G.E Smith 101

HoodieMcFoodie · June 5th, 2008, 11:15 AM

Hi everyone!

Can someone please give me the low down on G E Smith? Who is he and why does he deserve a signature tele? I tried looking him up on Wikipedia but no luck.

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm Australian

Hoodie

doster · June 5th, 2008, 11:21 AM

G.E.Smith is a well regarded sideman who's played with David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Hall and Oates and might be best known as bandleader at Saturday Night Live during the 80's and 90's.
Here's a couple links to help you out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.E._Smith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnQYoRYedF0

I lust after one of his signature models, they are highly regarded here.

ghosttour · June 5th, 2008, 11:22 AM

He played with Hall and Oates; he was also the guitarist for the Saturday Night Live house band for a number of years. I'm sure he's done studio/tour work as well.

http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0118202867

allen st. john · June 5th, 2008, 11:23 AM

He's most famous for being musical director of Saturday Night Live during the 1980s when the show was near its peak of popularity and featured musical guests like the Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello every week.

He's toured with Bob Dylan among many others.

Here's the link on Wikipedia, and he's also got his own website.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.E._Smith

The general sense is that GE's a good guy, a good musician, an important figure and he's paid his dues. I don't think too many think he doesn't deserve a sig model.

FWIW, it took me like 8 seconds to google this. Maybe electrons run slower in the southern hemisphere.

HoodieMcFoodie · June 5th, 2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allen st. john

FWIW, it took me like 8 seconds to google this. Maybe electrons run slower in the southern hemisphere.

Not slower, but they do run in the opposite direction.

The reason I asked here instead of the research monkeys at Google is that I value your opinions more than some annonymous web page. Plus there's been a lot of threads here recently about the sig. model, so what better place to ask.

FirstBassman · June 5th, 2008, 12:48 PM

Googling GE Smith brings back over five million hits in less than two seconds.

kingnimrod · June 5th, 2008, 01:14 PM

you should do a google search for:

"most annoying mugging for the camera leading up to a commercial break"

seriously, the way this guy played up to the camera really put me off. Playing aside, I just get the creeps when I think about him.

The Vandals wrote a song about him:

The city council met last night the vote was one to six
Denying access to our town by TV's "G.E. Smith"
The Mayor cited nightmares had by his daughter Eileen
She dreamed that ugly @&*#!'s face popped out the friggin' screen
They said no, they said no way.
Not in my Back yard he can not stay
That eyesore is a stain upon our nation
If you think he's livin' by me there's no way
G.E. felt the set back but refusing to surrender
He bought a house disguised as the guitarist of the Pretenders
But at the party we like to throw for new homeowners
we caught him when he couldn't play the lead from "Tattooed Love Boys"
They said no, they said no way.
Not in my Back yard he can not stay
That eyesore is a stain upon our nation
If you think he's livin' by me there's no way
A man has got the right to homestead anywhere he can
but that just begs the question, What exactly is a man?
Blond Frankenstein with Dutchboy hair would hardly qualify
So we must live free of this Hall & Oats reject or die
They said no, they said no way.
Not in my Back yard he can not stay
That eyesore is a stain upon our nation
If you think he's livin' by me there's no way

ThreePlyGuy · June 5th, 2008, 01:27 PM

Wasn't he mr. Gilda Radner as well? Damn good player I think.

Tele295 · June 5th, 2008, 02:16 PM

His two websites
http://www.gesmith.com/
http://www.myspace.com/gesmithmusic

and that label for his recordings and those of his wife Taylor Barton
http://www.greenmirror.com

boneyguy · June 5th, 2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreePlyGuy

Wasn't he mr. Gilda Radner as well? Damn good player I think.

That was Gene Wilder.

RevMike · June 5th, 2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneyguy

That was Gene Wilder.

Gilda dumped GE for Gene Wilder.

GE was a big influence on me. Cool guy, monster guitarist.

