Richard Smith

Profile Information:

What instrument do you play?

I am a Bassist professionally; I also play a little Guitar & Keyboards

Who influenced you to listen to jazz

Charles Fambrough Bassist, Stanley Clarke, Willie Weeks, Bootsie Collins, Charles Mingus

How did you find out about the WDCJN?

From a friend Mr. Len Bryant

My Website

http://www.richardsmithandfriendsmusic.com

Where are you located?

Between Philadelphia PA & Cleveland, Ohio

Tell us about yourself

My first interest in music began at the age of 11 (1956); being from Philadelphia PA there were many great musicians living and playing there. I use to attend Rock n’ Roll shows at the legendary “Uptown Theater” located at Broad and Dauphin Streets, Philadelphia, PA. Just about every show featured at least 10 to 12 acts from James Brown, Marvin Gaye & the Blue Notes, Ike and Tina Turner, Merry Wells, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles just to name a few. I purchased my very first 6 string acoustic Guitar from a pond shop located on the southeast corner of 17th Street and Susquehanna Avenue in North Philadelphia PA. The Guitar cost $12.00 I purchased it with a portion of my $55.00 a week pay that I received from working at Izzy & Lenny’s Super Market which was located at 18th and Berks Streets also in North Philly. I began practicing with my two best friends Irvin Walton (Bo Bo) and James Woodson (Squirrel) who later became the Guitarist for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. We practiced religiously for about a year and then James Woodson and I began carrying a Guitar Amplifier and two Guitars walking from club to club every Friday & Saturday evenings hoping to be able to sit-in with some of the local bands in and around the Philadelphia area. One Wednesday evening one of my neighbors who was a musician / Tenor Saxophone player and vocalist by the name of Rollee McGill who was the father of one of my friends who had a Blues Band called the Wip-Po-Wils sent his son over to ask me to stop by to see him. I did and Mr. McGill asked if I would be interested in learning to play the Electric Fender Bass and play with his band; I accepted and the rest is history, I’ve played the Electric Bass ever since. I also purchased my first Blond ¾ Upright Double bass in April of this year and I must say learning to play it takes me back to the time when I was learning to play the 6 string acoustic Guitar.

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