We had the good fortune of connecting with T-Bone SMITH and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi T-Bone, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Hopefully, I try to bring something different to the music scene. There’s way too much local bands that are content just playing “Tennessee Whiskey” and the sane old tired 40-50 cover songs on automatic pilot. I’d you like that sort of thing, good on you. But if you work at McDonald’s you don’t want to eat cheeseburgers every day, right? It’s the same way with people going to see live music. I think Elvis Presley said it best that if you don’t give people something different and just play music then they’ll be like, “Well, I can stay home and listen to this.” People do get bored with the same old-same old all the time. It’s like you know your marriage is in trouble when your wife starts cooking Hamburger Helper every night. I write, record, and produce original music. And then we go out, mix it into our show with some cool cover tunes, and we go out and do our best give people something unique and make them feel positive and happy throughout. Do people think what I do is crazy? At times, yes. But when we get done, they switch parameters and they’re like, “He’s right.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist (bass, guitar, keyboards, and drums) who has been playing bass in bands since I was a 15-year-old teen in 1980. Two of my bands, Southern Ecstasy and 20 Point Turn, both recorded for Electric City Records and did appearances on local TV shows. I also did session work and became a record producer. My live session resume includes performing with former Marshall Tucker Band guitarist George McCorkle and former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, and numerous local bands. On 2018 I released my first solo album, “Going Back Forward”.
In 2021 I was diagnosed legally blind. My left eye was totally gone from a stroke I suffered in 2016, and glaucoma and diabetes rendered my right eye to just only 10% with no peripheral vision. In September of last year I had surgery to remove a cataract from my right eye and have an artificial lens put in to preserve what vision I have left. The recovery time from my surgery gave me time to reflect on my priorities in my life (family, grandkids, etc) and I came to a decision to focus solely on my music by recording a second solo album, which I an currently working on now.
We are also planning another band, The Fifth Joes. We’re looking for the right people-ones who’ll behave themselves. We’ve had problems in the past, so we’re bring selective. One idiot can ruin a band quickly, and we’re trying to avoid that happening again. We wanna have fun, but we take this seriously. And if you can’t act an adult, this isn’t going to be for you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I grew up around Spartanburg so there many good institutional eateries Amy and I love to go to. We love The Beacon and the Sugar & Spice Drive In. If you really love a good steak and fine dining The Peddler if you can afford to splurge and Papa’s is awesome for breakfast. Amy and I, when we have the time, go and check out some of our friends’ bands and shoot pool at some of the local clubs as well. Amy’s stepdad plays in Dixie Detour. That’s how we met. I was doing a session guitar date with them and her mom, who manages that band, introduced us. We try to support the music scene as time allows us.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, my wife Amy. Amy also acts as manager, sound tech, and backup singer.
Two great mentors I had were the legendary 60s pop band The Outsiders (“Time Won’t Let Me”) and the late blues singer Jimmy Johnson
Our daughters and grandchildren and my laws.
The following local bands- Dixie Detour and Southern Tradition

Website: www.reverbnatio .com/20pointturn

Facebook: T-Bone Smith: Session Bass Guitarist

Image Credits
Amy Smith

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