Roy Smeck – Ukulele, Hawaiian Steel-Guitar, Banjo – The Wizard of the Strings

Some days ago I have listened to a radio show with historical recordings, a show that did especially include a set of recordings by Roy Smeck – The Wizard of the Strings. Two pieces recorded in 1928 were followed by an interesting set of live recordings from 1977 .  Maybe my favorite song from this radio show  is I want my momma in which Roy Smeck makes his steel-guitar talk.

This is the complete list of songs form this radio show:

Roy Smeck – ukulele ; Henri Klickmann – piano 12th Street rag Needle Type disc N-138 1928
Roy Smeck – octachorda ; Carson Robison – guitar Twilight echoes Needle Type disc N-136 1928
Roy Smeck – electric Hawaiian guitar ; John Goodman – guitar Third man theme live at ENHS 1977
Roy Smeck – electric Hawaiian guitar ; John Goodman – guitar I want my momma live at ENHS 1977
Roy Smeck – ukulele Tea for two live at ENHS 1977
Roy Smeck – ukulele I want to be happy live at ENHS 1977
Roy Smeck – ukulele & harmonica Ragtime medley live at ENHS 1977

You can listen to the Radio Show at: http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/8210

(needs Media Player Classic to play)

Roy Smack was one of the super stars of the 1920s and 1930s. He took part in the very first movies with sound recording, and he also was one of the first to use some multi track recording techniques. This can be seen in the following video where Roy Smeck plays four different instruments:

Another great movie shows Roy Smeck’s imitation of “Bill Robinson’s Tap and Stair Dance”. Roy Smeck uses his ukuulele as a fantastic drum set replacement.

Roy Smeck could play the ukulele and the harmonica at the same time, and without any device to hold the harmonica. He just holds the harmonica with his lips and plays it – you can see this in the following video after ca. 4:40.

I have collected the most interesting videos with Roy Smeck in the following playlist! Have fun with Roy Smeck!

Playlist Roy Smeck

Additional Information

Wikipedia about Roy Smack: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Smeck

Biography at ukediner: http://ukediner.ukulele.org/roybio.html

Biography at spaceagepop: http://www.spaceagepop.com/smeck.htm

Roy Smeck signature instruments by Harmony: http://harmony.demont.net/roysmeck.php

Gibson Roy Smeck Guitars: http://home.provide.net/~cfh/roy.html


Ukulele Method by Roy Smeck (Amazon partnerlink):

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