unlucky finish. However I did an album with right here and on one of many tracks I did just a little fingerpicking factor. The one different factor I did was once I recorded the Ravel Pavanne.
Matt: And also you used your fingers for that.
Johnny: Yeah, that was the one time. Effectively, I shouldn’t say solely, the flutist Julius Baker, I did The Anthrop by Iber. I did that with a choose, however I put rubber bands on the strings of my Epiphone to make it sound like a classical guitar, nevertheless it didn’t in any respect.
Matt: In addition to an archtop, did you play a flattop or classical guitar?
Johnny: Effectively, my first guitar was given to me by a person that I used to be educating, and it was a Kalamazoo, a flattop Kalamazoo. I used to be touring with this Hillbilly band up in Maine, and I obtained a Martin D-28 and that didn’t’ work in any respect so I traded that and obtained an L-5 and that was the guitar that I used. Simply earlier than I went to New York, it was stolen out of the checkroom of this lodge the place I used to be taking part in up in Portland, Maine. Years later they discovered it, I obtained a name from the police down in Texas. It nonetheless had the identical strings, the identical all the pieces together with the choose below the strings.
Matt: How lengthy after was it?
Johnny: It was at the least six years.
Matt: So what have been a few of the guitars that you just performed through the years? Did you play the Johnny Smith mannequin or did you simply design it or…?
Johnny: I did design it. In fact, once I first obtained to New York I didn’t have a guitar, and Gretsch, Harry Volpe, I met Harry and he took me to Gretsch they usually constructed me a guitar. However that didn’t work and I used an Epiphone Emperor. I did this present with Mindy Carson, this singer, and we did the rehearsal. I had a locker at NBC, and I didn’t have a case, I simply took the guitar and amplifier and get on the elevator and go up. We did the rehearsal and we had a ten-minute break earlier than the printed, so we went all the way down to Hurley’s and you already know obtained just a little braveness and once I obtained again to the studio the guitar was gone. By no means noticed it since, and John Collins a really expensive buddy of mine, had an outdated D’Angelico so he let me use that. It had like a plow deal with for a neck, however I liked that guitar. When John constructed me one I wouldn’t give it again to John, I had D’Angelico construct a guitar for John. Then Gibson approached me about endorsing a guitar. I went to John D’Angelico, and I stated I don’t really feel proper about endorsing one other guitar. He says, “Please do. I can solely construct so many guitars a yr, so please, in case you can design instrument by all means do it.” So I did, and the president of Gibson got here out right here and we sat at my kitchen desk and I advised him what I needed. 
Matt: Have been you pleased with the guitar that Gibson constructed?
Johnny: Sure, effectively, no, I wasn’t pleased with Gibson. That was the one guitar that they didn’t instrument up for the neck. It was freehanded. So there have been variations within the neck. It was so dangerous I wrote them as soon as and I stated, jeez, I may do higher with a jackknife, you already know. However the authentic JS they constructed with 22 frets, they constructed two of them, and I had the manufacturing facility noticed off the final two frets. So I performed that. However I despatched it again to the manufacturing facility to get some touchups they usually misplaced it. They constructed me one other guitar, and that’s the one which I used.
Matt: What have been a few of the key design issues that you just needed from the Gibson guitar?
Johnny: Primary, the neck didn’t have an area below the board, you already know, I had them construct the tip of the fingerboard proper into the highest of the guitar to raised the maintain. To get a greater maintain, I had them use a cross brace, and I advised them I needed to customise the thickness, what the thickness of the highest could be. Then the physique was just a little shallower than regular.
Matt: So did you actually think about your tone if you have been taking part in? Lots of gamers from that period type of grabbed a guitar and performed, however have been you very aware of your sound?
Johnny: I suppose music is, you already know, in case you have been within the bathe and also you needed to sing Moonlight in Vermont, you wouldn’t go ha-ha-ha-ha-ha (opening phrase). So all the pieces is sustained until in any other case indicated.
Matt: And that was vital to you, to get that maintain like in your opening to Moonlight in Vermont?
Johnny: That’s what I strived for, the evenness of stability. Whenever you did a four-string chord, all of the notes needed to maintain the identical, you already know.
Matt: Did you observe lots as a child rising up?
Johnny: Oh sure, and it drove my dad and mom loopy! In the midst of the evening, I’d dream of a chord, so I’d get away from bed and positive sufficient there it might be.
Matt: Whenever you consider your trademark type, like tone and maintain, what different issues have been you actually aware of?
Johnny: Effectively, chord voicings, nothing about me is authentic, it’s all primary music you already know, the voicings. It’s simply primary music. In different phrases, if I used to be taking part in a melody, I’d attempt to work out the place it might be essentially the most sustainable. I’d all the time consider myself within the bathe observe being ha-ha-ha-ha-ha (sings opening to Moonlight in Vermont).
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRNpc-hFkCs[/youtube]
Matt: Did you train your youngsters music, was that part of your loved ones life?
Johnny: Oh no, I’m the one nut within the household.
Matt: Let’s discuss a bit about a few of the different belongings you get pleasure from moreover music. You talked about fishing, is that one thing you grew up doing, being open air…?
