{{short description|American songwriter}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2011}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = G E Smith.jpg | caption = Smith in 2001 | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = George Edward Haddad | alias = | birth_place = Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|1|27}} | origin = {{nowrap|Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.}} | Death = | genre = {{hlist|Rock|pop rock|soul}} | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}} | years_active = 1977–present | instrument = {{hlist|Guitar|lap steel guitar|bass}} | label = | current_member_of = | past_member_of = Saturday Night Live Band | website = {{URL|https://gesmithmusic.com/}} | spouse = {{plainlist| *{{marriage|Gilda Radner|1980|1982|reason=divorced}} *{{marriage|Taylor Barton|1990}} }} }} '''George Edward Smith''' (''né'' '''Haddad'''; born January 27, 1952) is an American guitarist. Smith was the lead guitarist for the duo Hall & Oates during the band's heyday from 1979 to 1985, playing on several albums and five number one singles. When Hall & Oates took a hiatus in 1985, Smith joined the sketch-comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'', serving as bandleader and co-musical director of the Saturday Night Live Band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1995-08-28/entertainment/17974133_1_fox-mariel-hemingway-cheryl-hardwick |title=Another 'Snl' Shakeup Note: Long-time Bandleader Bopped |work=NY Daily News |date=August 28, 1995 |access-date=2014-07-17| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204003859/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1995-08-28/entertainment/17974133_1_fox-mariel-hemingway-cheryl-hardwick | archive-date=February 4, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Smith has recorded and performed with many acclaimed artists, including David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Roger Waters, Tina Turner, Tracy Chapman, Tom Waits and Dan Hartman.<ref name=":0" /> He was the initial lead guitarist in Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour band from 1988 to 1990 and also served as musical director and a guitarist of Dylan's The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration at Madison Square Garden in 1992. From 2010 to 2013, Smith was the rhythm, lead and bass guitarist in Roger Waters's ''The Wall Live'' tour, one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time.
He received a Grammy Award nomination along with Buddy Guy in 1997 for the album ''Live! The Real Deal'' along with the Saturday Night Live Band as well as an Emmy Award for the ''Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special'' in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=On Stage at the Kennedy Center: G. E. Smith|url=https://www.pbs.org/weta/onstage/twain2001/bios/gesmith.html|website=PBS}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> His albums as a solo artist include ''In the World'' (1981), ''Get a Little'' (with the Saturday Night Live Band, 1993), ''Incense, Herbs and Oils'' (1998) and ''Stony Hill'' (2020) with Leroy Bell.
==Early life== Smith was born January 27, 1952, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as George Edward Haddad.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilding |first=Patrice |date=2018-09-19 |title=Guitar Aces Bringing Skills to Scranton Cultural Center |page=37 |work=The Scranton Times-Tribune |quote=For the man born George Edward Haddad, it all started in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he was born in Scranton and raised in Stroudsburg.}}</ref> His father was Lebanese and his mother was English from Ohio.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Accomplished musical director/lead guitarist GE Smith talks new LP "Stony Hill" and working with Dylan, Waters, Hall & Oates (Interview)|url=https://glidemagazine.com/247761/accomplished-musical-director-lead-guitarist-ge-smith-talks-new-lp-stony-hill-working-with-dylan-waters-hall-oates-interview/|website=Glidemagazine|date=August 31, 2020 |publication-date=2020}}</ref> His last name, Haddad, is Arabic for blacksmith.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1YAiV_S3JBcC&q=g.e.+smith+lebanese&pg=PA344|title=Ethnic Groups USA|last=Patterson|first=Benjamin|year=2008 |page=344|publisher=Xlibris Corporation |isbn=9781436333542 }}</ref> Growing up in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Smith started playing guitar at the age of 4. In 1959, at the age of 7, he was given a C. F. Martin guitar. On his 11th birthday Smith's mother bought him his first electric guitar, a Fender Esquire,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uu_Xn6pBf4|title=Rig Rundown - G.E.Smith|website=YouTube|publication-date=2018}}</ref> a model that dated to 1952, his birth year. As a teen he was already earning money as a musician, playing in various venues, including resorts and high school dances in the Pocono Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania.<ref name=":1" />
==Career== ===Early career=== In the early 1970s, Smith left Northeastern Pennsylvania for the New Haven, Connecticut, area, where he played in a group called The Scratch Band, which also included his future Hall & Oates bandmate Mickey Curry. In late 1977, Smith got his first break when he joined Dan Hartman on his successful album ''Instant Replay'', including its hit title track, and played guitar on Hartman’s US and European tour. Upon his return to the East Coast, Smith moved to Manhattan and became the guitarist for Gilda Radner's 1979 Broadway show ''Gilda Live''. Radner and Smith became friends and married shortly afterward, divorcing in 1982.<ref>Radner, Gilda. It's Always Something. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1989.</ref> In 1981, Smith released his first solo album, ''In the World''.
