BOB SMITH
Bob & Dudley-Brian have been playing together since the early 70's, often times with Bob's twin brother Joel. The three
brothers were together in the early 70's in the band Christian and later as part of Panama in the mid-70's. Bob began playing as a kit drummer and percussionist in a number
of jazz, folk-rock and rock bands prior to switching to bass. He was initially taught by his father, a noted area swing musician, to play the upright bass, and Bob played
electric bass in rock and folk-rock bands. Bob, Joel and Dudley-Brian also played together in Charmer from the mid-70's until Charmer changed to Smithfield Fair in 1989.
An original member of Smithfield Fair, Bob has been back on stage with Smithfield Fair since 2005, but has appeared on most Smithfield Fair albums. A graphic designer and
photographer, he has assumed direction of the band's album design, created the new logo, and his photographs adorn the covers of The Perfect Cafe, Winds of Time, Walking
Through This World, Swept Away and 20420. As member of Charmer with Jan & Dudley-Brian, he appeared on all of that group's 8 albums, as well as The Perfect Cafe.
Seeking a more acoustic sound for his work with Charmer, similar to the upright bass but with more portability, Bob switched to the Guild B-50 acoustic bass, which has become
his trademark since 1978. Prior to that, Bob played a hollow-bodied electric bass similar to the Hofner "Beatle" bass, as well as a Fender Coronado I arch-top with nylon strings. A student
of Japanese culture, Bob lived and worked in Kobe, Japan studying samarai sword making and repair and continues those interests and pursuits. He speaks fluent Japanese. He and brother Joel are partners
in The Saxon Guild - an artistic cooperative located on Englewood Plantation in Alexandria, Louisiana where they are known for high-quality art and antique restoration, as well as
various other artistic endeavors.
INSTRUMENTS: As stated above, Bob has exclusively used Westerly Guild B-50 acoustic basses since 1978. He has owned several but his current main instrument is a 1978 B-50
and his back-up is a 1976 B-50 (first year of production line) - both made fretless by Holger Notzel of Riverfront Music in Baton Rouge, who also does all set-up and
maintenance. Also, Bob occasionally uses a fretted 1979 B-50 that belongs to Dudley-Brian. Bob's basses are fitted with Shure SM-11 inborn microphones with flush-mount XLR
connectors and a K&K Pure bass pick-up and pre-amp system, also installed by Holger. (Photos left to right by Ray Boswell - 1979; Jim Zietz - 1989; and T.J. Shuflin - 2009)