Craig Smith
Musician · San Bernardino, California
Best known for
Banjo
Craig Smith is a California-born banjoist whose 1990s session work and tenures with Charlie Moore, Jim Eanes, the Country Gentlemen, and Laurie Lewis's Bluegrass Pals placed him among the most distinctive picking voices on a wave of major-label bluegrass records.
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- Top session banjo player in bluegrass; did major-label studio work through the 1990s.
- Began with the California band Wild Hickory Nuts in 1976 before relocating east.
- Was Charlie Moore's last banjo player and recorded with Jim Eanes (1987–88), playing banjo, lead guitar, and harmony vocals.
- Played with The Country Gentlemen during his eastward career move.
- Founded the North Carolina band Summer Wages, whose self-titled debut came out on Rebel Records in 1983.
- Released a self-titled solo album on Rounder Records (CD 0357) in 1997.
- Joined Laurie Lewis's Bluegrass Pals in 1998.
- Known for a distinctive "bounce" in his picking that other banjoists have struggled to replicate.
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Jerry DouglasPlayed on recordings with Jerry Douglas
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Ronnie BowmanPlayed on recordings with Ronnie Bowman
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Dan TyminskiPlayed on recording with Dan Tyminski
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Greg BlakePlayed on recording with Greg Blake
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Herschel SizemorePlayed on recording with Herschel Sizemore
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Laurie LewisPlayed on recording with Laurie Lewis