===Hall & Oates=== From 1979 to 1985, Smith played lead guitar with Daryl Hall and John Oates, a band which also included Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, Charles DeChant and Mickey Curry. With Hall & Oates, Smith scored five U.S. #1 singles, including "Private Eyes", "Kiss on My List", "Maneater", "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)", and "Out of Touch" as well as five consecutive multi-platinum albums: ''Voices'', ''Private Eyes'', ''H2O'', ''Rock 'n Soul Part 1'' and ''Big Bam Boom.'' Other U.S. Top 10 singles included "Family Man", "Say It Isn't So", "Did It in a Minute" and "Method of Modern Love".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=G. E. Smith Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ge-smith-mn0000803763/biography|website=AllMusic}}</ref>
===''Saturday Night Live'' era=== From 1985 to 1995, Smith served as the Saturday Night Live band's bandleader and co-musical director, along with longtime ''SNL'' band keyboardist Cheryl Hardwick.<ref name="herald">{{cite news |last=Capozzoli |first=Michael |date=1993-10-23 |title=Background in Variety of Music Helps Leader of ''SNL'' house band |work=The Miami Herald |page=60}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=1990-08-26 |title=USA Weekend: Who's News |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |page=162 |quote=Co-music director G.E. Smith has played with rock icons Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger. His music director partner in crime, Cheryl Hardwick, has worked as a composer-arranger on a number of movies, Broadway shows, and television projects.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jan |first=Freeman |date=1989-09-26 |title=Who Killed Doctorow's Diatribe? |work=The Boston Globe |page=64 |quote=''SNL'' buffs may want to move on to HG, whose October issue visits the New York townhouse of Michael O'Donoghue, legendary ex-head writer for ''SNL'', and his wife, Cheryl Hardwick, the show's musical director.}}</ref> Smith had become acquainted with ''SNL'' creator Lorne Michaels through show alumna Gilda Radner, to whom Smith was married from 1980 to 1982. After a five-year absence, Michaels was back at the show's helm for the 1985–1986 season, and hired Smith as part of his retooling. During his tenure on the show, Smith (alongside bandmate T-Bone Wolk) became well-known to television audiences for his emotive performances during "band shots," brief snippets of the band playing before ''SNL'' went to commercial break.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Felice, Adrienne |date=2015-10-05 |title=G.E. Smith Interview |time=53:13 |language=English |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htFieY0WTX0 |access-date= 2022-03-04 |publisher=Television Academy Foundation}}</ref> Smith and Wolk were parodied in this capacity in a 1993 episode of ''The Simpsons''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.simpsonsarchive.com/episodes/9F12.html |title=Brother from the Same Planet |date=1994-09-10 |website=The Simpsons Archive |access-date=2022-03-04}}</ref> In addition to his onstage duties, Smith also advised Michaels on which musical acts to book on the show.<ref name="herald" />
In the midst of his ''SNL'' tenure, Smith toured with Bob Dylan for the first 281 concerts of the Never Ending Tour from June 1988 until October 1990.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CIOhY4ysRE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/-CIOhY4ysRE |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live| title=G.E. Smith on touring with Bob Dylan - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG | publisher=Archive of American Television | date=October 5, 2015 | access-date=February 1, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He also served as the musical director for special events such as the 1988 Emmy Awards, the 1993 Rhythm and Blues Foundation Awards, Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden as well as acting as the musical director at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert in Cleveland.
