CHARLIE SMITH TRIBUTE PAGE

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If you have a story, photos, audio or video you'd like to contribute to this page please send it to Barry Kettery at webmaster@bobandtom.com.

Jordan Ward illustration

A Note from Charlie's Sister Bonnie
I love what you've done with the tribute to my brother on the website. Every few days I see something I have never seen or haven't seen in a long time. Some of the pictures make me cry but most of them make me laugh-especially the obvious early 80s picture with the shorts! He was truly a person of many dimensions! In some of the pictures he looks so young to me- alot like I remember him growing up. I have baby pictures but I don't think I can get them scanned and mailed to you in time since I know you can't run this tribute forever.
People ask me if I think he was truly gifted from the time he was born. I don't think I've ever met anyone who was born with such gifts. He knew what he wanted to do for as long as I can remember him existing. I can't remember Charlie before or after the music- it was with him from the beginning. When I hear him on the radio today or on his CDs I hear the same music I heard when I was 17(he was 15). He was one of the cleanest guitarists I have ever heard and would always have been. He lived exactly the life he wanted to live and for that I am grateful.
It was nice meeting you and I thank you for the work you have done to remember and honor my little brother (that's who Charlie will always be to me). I am so happy to know that so many people loved him. Please share this with everyone at the station and give them my love and thanks for being his friends.
- Bonnie Pisano

"Wishing You the Best of All Possible Worlds"
My name is Kenny Bradley. I grew up with Charlie Smith. I knew , and played with him in his teenage years. Charlie had a side to him that people might not know. A caring, and giving soul beyond normal teen aged years. While most other musicians at that time where into sex, drugs, and rock and roll Charlie wanted to give to less fortunate souls. A typical night with Charlie was going to uptown Anderson, and playing "ditch em" with two mentally challenged brothers who sold grit newspapers. Charlie would buy one sit down read it and give it back to them. One of the brothers told me, "that Charlie, is a dope. He payed me for a paper, and gave it back." but Charlie knew what he was doing. He was giving the brothers attention for free. One of Charlie's favorite places to hide was on top of the old Paramount Theater. We would climb up the fire escape over the billiard hall entrance, and scale the short wall to the top. We would then go to Frisch's Resturant drinking coffee, and conversing philosophical theories. Finishing our night at the cemetery listening to Rochchester NY Night Flight Jazz Show because the graveyard was where the signal came in the clearest. Charlie always gave his all never asking anything in return. He had a love fore life, and he was a friend, and brother in music. - Sincerely, Kenny Bradley

editor's note - "Wishing You the Best of All Possible Worlds" was how host Harry Abraham would sign off his WHAM AM radio jazz show. I listened almost every night and was not surprised to learn that Charlie was listening too. Many of us were. - bk

Thank you for the wonderful 'tribute' pages dedicated to Charlie Smith! Since the passing of my friend on Feb. 8th, I have often read the various messages left by family and friends. Speaking for myself, these notes to and about Charlie have been very heartwarming and helpful to read! I was so thrilled and fortunate to see Charlie perform many times over the last couple of years. Now as I remember Charlie I find that there is great comfort in the knowledge that he was playing a lot of live gigs with various talented musicians. Charlie was of course involved with the Bob and Tom Band as well as performing regularly scheduled shows with a band by the name of 'The Power Tubes'. I understood from Charlie that Tom Griswold assisted him in coming up with the aforementioned bands' name. Yes, I miss talking to my friend Charlie but every time I hear a clean, talented guitar performance, whether it's jazz or classic rock I immediately think of our dear friend!!! Thank you for the opportunity to share and reminisce about our wonderful friend and musician! Best Regards, Greg Catt

