Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
What people will get are 10 original cuts showcasing a young talent too good to be put on the back shelves of the blues industry in general. "10 Miles To Clarksdale" with its long acoustic intro jams into a real juke joint shuffle you can only get from the edge of the Dockery Plantation. "Home" synthesizes the playing of Stevie Ray, Tab Benoit and Alvin Lee into a Beale Street dance fest. Small wonder that the Kirk Smithhart band were the 3rd place winners in the International Blues Talent Competition. And an Albert King Award is another feather in the hat. Particularly when Kirk acknowledges King in the slow sermon of "These Blues Won't Leave Me Alone." The kid can also play a pretty mean slide as he trys to compete with maybe George Thorogood in "Slide Baby."
Smithhart does conscientiously avoid becoming another Stevie Ray wannabe. Even "Cold To The Bone" that waves the Vaughn flag still bears Kirk's imprint of Memphis rock and blues. - Gary Weeks/ SOUTHWEST BLUES MAGAZINE
Kicking things off was local axman Kirk Smithhart, who took away the prestigious Albert King award for best guitarist at the Blues Foundation's International Blues Talent Competition (now the International Blues Challenge).
He deserves the award now more than ever. In full command of his instrument, Smithhart was, yes, electrifying. Meet the next blues-rock boogie king from Memphis, one whose sophisticated, at times jazzy, six-string phrasing was more Albert Lee than Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Smithhart's voice, which sounded like a young Greg Allman, equally impressed.
- Bill Ellis: 529-2517
( Memphis In May/ Beale Street Music Festival review)
- The Commerical Appeal/Memphis, Tn
from B.B. Kings, the Kirk Smithhart Band, an international Blues Challenge winner. This group brings a great mix of Blues - Rock reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton and Duane Allman. by Trina Bell - The Dunklin Democrat
Discography
CD: "SO LONG"
CD: "BETTER DAYS"
Kirk's 3rd self released CD will be out this summer!
Radio air play from stations in Memphis, including the #1 classic rock station, ROCK 103, 97.1 and others. KINK FM102 Sunday night Blues in Portland, Oregon has played cuts from "SO LONG"
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Born in Memphis, raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Kirk, 26, is a self-taught musician who began playing guitar and writing songs at age 8.
As a student at the University of Memphis, Kirk started a band and promptly won the Beale Street Blues Society's talent contest to represent the Society in the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge. Kirk won 3rd place overall and was awarded the "ALBERT KING AWARD" for Most Promising Guitarist. He made his first CD shortly after that.
After the Blues Challenge, Kirk began performing on Beale Street, at BB Kings, Rum Boogie, The Blues Hall and others.
Some of Kirk's accomplishments include:
Featured twice on The Blues Foundation's BEALE STREET CARAVAN radio show, which is broadcast worldwide. Has been featured on Memphis radio doing live interviews and receiving airplay.
He has recently been featured on Memphis television including, Channel 3's LIVE at 9, and FOX 13's GOOD MORNING MEMPHIS.
Nominated for BEST NEWCOMER (The Sam Phillips Award) by Memphis chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Kirk often performs for charity events, such as The Ronald McDonald House- St Jude's, The Make a Wish Foundation, MS Society and others.
A popular performer, with back to back appearances in the nationally recognized Beale Street Music Festival/Memphis In May.
Kirk performed 3 shows last year at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, and will be back again this year with 5 shows.
Musical influences: Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hank Williams Jr., Eric Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Monte Montgomery
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