Smith was fired from ''SNL'' after the disastrous 1994–1995 season, which saw the show's lowest ratings in nineteen years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Storm |first=Jonathan |date=1995-09-28 |title='Saturday Night' Revived? |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=F1}}</ref> Smith was part of the same exodus that also saw the dismissal of 12 of the show's 15 cast members.<ref>{{cite news |last=Swift |first=Orla |date=1995-09-01 |title=Rocker G.E. Smith Ends Nine-Year Stint with SNL |work=The Record-Journal |location=Meriden, Connecticut |page=A13}}</ref> He was replaced as bandleader by saxophonist Lenny Pickett and keyboardist Cheryl Hardwick.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beale |first=Lewis |date=1995-10-10 |title='Saturday Night': How the Band Plays On |work=The New York Daily News |page=73}}</ref>
===Post-''SNL'' career=== In 1996, Smith received a Grammy nomination for his work with Buddy Guy on the album ''Live: The Real Deal''. Smith released his third solo album, ''Incense, Herbs and Oils'' in 1998. Smith served as the musical director and band leader honoring Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. He also led bands for the Muddy Waters tribute and the 1998 and 1999 Mark Twain Awards honoring Richard Pryor and Jonathan Winters, which aired on PBS and Comedy Central, respectively. thumb|G. E. Smith with the Roger Waters Band in The Wall Live tour, 2010
From 2004 to 2006, Smith performed classic rock songs—as well as his own song, "Brownstown"—at home games for the Cleveland Browns.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gesmithmusic.com/about/ |title=Bio – G.E. Smith – Official Website |website=gesmithmusic.com |date=May 13, 2010 |access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref><ref name=":0"/>
In 2005, Smith and his band appeared on the ''Comedy Central Roast'' of Jeff Foxworthy and did a performance with the band Bama.
Smith toured with Roger Waters during the 2010–2013 tour The Wall Live.<ref name="Roger Waters Jams with G E Smith">{{cite web|title=Roger Waters Jams with G E Smith|url=http://www.relix.com/news/2012/04/17/roger-waters-jams-with-g-e-smith|publisher=|website=Relix.com|access-date=May 17, 2012|archive-date=March 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313102151/http://www.relix.com/news/2012/04/17/roger-waters-jams-with-g-e-smith|url-status=dead}}</ref> On December 12, 2012, he performed with Waters at Madison Square Gardens for The Concert for Sandy Relief.
In August 2012, Smith performed for the Republican Party and Mitt Romney at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay, Florida, as the convention's house band. However, Smith said that he is not a Republican or political and saw the event as "just another job".<ref>{{cite web| url= https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/convention-bandleader-g-e-smith-not-a-republican-or-political-at-all|title=Convention Bandleader G.E. Smith Not A Republican — Or Political At All| website=TalkingPointsMemo.com|access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/conventions-2012/gop-convention-tampa/124113-former-snl-band-leader-wasnt-playing-politics-in-tampa-just-his-guitar/|title=Former 'SNL' band leader wasn't playing politics in Tampa—just his guitar|first=Sheldon|last=Alberts|date=August 31, 2012|website=TheHill.com|access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/features-news-interviews/ge-smith-talks-bass-republicans-and-performing-roger-waters/%0919609|title=G.E. Smith Talks Bass, Republicans and Performing with Roger Waters}}</ref> In July 2016, Smith again led the house band for candidate Donald Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Ohio.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.mediaite.com/online/singer-goes-off-on-rnc-for-using-bands-song-slams-donald-trumps-wife-too/ |title= Singer Goes Off on RNC for Using Band's Song, Slams Donald Trump's Wife Too| website= mediaite.com| publisher= | date= | accessdate= April 29, 2018}}</ref>
Smith was one of the many guests appearing on NBC's ''Saturday Night Live'' 40th Anniversary Special on February 15, 2015. Ten years later, he also appeared on the 50th Anniversary Special.