Johnny: You recognize, I love individuals which are devoted to 1 factor. I love them, however I don’t envy them. I had different issues like flying airplanes. Proper after the conflict, I began flying once more and obtained my teacher’s score, was educating flying, which carried on to single- and multi-engine for over forty years. You recognize, working that in to all the pieces else I did. I ended up with a, what they name an ATP, and that’s an Airline Transport Pilot’s license. That’s what all captains have, and fishing, I all the time liked fishing as a younger child. Once I obtained out right here, after all, fantastic fishing up within the mountains. In 1965, I all the time needed to fish for large fish, and so I purchased this sixteen-foot boat. It seemed huge on the trailer. So my spouse and I went all the way down to Mazatlan, let’s see if I’ve, oh yeah, there’s an image (takes out an image of him laying out a swordfish the scale of his sixteen-foot boat). Went to Mazatlan with this sixteen-foot boat, ended up thirty, thirty-five miles out within the Pacific Ocean fishing for large fish. There’s the sixteen-foot boat and a marlin. We fished there for six years or so each winter. Then I, a few of the guys got here to me and requested me if I might fly them all the way down to Baja and naturally I stated sure, and that began 1971. With out lacking a yr this might be my 37th yr in a row. Matt: And you continue to fly down by your self? Johnny: No, they don’t have a strip anymore. In addition to, it’s good to take a seat again and have a Bloody Mary and let the blokes within the entrance fear concerning the climate, you already know. I’m on the brink of go. I am going twice a yr. It’s down on the tip of Baja; it’s the identical place. So I’m on the brink of go subsequent month.
Matt: And what do you fish for down there, swordfish…?
Johnny: Something, however usually it’s often for large Marlin, you already know, and Sailfish, and Dorado, which is Mahi-Mahi, Wahoo, after which in shore fish for actually a trophy fish, the Roosterfish. Very robust fish.
Matt: Do you fly fish round right here, or simply within the boat?
Johnny: I don’t get to fish a lot anymore, you already know, my spouse isn’t in the very best of well being.
Matt: I’m sorry to listen to that.
Johnny: We used to go as much as go to pals up within the lakes, however I don’t do this a lot anymore.
Matt: Whenever you have been flying, did you may have a airplane that was right here, or what did you utilize?
Johnny: Oh yeah, effectively I had entry to completely different planes which I instructed in. Like Cessna’s and different planes, Cessna 310, Hyper Seneca’s. These have been multi-engine, then I used to be half proprietor of a few Seashore Craft Bonanzas V-35, after which I used to be the half proprietor of an A-36, that I did most of it, the opposite guys didn’t. I used that to go to completely different schools, out on the West Coast.
Matt: Oh, so if you went to performances, you flew your self?
Johnny: Yeah.
Matt: Would you may have been a pilot in case you had had a selection? Like, as a profession is that what you had needed to be?
Johnny: If I had flown within the service and had I survived, a few of my pals didn’t, had I survived, I might have made flying my profession. I wouldn’t have been a guitar participant.
Matt: Whenever you look again over your life what are you actually pleased with?
Johnny: Being alive, I suppose. Effectively, I’m kinda, with music, I’m by no means glad, and I can’t stand to hearken to something of mine. However I used to be fairly glad with flying, and I went proper to the highest. With fishing, I’m glad as a result of I obtained to catch my very own huge fish by myself little boat. I like, I like the outside, the wilderness. For a few years, I used to go over to Gunderson, my buddy had a ranch, 35,000 acres, and we might take horses up twenty-nine miles to this outdated cow camp, and we used to hunt for elk and deer.
Matt: So that you hunted in addition to fished, you have been a hunter all your life as effectively?
Johnny: Pardon?
Matt: Did you hunt your complete life…?
Johnny: Oh, no, simply once I obtained out right here in 1958.
Matt: Did your father fish or hunt if you have been a child? Johnny: Oh yeah, I grew up in Portland, Maine, and my dad used to take us out fishing, you already know. Largely from the financial institution.
Matt: Whenever you have a look at the guitar, if you conceive the guitar do you conceive it this fashion (horizontally), or this fashion (vertically), or each?
Johnny: Effectively, like I say I used to be influenced by the piano that would go from one finish of the keyboard to the opposite. So I believed I may do this. Once I have a look at the guitar, I don’t have a look at it as a guitar as such; I have a look at it as a musical instrument.
Matt: What about guitarists now? Is there anybody you prefer to hearken to?
Johnny: Oh, there’s some very wonderful younger gamers, Howard Alden, Jack Wilkins, Jimmy Bruno.
Matt: As you form of grew up musically with all these gamers, with all these kinds of music, was there any music you took the time to essentially research rigorously?
Johnny: Effectively, once I was younger, again earlier than World Warfare II, after all I worshiped Django, I’d save up my nickels and purchase each file that got here out, you already know, 78’s. And I put these on my of us’ Grafonova, and I may get about 5 performs earlier than the needle would put on via the file. However in 5 performs, I may copy the entire thing on my guitar. Simply earlier than the conflict, I used to hearken to Les Paul when he was with the Pennsylvanians at some form of supper membership. I neglect the title of this system, however Les was featured along with his trio with Jimmy Atkins, my very expensive buddy. As a matter of truth, I had lunch Wednesday with Gary Atkins, Jimmy Atkins’ son, Chet Atkins’ nephew, who comes down from Fort Collins as soon as a month for lunch.
Matt: That’s nice. How about some classical guys, did you ever research Bach…?
Johnny: Effectively, like I say, all completely different sorts of music, after all, Bach…
Matt: Did you ever discover ways to play the piano?
Johnny: I performed just a little piano, nevertheless it’s simply primary music you already know. Like I say, voicings, maintain, phrasing
Matt: I recognize you taking the trip of your day to speak to me. It is a actual deal with for me.
Johnny: It’s my pleasure.
Matt: You’ve been an enormous affect to lots of people together with myself, so thanks.
Johnny: Effectively, at the least I’ve been in a position to present guitarists what to not do! I’m very honored.