Steve Smith and The Sneakers

After months and months of writing, creating, scrutinizing, mixing, and remixing to perfection, Steve Smith and the Sneakers are finally releasing their much awaited CD entitled “Hoodoo Man”! As I am writing this, I have only heard the cuts they shared on their “my space” page, and I can’t wait until the March 28th CD Release Party at Harlow’s to get the full CD. It contains both of my all-time Sneakers favorites “Lipstick and Lace” and “Small Price to Play for the Blues”. These two tunes rival any ballad you have ever heard on the radio, and I hope this CD somehow travels that elusive and mysterious path that leads to the right ear, touches the right heart, at the right time to send it soaring to national exposure. Meanwhile, the Sneakers qualify as an Ozark’s Treasure, so if you have not been out to see this band, you need to. Not only are they talented, versatile, and entertaining; they are known for establishing an immediate connection with their audience, relentless attempts (kidding!) at humor, and the ability to create a party wherever they go. Obviously I am what they call a “sneakette”; and you should be too!
Check out the caliber of these musicians, and listen to some cuts from “Hoodoo Man” at www.myspace.com/stevesmithandthesneakers . The Sneakers are:
Steve Smith, who began his musical career as a front man at the age of 13. He started playing piano at 21. He is a veteran road musician and published songwriter who has toured extensively throughout U.S. for the past 43 years. The press has called Steve “The man with too much soul to control.” Steve is a master showman who believes everybody ought to have a little more fun. He learned about that at a young age watching Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Sam and Dave. His stage presence, powerful vocals and colorful keyboard style have been the centerpiece for many well know local and regional bands such as Zap, Head Over Heels, Landslide, Funkenstein, OzConn, Regarding Dan, The Painter Smith Band, Loon Rangers, and The Bluesberries. Steve has worked with or opened for many major recording artists such as The Doobie Brothers, Jethro Tull, B.B. King, Hall and Oats, Asleep at The Wheel, The Raspberries, Big Star, Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, Rare Earth, Foghat, John Prine, and The Amazing Rhythm Aces. Steve is a master showman who won’t take no for an answer when it comes to getting the house up and rockin!
Dave Painter, born and raised in Mokane, MO in the Missouri river bottoms, started playing the guitar at the age of 9 and was performing at local fairs and schools from the age of 12. He is a graduate of the Southwest Missouri State University guitar department in Springfield, MO where he now resides. While in Springfield, Dave has played with several bands including the the“Bluesberries,”the “Loons,”and “Don Shipps and the Titanic Blues Band”. He is also currently playing with the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Dave has taught Guitar in Springfield for over 20 years and performed all over the Midwest. He is considered by peers and audiences alike to be one of the finest guitarist in the Midwest.
Rick Salvador began playing bass at the age of 10 and has been trading back and forth playing guitar and bass for nearly 40 years. He first studied music under the direction of his father, Springfield bassist A.B. (Sal) Salvador, who also played tuba in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. He studied music theory at Drury College in Springfield MO and has traveled with various groups playing in cities like Kansas City MO and Jupiter FL. Having spent many years concentrating on guitar and jazz theory, Rick now is focused on bass guitar and playing the blues.
Doug Ritter began his musical career very early in life when he joined the family at the age of 5 performing at the local Country Music shows. By the age of 13, Doug was playing drums in his Father’s band and by the age of 18 was already a veteran musician in the Springfield and Branson music scene. At 21, Doug left to find his own musical path. Over the next 20 years, he toured extensively in and the south including Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and Alabama. Doug has shared the stage with numerous country music stars such as George Jones, John Anderson, Dottie West as well as Blues artists Scott Ellison, Tinsley Ellis, Tommy Castro and Anthony Gomes. Doug is known for laying down a rock solid groove and is the heartbeat of the Sneakers. Doug and Rick combine to create a powerhouse rhythm section that you is guaranteed to move you.
Now that’s pretty impressive!! By the time you read this article, this smokin’ CD will be out, and every performance will be a celebration. Check out the Sneaker’s April schedule and be there to enjoy the live performance and pick up your CD. For those of you who live outside the Springfield area, you can contact me for information as to how to purchase this great new CD and see what a “Hoodoo Man” can do for you!