Smith has performed with Jim Weider—formerly of the Band and member of the Weight Band—on their ''Masters of the Telecaster'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ticketfly.com/event/1512661-masters-telecaster-quot-south-salem/|title=MASTERS of THE TELECASTER " featuring: JIM WEIDER, GE SMITH and ANDY POWELL - Tickets - The Heights at Brother Vic's - South Salem, NY - July 14th, 2017| website=Ticketfly.com |access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref>
Smith and his wife Taylor Barton founded the concert series ''Portraits'' in 2015. ''Portraits'' has hosted artists including Billy Squier, Ethan Hawke, the Bacon Brothers, and the Avett Brothers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gesmithmusic.com/portraits/|title=PORTRAITS Series|date=2017-08-11|website= gesmithmusic.com | publisher= G.E. Smith |language=en|access-date=2019-12-14}}</ref>
Smith made a cameo appearance in the music video "Sudden Signs of Grace" (2020) by guitarist/songwriter Tom Guerra.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmK70hxp22c| title= Tom Guerra - 'Sudden Signs of Grace'| date= June 25, 2020| via= YouTube| publisher= MamboSons | access-date= April 11, 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Smith was married to comedian Gilda Radner (1980–1982) and has been married to singer/songwriter Taylor Barton since 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://easthamptonstar.com/Arts/2016908/Eco-Rock-Odyssey-Taylor-Barton|title=An Eco-Rock Odyssey From Taylor Barton - The East Hampton Star|website=easthamptonstar.com|access-date=June 1, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605053557/http://easthamptonstar.com/Arts/2016908/Eco-Rock-Odyssey-Taylor-Barton|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has one daughter named Josie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.danspapers.com/2018/07/my-hamptons-g-e-smith-guitarist/|title=My Hamptons: G.E. Smith – Guitarist, Songwriter, Impresario|website=danspapers.com|access-date=June 1, 2025}}</ref>
== Discography == {{div col}} <!-- default width is 30em -->
;with Hall & Oates (also as arranger) * ''X-Static'' (1979) * ''Voices'' (1980) * ''Private Eyes'' (1981) * ''H2O'' (1982) * ''Greatest Hits Live'' (1982), released in 2001 * ''Rock 'n Soul Part 1 (Compilation)'' (1983) * ''Big Bam Boom'' (1984) * ''Sweet Soul Music (Live)'' (1984) * ''Live at the Apollo'' (1985) * ''Ecstasy on the Edge'' (2001)
;with Dan Hartman * ''Instant Replay'' (1978) * ''Relight My Fire'' (1979)
;with Tom Waits * ''Downtown Train'' (1985)
;with Mick Jagger * ''She's The Boss'' (1985) *"Dancing in the Street" w/David Bowie (1985) * ''Primitive Cool'' (1987) * ''The Very Best of Mick Jagger'' (2007)
;with Carly Simon * ''Tired of Being Blonde'' (1985), also producer
;with Ric Ocasek * ''This Side of Paradise'' (1986)
;with Bob Dylan * ''Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration'' (1993), also musical director * ''By the Waterfront Docks'' (1989) (2007) * ''The House of Gold'' (Greece, 1989) (2009) * ''Crossroads w/Eric Clapton'' (1988, 1999) (2012) * ''Carnival to Rio'' (1990) (2012) * ''Mercy for Poughkeepsie'' (1988–1989) (2014) * ''East Troy 1988'' (2015)
;with Tracy Chapman * ''Crossroads'' (1989) * ''Greatest Hits'' (2015)
;with Jimmy Buffett * ''Fruitcakes'' (1994)
;with Buddy Guy * ''Live: The Real Deal'' (with the Saturday Night Live Band, 1996), received Grammy nomination * ''Buddy's Baddest: The Best of Buddy Guy'' (1999) * ''Can't Quit the Blues'' (2006) * ''The Definite Buddy Guy'' (2009)
;with Moonalice * ''Compliments from Moonalice'' (2007) * ''Moonalice'' (2008) * ''The Jewish Mother, Virginia Beach, VA'' (2008)
;with Roger Waters * ''Roger Waters: The Wall'' (Live Album) (2010–2013)'','' released 2015
;with David Bowie * ''Loving the Alien (1983–1988)'' (2018)