Theusla · June 5th, 2008, 02:43 PM

I was put off by his mugging for the camera also. He seemed like a arrogant jerk. But, having seen some of his interview videos lately, he seems like a pretty cool laid back guy.

ajgus · June 5th, 2008, 02:49 PM

Aside from everything mentioned above, George Edward Smith is a HUGE Telecaster fan & collector. When you watch his Fender video promoting his signature model, you can see the love & passion that he has for the Tele & its rich history. He talks about them like a little kid recounting his trip to the circus. I feel that he is very deserving of his own model. The funny thing is that despite his love & respect for the instrument, he actually designed a very unorthodox Tele- with its half bridge, body mounted pup & lap steel inlays. Go figure.

Telehackster · June 5th, 2008, 03:17 PM

What's wrong with "mugging for the camera" when the camera is focused on you already, it's a TV show, you're bandleader and entertainer? Seems to me that the man was doing his job.

geddins · June 5th, 2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoodieMcFoodie

Not slower, but they do run in the opposite direction.

The reason I asked here instead of the research monkeys at Google is that I value your opinions more than some annonymous web page. Plus there's been a lot of threads here recently about the sig. model, so what better place to ask.

You make a great point....the GE Smith sig has gotten a lot of run here lately and you would think this would be a GREAT place to ask questions....and it is. Don't sweat it...so...are you thinking of getting a GE sig? I think they are cool looking, but haven't played one yet. But I'm wanting to.

bruce · June 5th, 2008, 03:34 PM

I used to love watching him to see which of those beautiful vintage guitars he was going to play next.

I think he was married to Gilda, but briefly. I saw a bio on her years ago, and I think it said they remained good friends til the end. Mugging aside, the guy could/can play.

FirstBassman · June 5th, 2008, 04:45 PM

RE: Gilda Radner

I thought this was common knowledge by now but I guess not.
Radner did a one woman show on Broadway in 1979. She met GE, who worked on the music for the show. They were married from 1980 to '82.

From his involvement on Radner's show, GE got the gig to be SNL's band leader.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

RE: GE 101

As I have mentioned, I have spent several hours with GE over the past few years. As far as I can tell, he is an honest fan and student of blues and roots music and also somewhat of a gear head as well as a cigar smoker.
He is a cordial, patient and considerate interlocutor and instructor.

And, he is one freakin' amazing kick-ass guitar player.

(He also plays banjo and mandolin and probably some other things as well.)

greggorypeccary · June 5th, 2008, 07:39 PM

+1 on all counts FirstBassman!

Mugging for the camera? Maybe, but he looks that way even when no cameras are around.

Arrogant jerk? DEFINITELY NOT, farthest thing from it.

He taught me a thing or two. Here he is with the prototype Tele, a week after this picture was taken I had my 52RI!

klasaine · June 5th, 2008, 10:20 PM

With Hall and Oates he played one of the coolest 16 bars in pop/rock history - IMHO of course - the "Kiss On My List" solo.

Michael · June 6th, 2008, 12:37 PM

... pick up "Get A Little" by G. E. Smith and The Saturday Night Live Band. I haven't listened to it for a while, but it's a great record. As a matter of fact, I'm going to be on the road today, and I will be digging it out for the ride. I loved him on SNL; I only wish I'd have been able to get the direct feed signal of the broadcast so I could have watched the band's full performances when they went to commercial. They were great, and I loved his playing, tone, and of course his guitars.

BrianF · June 6th, 2008, 12:51 PM

I always enjoyed watching him play all those cool guitars on SNL and he did seem to pull out some unique cool licks every time.

mickeydean · June 6th, 2008, 01:07 PM

his tone is always perfect.

Steve McGinnis · June 6th, 2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telehackster

What's wrong with "mugging for the camera" when the camera is focused on you already, it's a TV show, you're bandleader and entertainer? Seems to me that the man was doing his job.

