G.E. Smith

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Most of the world knows G.E. Smith as the pony-tailed guitar player from his 10-year bandleader roll on Saturday Night Live. He has performed with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Hall and Oates, Eric Clapton and David Bowie, just to name a few. George was born in Stroudsburg, Pa., where he began playing guitar at the ripe old age of four. He began playing out live himself at high school dances and Poconos resorts, often with musicians twice his age.

G.E. moved to New Haven, Conn. and became the lead guitarist for the Scratch Band. This was his first foray into professional touring. During the 70’s, The Scratch band played colleges and club all throughout the East. Dan Hartman hired Smith to front his band for a lip-synch tour of Europe and the U.S

When George returned to the USA, he landed in Manhattan and became the guitarist for Gilda Radner's 1979 Broadway show "Gilda Live." They became friends and married.

Smith's luck changed in the late 70’s when he was asked to join Hall and Oates. He stayed with them for six years. With Hall & Oates George recorded hits like Kiss On My List, Private Eyes and Man Eater, they never stopped touring. They once toured the summer in the northern hemisphere followed by a summer tour in the southern.

In early 1985 at the "Live Aid" and "Farm Aid" concerts, Hall and Oates band became the house band for these events and G.E. was became the music director. He played with Jagger, Turner and whoever else didn't have a band. Jagger then asked used Smith on his first solo album She's the Boss and also Primitive Cool.

When Hall and Oates took stopped touring, G.E. was offered the job of "Saturday Night Live" music. He won an Emmy for his work with the SNL band. George was able to live out his fantasies by performing with an incredible list of guest musicians. These included Keith Richards, Al Green, Rickie Lee Jones, Brian Ferry, Eddie Van Halen, Johnny Winter, David Gilmour, Lonnie Mack, Dave Edmunds and Buddy Guy.

G.E. Smith and the SNL band backed Buddy Guy on an album which lead to a Grammy-nominated live album.

George began a small label with singer/songwriter Taylor Barton who he became friends with and is now married to and performs with her along with former Scratch Band bassist and SNL alumnus Paul Ossola, former Wings drummer Steve Holley and guitarist Tom Cosgrove.

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