;Solo Albums * ''In the World'' (1981) * ''Get a Little'' (with the Saturday Night Live Band, 1993) * ''Incense, Herbs and Oils'' (1998) * ''Stony Hill'' (2020) w/Leroy Bell
;As producer/composer * ''Wayne's World Theme'' (1992) {{div col end}}
== Videography == As band member/performer or musical director
* "Instant Replay" (official song video) w/Dan Hartman (1978) * "Fashion" (official song video) w/David Bowie (1980) * "Station To Station" w/David Bowie - (from the movie Christiane F ) 1980 * "Wait for me" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1979) * "Private Eyes" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1981) * "Did it in a Minute" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1982) * "Your Imagination" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1982) * "Maneater" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1982) * "Family Man" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1983) * "Say It Isn't So" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1983) * "Out of Touch" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1984) *"Possession Obsession" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1984) *"Adult Education" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1984) * "Method of Modern Love" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1985) * "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" (official song video) w/Hall & Oates (1985)
=== Live performances and concerts === * Live on the Johnny Carson show with David Bowie,1980 [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dEvSTlHJY&list=RD-9dEvSTlHJY&start_radio=1&pp=ygUZZGF2aWQgYm93aWUgam9obm55IGNhcnNvbqAHAQ%3D%3D] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55dVvvlous Daryl Hall & John Oates - Rock N' Soul Live] (1983) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRTTES4BZ04&t=3615s Hall & Oates: The Liberty Concert] (1985) * Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1993), DVD Deluxe Edition (2014) * The Kennedy Center Presents: A Tribute to Muddy Waters: King of the Blues (1998) * The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, 2000 * On Stage at the Kennedy Center: The Mark Twain Prize, 2002 * Roger Waters: The Wall (concert film based on The Wall Live (2010–13) tour), 2014
=== ''Saturday Night Live'' specials ===
* Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary (TV Special), 1989 * Saturday Night Live: The Best of Robin Williams (TV Special), 1991 * Saturday Night Live: The Best of Steve Martin (TV Special), 1998 * Saturday Night Live: The Best of Mike Myers (TV Special), 1998 * Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary (TV Special), 1999, received an Emmy Award * Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tom Hanks (TV Special), 2004 * Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation, (TV Special documentary), 2007 * Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special, 2015 * Saturday Night Live: 50th Anniversary Special, 2025
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|G. E. Smith}} {{Portal|Biography}} *[https://www.gesmithmusic.com G.E. Smith Official Website] *{{emmytvlegends name|ge-smith}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, G. E.}} Category:1952 births Category:American rock guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Songwriters from Pennsylvania Category:Living people Category:People from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Category:Saturday Night Live Band members Category:Moonalice members Category:Flying Other Brothers members Category:American people of Lebanese descent Category:Hall & Oates members Category:Guitarists from Pennsylvania Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:American male songwriters Category:The Bleeding Heart Band members