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SNL's G.E. Smith: "I just want to support the song."

G.E. Smith

G.E. Smith on SNL, Collaborating with Leroy Bell, and His Legendary Career

For decades, G.E. Smith has been the guitar virtuoso behind some of music’s biggest names—Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, Roger Waters, and his long-running gig as the bandleader for Saturday Night Live. Now, he’s stepped forward with a new album, Stony Hill, a collaborative effort with vocalist Leroy Bell.

Smith describes their partnership as a bit of fate: “I was looking for a singer, and one day my wife was playing a playlist. I heard Leroy’s voice and said, ‘That’s the guy I’ve been looking for.’” That voice drives Stony Hill, a record that, while not planned as a protest album, feels undeniably timely. “Leroy showed up with ‘America’ already written, and the rest just followed naturally,” Smith explains. “We both care deeply about this country, and that came through in the songs.”

Though Smith is often in a supporting role, Stony Hill sees him stepping into the spotlight on two tracks. One of them, Art Sick, has a personal connection. “It came from a conversation I had with Jean-Michel Basquiat back in the day,” Smith reveals. “I carried that phrase—‘Art Sick, It Won’t Get Better’—for years, and one day, the song just arrived fully formed.”

The album also features a powerful cover of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Cod’ine. “I’ve been playing that song since I was a kid,” Smith says. “I first saw Buffy perform when I was around 10, and it stuck with me. It’s a song about addiction, and sadly, that’s still as relevant as ever.”

Of course, Stony Hill was meant to be performed live—but like so many artists, Smith and Bell had to scrap their tour plans in 2020. “We were supposed to go to SXSW, play some shows, and introduce people to the album,” Smith laments. “Then the pandemic shut everything down.” He’s particularly concerned for independent venues: “A lot of these places aren’t going to make it. It’s heartbreaking.”

Still, Smith remains hopeful. “We’ll get back out there,” he says. “The music’s not going anywhere.” In the meantime, he’s been keeping busy—collaborating with Joseph Arthur and continuing to champion the power of music with a message.

And for a guy who’s spent a lifetime in music, that’s what it’s always been about. “At the end of the day,” Smith says, “I just want to support the song.”

Listen to the interview above and then check out the videos below.

Kyle is the WFPK Program Director. Email Kyle at kmeredith@lpm.org

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