Music
Press
Railroad songs, mixed with bluegrass, will fill the exhibit area at the Depot railroad museum------After high school, Smoak headed to Nashville and soon found himselfpicking banjo for Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, performing regularly at the Grand Ole Opry.---------Smoak's music abilities opened doors to many stage and television appearances. In 1961, Smoak formed the Louisiana Honeydrippers, recording two albums.---- - The Salem Leader
Banjoist Jim Smoak of Pekin and the LA Honeydrippers thrilled a capacity crowd that filled the main display area at The Depot during the annual Christmas open house Sunday. Dec. 7th.
This was the third Christmas open house in which had performed. Following last year's packed house, word was out and fans were waiting for him when he arrived at The Depot shortly before the doors opened.
( More can be found at salemdepot.com on Track Talk News ). - salemdepot.com
"For three hours during The Depot's Christmas open house Sunday, Dec. 2, Jim Smoak and the LA Honeydrippers entertained a capacity audience with bluegrass favorites.
" 'This show far exceeded the expecations of the many who packed The Depot's main exibit area,' said Cecil J. Smith, volunteer stationmaster."----
"People started arriving long before the advertised starting time and even though the audience rotated, many stayed the entire time."--- - Wash. Co. His. So Newsletter
Discography
Bayou Bluegrass: Jim Smoak and the Louisiana Honeydrippers (Folk Lyric-1961; Arhoolie-1972 &2002)
Louisiana Bluegrass: Jim Smoak and the Louisiana Honeydrippers (Prestige International-1961)
Bridging The Gap: The Cumberlands (Copper Creek-2003)
Carolina Boy: Jim Smoak (Copper Creek-2004)
The Orange Blossom Special: Jim Smoak (Round O Records-2007)
Photos
Bio
Jim learned to play the banjo as a child from his father, mother, and grandfather in South Carolina.
His Musical career began at WROL radio in Knoxville, Tennessee on the Cas Walker radio show. Moving on from there, he went to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry playing with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys and with Little Jimmy Dickins and the Country Boys, on radio, television and travel. Jim played with Arthur "guitar boogie" Smith and his Crackerjacks (the Duelin' Banjo man). After a stint in the U.S. Army. he's back in Nashville with Hylo Brown and The Timberliners. Jim is on Decca Records with Bill Monroe; on Capitol Records and Copper Creek Records with Hylo Brown; and on MGM Records with Arthur Smith. He began recording under his own name in 1961.
Jim began writing his own music and songs when he was a member of a folk group called the Cumberlands.
(www.jimsmoak.net)
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