J. DAVID PRAET
David has worked as engineer and co-producer with the members of Smithfield Fair since the beginning and was previously in the
same capacity with Charmer. The owner and head engineer of the full-service Praet Recording in Alexandria, Louisiana, David is regionally known as an in-demand
session guitarist, producer, engineer and leader/guitarist with The Dots, one of Louisiana's favorite dance bands for over 30 years. David engineered Charmer's first album, Only the Wind,
in 1980-81 and produced their second album, Must Be The Gypsy, in 1981-82. He was a contributor to nearly all of their albums after that, many being recorded in his studio.
David began playing lead acoustic guitar on Smithfield Fair albums with Winds of Time, and has continued that role from that time forward. He has been the co-producer of album projects
since Winter Kirk. When schedules allow, David joins the band in concert, having appeared at such venues as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Manship Theatre, the Red Dragon
Listening Room, Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival and The Alexandria Museum of Art. (Photo by T.J. Shuflin)
INSTRUMENTS: Though primarily known as an electric guitarist, David's emphasis with Smithfield Fair is on acoustic guitar. For his principal guitar in recording, David uses a 1987
(first year of production) Westerly Guild GF-25. In performance, David's principal guitar is a 1994 Westerly Guild DCE-1, a cut-away dreadnaught fitted with a Baggs pick-up and preamp
system. He also owns an early 1970's Martin D-35. His instruments are set-up and maintained by Holger Notzel of Riverfront Music in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His primary electric guitar
is a Paul Reed Smith.