Kathy Lorts
BSO Public Relations - Blues Society of The Ozarks

Dave Painter, 2007 Don Shipps Artist of the Year, grew up in the tiny mid-central Missouri town of Mokane, MO. Saturday nights were an event at the Painter home as friends and relatives gathered to listen, play, and sing. At the age of 9, Painter played his first guitar (an acoustic one), was hooked, and couldn’t wait to play an electric guitar so he could, “bend strings” and create different sounds. Dave learned what he could from his older brother and cousin, getting his first paying gig at the age of 13 as a fill in drummer for a country
band who played on NYE and got paid for the first time. “I got $35, ironically,
about the same as I get some nights now, about 35 years later”, laughs Dave.
In 1977, Dave received a copy of the 1972 album, “The History of Eric Clapton”, and was hooked for life. The blues content in that album intrigued Painter, but it wasn’t until 1979 when he moved to Springfield, MO to attend Southwest MO State and met Tom Wittrock that he learned the history of the blues and about the true blues masters at the time such as Freddy King and Albert King. ”Tom owned Third Eye Music, the first music store I went to when I moved to Springfield. We ended up meeting later through mutual friends and eventually formed the first band I was ever in and became close friends,” says Painter.
In 1981, “Milestone” was formed along w/Bob Bledsoe and others and Painter’s career path had begun. “I never wanted to be a rock/blues star traveling around the country, I just wanted to be able to do what I loved, make a living doing so, and eventually be a family man.” He accomplished that in 1985 by marrying Marion, another musician/singer and having
two beautiful girls, Kim and Katie. “Milestone” lasted about two years and then split up.
In 1983, Tom Wittrock (the major blues factor in my life, according to Dave) asked him to join a band consisting
of Tom, Dave, Bob Bledsoe, and Dan Boyts and they called themselves, The Bluesberries.
Two things Painter learned and has never forgotten were that Tom Wittrock told him, “there is always someone younger
and a better guitar player out there” and from his college professor, Mike Madden, that you need to get more emotion
out of a song than just playing the notes. Words to live by that helped to form Painter’s passion w/playing, writing, and teaching students the art of actually playing guitar, not just notes. In ’83, Dave graduated with a degree in classical music from Southwest Missouri State.
In the late 90’s, Dave heard about a great bluesman around town by the name of Don Shipps. One night, Don called Dave and asked if he could fill in for a gig that night and their relationship was born. This happened frequently for a couple of years and they eventually formed a band along with Bill Brown and B.J.Rossi that came to an abrubt and tragic end with the sudden deaths of Don and Bill in a house fire on July 23, 2004.
“I really feel that I gained the respect of other musicians and people around town by playing with Don because Don was known for always having good players in his bands.”
Also during the ‘90s, Bill Brown, who was the guitar player for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, had resurrected a band called the Misstakes. There was a scheduling conflict with the Daredevils and the Misstakes booked on the same night so Bill asked Dave to fill in for him with the Daredevils. Dave filled the spot and after Bill’s tragic death in 2004, Dave became the lead guitar player in “the Daredevils” and remains so to this day.
Presently, Dave is involved in numerous
bands, including the Bluesberries, the Painter-Smith Band, Steve Smith & the Sneakers, The Unmistaken, and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. “I feel very fortunate
to have been able to make a living doing what I love to do. I’m playing music in a variety of bands, teaching students to play guitar, and I have the greatest wife and children any man could ask for!”
My feelings are there couldn’t be a more deserving winner of this award, this or any other year. When I went to see Don Shipps play, I never knew who he would be playing with that particular night; but I always knew it was going to be great music. Dave Painter has achieved that status,
and although no one can replace Don in Springfield’s blues music scene, Dave is doing his absolute best to keep the blues alive in the Ozarks.
Congratulations, Dave on your award! - Blues Society of The Ozarks