Event

Richard Smith - Finger Style Guitar Champion

Richard Smith performs at Studio Bob in Port Angeles on Tuesday, May 24th, 7pm. His repertoire includes a wide range of styles from country, bluegrass and folk to jazz, pop and classical music. It's an amazing range and a virtuoso solo performance. Tickets will be available at door deom 6pm evening of show, cash or check payments accepted.

His flawless technique, quickly switching between fingerpicking and flatpicking, has not only earned him the admiration of his peers. Upon his only participation Smith won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. The National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame named him Thumbpicker of the Year in 2008 and inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 2009. Smith also received the Golden Thumbpick Award by the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists.

Born in Beckenham, England. He picked up the guitar when he was five years old, after watching his father playing an Atkins and Travis version of Down South Blues. Smith soon became a child prodigy on the guitar. At the age of 11 he finally shared the stage with his idol, when Chet Atkins invited Smith to play together with him at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. Richard performed with the Richard Smith Guitar Trio before marrying American cellist Julie Adams and moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. There he founded the Hot Club of Nashville, a jam band with a varying lineup, including high-profile session players such as John Jorgenson, Pat Bergeson, Bryan Sutton and Stuart Duncan, combining the European and American traditions of Gypsy Jazz and Western Swing. Smith performs as a solo act.