Kenny Smith
Best known for
Guitar
Kenny Smith is an Indiana-born flatpicking guitarist whose precise, melodic style has shaped the Lonesome River Band, the Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, and Band of Ruhks — a two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year and one of the most-imitated session players of his generation.
- Grew up in Nine Mile, Indiana in a family of fiddlers; began guitar at age 4, learning fiddle tunes from Norman Blake recordings.
- Turned professional in 1993 with Claire Lynch and the Front Porch String Band.
- Joined the Lonesome River Band in 1996 alongside Sammy Shelor, Don Rigsby, and Ronnie Bowman; left the band in 2001.
- Won IBMA Guitar Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000.
- Co-leads the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band with his wife Amanda; named IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year in 2003.
- Founding member of Band of Ruhks with Don Rigsby and Ronnie Bowman, formed after a Lonesome River Band reunion.
- Widely regarded as one of the most influential flatpick guitarists of his generation and an in-demand session player.
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The Lonesome River BandPlayed on recordings with The Lonesome River Band
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Kenny and Amanda Smith BandPlayed on recordings with Kenny and Amanda Smith Band
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Band of RuhksPlayed on recordings with Band of Ruhks
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Kenny SmithPlayed on recordings with Kenny Smith
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Ronnie BowmanPlayed on recordings with Ronnie Bowman
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Ashby FrankPlayed on recording with Ashby Frank
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Bradley WalkerPlayed on recording with Bradley Walker
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Don RigsbyPlayed on recording with Don Rigsby
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John CowanPlayed on recording with John Cowan
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Marty RaybonPlayed on recording with Marty Raybon
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Merle MonroePlayed on recording with Merle Monroe