Tommy Joe Smith

I have been around music my whole life. My dad used to write and sing songs, and even had one of his songs recorded in Nashville. But he mostly just sang at home.

** This pic was taken during that Nashville trip in 1986. Myself and Al Pachucki, with Buddy Hyatt and Danny Parks in background. We were at Pete Drake's studio, "Pete's Place".**

I grew up in those days listening to cassette tapes of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and George Jones. I also remember that this was around the first time I saw the movie "Great Balls Of Fire". The music of Jerry Lee Lewis sounded so good to me, and I had no clue why.

My next (somewhat) music memory came when I was in 4th grade. At school one day, the High School band teacher was coming to our room with a flute, trombone, and a trumpet. The class across the hall came to our room to participate in this as well. We were all to stand in lines in front of the one we wanted to play, and we would take turns. (If you didn't know already, these 3 instruments have mouthpieces that can be cleaned easily) So, I was in line to try the trumpet. But some other little 4th grader from across the hall was being a butthead. Needless to say, he and I were pulled out of line by his teacher and not allowed to participate. As that teacher scolded us and asked how we felt now that we didn't get to try the instruments. I said "Well, who cares. The instrument I'm gonna play isn't even here. I'm gonna play drums!" And with that little bit of rebellion, I had taken my first step to becoming a drummer. And to be a proper drummer, you HAVE to rebel!

When I was in 6th grade (at a different school now), I joined beginning band as a percussionist. Through the next 6 years, I was in middle school band, high school band, marching band, and jazz/pep band. I learned to play many different funny looking and funny sounding items, and learned to be a little more rebellious. And that was how I became a drummer.
While I was learning to become a drummer, I had been listening mostly to 90's Country on the radio, and hearing some excellent classic music on the T.V. show, Full House. Yes, Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) was a huge influence. He could sing, play guitar, play piano, and….HE WAS A DRUMMER!! He actually played drums for The Beach Boys in his younger years (and sometimes still does). Ever wonder why The Beach Boys were always on Full House? That's why.

Then, I discovered The Buddy Holly Story, and LOVED every bit of music in it. That made it so heartbreaking when I finished the movie, and realized I wouldn't be able to find any new music by Buddy Holly. But, due to this new interest, I asked for and received a red and white, Harmony brand electric guitar from the J.C. Penny Christmas catalog.

Fast forward to 2009. That's when I was in a motorcycle wreck, and ended up with a broken foot. So I bought a keyboard and tried to teach myself to play some Jerry Lee Boogie-Woogie.

I DID.

In 2010, I joined up with 4 other guys and started a local band. We spent 2 years jamming and playing shows in Oklahoma and Kansas. We parted ways in 2013, and I began playing solo shows, singing with a guitar and piano. Since I hadn't actively listened to current radio really since the 90's, I played covers of Rock n Roll, Classic Rock, Classic Country, and 90's Country. And in 2017, I dipped my toes into the world of songwriting, and haven't stopped.

These days, while working my boring old M-F day job, I own a private studio where I spend a lot of my time recording my projects, and I try to play a few shows here and there.