+1

HoodieMcFoodie · June 7th, 2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geddins

so...are you thinking of getting a GE sig? I think they are cool looking, but haven't played one yet. But I'm wanting to.

No not at all, I'm just curious as to who he is.

We don't get SNL downunder (though I've heard of it) but we do get David Letterman, who to my mind has a passing resembelence to GE Smith...

tiktok · June 7th, 2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telehackster

What's wrong with "mugging for the camera" when the camera is focused on you already, it's a TV show,

June 5th, 2008, 11:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
HoodieMcFoodie Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 46 Posts: 189	G.E Smith 101 Hi everyone! Can someone please give me the low down on G E Smith? Who is he and why does he deserve a signature tele? I tried looking him up on Wikipedia but no luck. Forgive my ignorance, but I'm Australian Hoodie

June 5th, 2008, 11:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
doster Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 316	G.E.Smith is a well regarded sideman who's played with David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Hall and Oates and might be best known as bandleader at Saturday Night Live during the 80's and 90's. Here's a couple links to help you out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.E._Smith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnQYoRYedF0 I lust after one of his signature models, they are highly regarded here. __________________ “You don't find a style, ... a style finds you.” Keith Richards

June 5th, 2008, 11:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
ghosttour Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 36 Posts: 473 6 Photos	He played with Hall and Oates; he was also the guitarist for the Saturday Night Live house band for a number of years. I'm sure he's done studio/tour work as well. http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0118202867 __________________ www.myspace.com/brasssaddles

June 5th, 2008, 01:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
ThreePlyGuy Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern California/Arizona Age: 60 Posts: 389	Wasn't he mr. Gilda Radner as well? Damn good player I think. __________________ Good luck with your projects!

June 5th, 2008, 02:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haunted Amp, CA Posts: 3,380 14 Photos	His two websites http://www.gesmith.com/ http://www.myspace.com/gesmithmusic and that label for his recordings and those of his wife Taylor Barton http://www.greenmirror.com __________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

June 5th, 2008, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
allen st. john Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 720	He's most famous for being musical director of Saturday Night Live during the 1980s when the show was near its peak of popularity and featured musical guests like the Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello every week. He's toured with Bob Dylan among many others. Here's the link on Wikipedia, and he's also got his own website. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.E._Smith The general sense is that GE's a good guy, a good musician, an important figure and he's paid his dues. I don't think too many think he doesn't deserve a sig model. FWIW, it took me like 8 seconds to google this. Maybe electrons run slower in the southern hemisphere.

June 5th, 2008, 12:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
FirstBassman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,346	Googling GE Smith brings back over five million hits in less than two seconds.

June 5th, 2008, 01:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
kingnimrod Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Montana Sacra Posts: 467 55 Photos	you should do a google search for: "most annoying mugging for the camera leading up to a commercial break" seriously, the way this guy played up to the camera really put me off. Playing aside, I just get the creeps when I think about him. The Vandals wrote a song about him: The city council met last night the vote was one to six Denying access to our town by TV's "G.E. Smith" The Mayor cited nightmares had by his daughter Eileen She dreamed that ugly @&*#!'s face popped out the friggin' screen They said no, they said no way. Not in my Back yard he can not stay That eyesore is a stain upon our nation If you think he's livin' by me there's no way G.E. felt the set back but refusing to surrender He bought a house disguised as the guitarist of the Pretenders But at the party we like to throw for new homeowners we caught him when he couldn't play the lead from "Tattooed Love Boys" They said no, they said no way. Not in my Back yard he can not stay That eyesore is a stain upon our nation If you think he's livin' by me there's no way A man has got the right to homestead anywhere he can but that just begs the question, What exactly is a man? Blond Frankenstein with Dutchboy hair would hardly qualify So we must live free of this Hall & Oats reject or die They said no, they said no way. Not in my Back yard he can not stay That eyesore is a stain upon our nation If you think he's livin' by me there's no way

June 5th, 2008, 02:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
Theusla Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Age: 51 Posts: 188	I was put off by his mugging for the camera also. He seemed like a arrogant jerk. But, having seen some of his interview videos lately, he seems like a pretty cool laid back guy. __________________ The number of people staring at you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions.