Click here or on the photo above to view the photo gallery

VM from Charlie
Charlie and I were hanging out at the BOB&TOM Christmas party in early December and I asked him to come over to the house sometime and do some writing and recording. I got this VM a month later. I thought he had forgotten about our talk, but his message brought a big smile to my face. Clearly he'd been thinking about getting together but was just a little slow to contact me. I didn't erase it because I enjoyed the sound of his voice so much. I still do. I think he overdid it with the barrage compliments, but then, that was Charlie.
During the next week or so we spent a lot of time on the phone putting together a plan to make some music together and talking about guitar styles, recording tricks and amplifier micing techniques as well as the deeper stuff that he loved to delve into like the cosmos, the likelihood of the existence of deities and politics. I was completely mesmerized by the man and his love of music, knowledge and life. We had a lot of big laughs and reminisced about our TIMEOUT band gigs.
The day Charlie died we were planning to get together for the first of what I hoped would be a series of writing/playing sessions and I spent a few hours preparing my studio for his visit. I was concerned when he didn't call or show but I figured something came up. At nine that night Chris Pyle called and told me the unthinkable news. I just stood there paralyzed in stunned disbelief. I still can't believe he's gone. I don't want to believe he's gone. As far as I'm concerned, he's not. He's just busy. He's a busy guy.
Charlie, I have to admit, this was by far your best excuse ever for missing a rehearsal – Now stop fu%#ing around and get your ass over here dammit! I miss you man. - bk

Charlie Smith
Dead at Age 52
The entire BOB&TOM Show family is mourning the the tragic loss of guitarist and philosopher Charlie Smith who died of a heart attack Friday, February 8th, 2008 at the age of 52. Charlie was long time member of the BOB&TOM Band and producer of Bob Kevoian's solo CD "Take Off Your Clothes." He performed at the world renowned Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland with BOB&TOM musical director, Steve Allee's Contemporary Jazz Band. Charlie played on many of BOB&TOM's CDs and has performed, with Eddie Money, Gary Wright, and blues singer, guitarist Jonny Lang and led his own group, the "Charlie Smith Project". Charlie's Smooth Jazz CD, "Absolutely," was selected as "Indianapolis' Best Smooth Jazz CD" of 1999 by NUVO Magazine. His second CD "On The Double" was released in 2005.

Charlie's obituary in the Anderson, IN Herald Bulletin

Charlie's friends and fans are invited to post comments
to his Legacy.com guest book.

Charlie Smith - "Ingrid" - with TIMEOUT featuring B&T session player Michael Stricklin (Sax) B&T webmaster Barry Kettery (bass) and B&T band drummer Chris Pyle.

Charlie Smith - "What it is" - from Charlie's CD "On The Double"

Charlie Smith - "Dances With Trains" - from Charlie's CD "Absolutely"

THE CHARLIE SMITH PROJECT
ON THE DOUBLE

BUY THE CD!

Charlie Smith - guitar
Mike Stricklin - saxophones
Frank Smith - bass
Reggie Bishop - keyboards
Kenny Phelps - drums

CHARLIE SMITH
ABSOLUTELY

BUY THE CD!

Charlie Smith - guitar
Steve Dokken- bass
Steve Allee - keyboards
Stan Hillis - Flute
Randy Melson - bass
Chris Pyle - drums
Dane Clark - drums
Kevin Kaiser - percussion
Chris Lieber - keyboards
Cathy Morris - violin

Charlie Rockin' Out
Here's a collection of archival audio featuring Charlie and "The Flat Earth Society" submitted by Charlie's friend Buzz Rainey. These tracks were salvaged from a 15 year old cassette tape.

THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY
Charlie SMith --- Guitar
Tom Evans --- Vocals
Jeff Knotts --- Bass and background vocals
Rick Flowers --- Drums

Charlie Smith - "Let Me Go" The Flat Earth Society

Charlie Smith - "Lady Piranna" - The Flat Earth Society

Charlie Smith - "I'm Thinking of You" - The Flat Earth Society

The Best of BOB&TOM - Featuring Charlie Smith
Charlie's distinctive guitar playing was a huge part of the BOB&TOM Band sound. Here's just a few of the tunes where he's the featured soloist.

The BOB&TOM Show Theme - The BOB&TOM Band
Monday Mornings - Bob Kevoian
Sex is the Best - The Whole Gang
Red on the Head - Todd Yohn
Menage a Trois - Bob Kevoian
When the Beer Runs Out - Jimmy "Mad Dog" Mattis

My son and nephew were students of Charlie. Yes, he was quite a philosopher. When I would take my son to Charlie’s place for lessons, I would wait in the car and listen. Charlie would often come outside to talk. I knew when the conversation started out with Charlie saying “ whatya think about…?” It was going to be interesting. Charlie was quite a rare and talented individual. His music will live on through his students and their students. He will be missed.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Gipe