jaxson50 Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 He was as good as it gets, I had the great privilege of meeting him in 1970, https://youtu.be/mQHRPC81DDg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted January 25, 2020 Author Share Posted January 25, 2020 I doubt there are many Bing Crosby fans Here, but Johnny toured with him, this is the only video of Johnny playi g a full concert. His are comps are just awesome https://youtu.be/fhmYE5kDaTQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Oh yes. Now almost forgotten but an influence on Wes and many more. Stupendous chord melody..... You met him in '70? 50 years ago now!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Johnny Smith was an incredible player. I play 'What are you doing for the rest of your life' often, but not to his level! The Joe Pass version is excellent too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted January 26, 2020 Author Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) I had not realized that Johnny wrote Walk Don't Run, Recorded in 1952, looks like an Epi! Edited January 26, 2020 by jaxson50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 14 hours ago, jaxson50 said: I doubt there are many Bing Crosby fans Here, but Johnny toured with him, this is the only video of Johnny playi g a full concert. His are comps are just awesome https://youtu.be/fhmYE5kDaTQ He sang Par-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum with Bowie. He has a great distinct voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 8 hours ago, jaxson50 said: I had not realized that Johnny wrote Walk Don't Run, Recorded in 1952, looks like an Epi! KIller. That tune is awesome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 I first was introduced to Johnny Smith when a guitarist friend of mine played an LP called "Moonlight In Vermont" that also featured my favorite sax player, Stan Getz. The guitar and sax work were both incredible. Great player from the past that should not be forgotten. Notes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 I'm sorry to say I haven't heard of Johnny Smith, he sounds very Barney Kessel to me. Bing Crosby is the sound of my childhood my parents loved him, I don't think he looks well in this clip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Saw a 1964 Gibson Johnny Smith sunburst selling for $15,000 (marked down from $17,000) on Reverb. It's a hybrid and shares features of an L-5 and Super 400. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 4 hours ago, zigzag said: Saw a 1964 Gibson Johnny Smith sunburst selling for $15,000 (marked down from $17,000) on Reverb. It's a hybrid and shares features of an L-5 and Super 400. They are beautiful looking guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) 8 hours ago, Notes_Norton said: I Great player from the past that should not be forgotten. There are a few that shouldn't be forgotten, but it seems only a small collective of music connoisseurs would know these musicians. I'm 36 and can guarantee most people I know (even musicians) would not know who Johnny Smith was sadly. I first heard of him years ago, but because of his signature Gibson model and not his playing. It was only after that I started listening to his playing. Edited January 26, 2020 by cody78 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 And don’t forget about the Guild Johnny Smith Award model that later was renamed the Artist Award. A former neighbor of mine grew up in Colorado Springs, where Smith had relocated & opened a music store after deciding to quit the New York scene. One evening after she heard me playing next door, she told me her dad played guitar & had been friends with Johnny Smith. She asked if I’d ever heard of him, and I said indeed I had! She said he sometimes would come over to their house & play guitar with her dad, and my playing had fondly reminded her of those times during her childhood. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted January 27, 2020 Author Share Posted January 27, 2020 (edited) Here's a picture of him with the Guild Signature https://youtu.be/ISr8qJeWct4 Edited January 27, 2020 by jaxson50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 (edited) I have a transcription of this - beautiful arrangement, amazing chord stretches! Here you can see the fretboard as this guy plays it on a Gibson Johnny Smith archtop: Edited January 27, 2020 by jdgm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 I love the way he worked octaves into the melodic lead 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Sweet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted February 2, 2020 Author Share Posted February 2, 2020 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted February 2, 2020 Author Share Posted February 2, 2020 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 These transcriptions are really great, thanks for posting. I will attempt them at some point. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenielSetuplet Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Johnny Smith was an incredible player. I like him so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitefang Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 On 1/26/2020 at 8:40 AM, Sgt. Pepper said: He sang Par-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum with Bowie. He has a great distinct voice. But, it wasn't Smith who sang with Bowie. Or did you forget WHO this thread was about? And FRETPLAY, Crosby probably didn't look too well in that clip because according to that clip the performance was in 1977, the same year Crosby died. And sho' 'nuff Smith was an outstanding guitarist. And I wouldn't mind having that D'Angelico he's pickin' in that first clip. Whitefang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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