June 5th, 2008, 02:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 2,264	Aside from everything mentioned above, George Edward Smith is a HUGE Telecaster fan & collector. When you watch his Fender video promoting his signature model, you can see the love & passion that he has for the Tele & its rich history. He talks about them like a little kid recounting his trip to the circus. I feel that he is very deserving of his own model. The funny thing is that despite his love & respect for the instrument, he actually designed a very unorthodox Tele- with its half bridge, body mounted pup & lap steel inlays. Go figure. __________________ "I'm still married to my first wife...and that's my first guitar...she don't talk back to me, she talks for me..." -Stevie ray Vaughan

June 5th, 2008, 03:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
Telehackster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas, USA Age: 42 Posts: 1,023	What's wrong with "mugging for the camera" when the camera is focused on you already, it's a TV show, you're bandleader and entertainer? Seems to me that the man was doing his job.

June 5th, 2008, 03:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
bruce Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 132	I used to love watching him to see which of those beautiful vintage guitars he was going to play next. I think he was married to Gilda, but briefly. I saw a bio on her years ago, and I think it said they remained good friends til the end. Mugging aside, the guy could/can play.

June 5th, 2008, 04:45 PM	#17 (permalink)
FirstBassman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,346	RE: Gilda Radner I thought this was common knowledge by now but I guess not. Radner did a one woman show on Broadway in 1979. She met GE, who worked on the music for the show. They were married from 1980 to '82. From his involvement on Radner's show, GE got the gig to be SNL's band leader. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - RE: GE 101 As I have mentioned, I have spent several hours with GE over the past few years. As far as I can tell, he is an honest fan and student of blues and roots music and also somewhat of a gear head as well as a cigar smoker. He is a cordial, patient and considerate interlocutor and instructor. And, he is one freakin' amazing kick-ass guitar player. (He also plays banjo and mandolin and probably some other things as well.)

June 5th, 2008, 07:39 PM	#18 (permalink)
greggorypeccary Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 812 31 Photos	+1 on all counts FirstBassman! Mugging for the camera? Maybe, but he looks that way even when no cameras are around. Arrogant jerk? DEFINITELY NOT, farthest thing from it. He taught me a thing or two. Here he is with the prototype Tele, a week after this picture was taken I had my 52RI! __________________ I got the rockin' pneumonia, I need a shot of rhythm and blues! http://www.myspace.com/javablue

June 5th, 2008, 10:20 PM	#19 (permalink)
klasaine Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: los angeles, ca Age: 46 Posts: 1,468 11 Photos	With Hall and Oates he played one of the coolest 16 bars in pop/rock history - IMHO of course - the "Kiss On My List" solo.

June 6th, 2008, 12:37 PM	#20 (permalink)
Michael Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Sunny Side of the Street Posts: 532	All the other stuff aside, ... ... pick up "Get A Little" by G. E. Smith and The Saturday Night Live Band. I haven't listened to it for a while, but it's a great record. As a matter of fact, I'm going to be on the road today, and I will be digging it out for the ride. I loved him on SNL; I only wish I'd have been able to get the direct feed signal of the broadcast so I could have watched the band's full performances when they went to commercial. They were great, and I loved his playing, tone, and of course his guitars. __________________ "Help thy brother's boat across, and lo! Thine own has reached the shore".

June 6th, 2008, 12:51 PM	#21 (permalink)
BrianF Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Carlsbad, Ca Posts: 2,154 7 Photos	I always enjoyed watching him play all those cool guitars on SNL and he did seem to pull out some unique cool licks every time.

June 6th, 2008, 01:07 PM	#22 (permalink)
mickeydean Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: millersville Age: 54 Posts: 305	his tone is always perfect.