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Mike Smitty Smith

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Mike "Smitty" Smith
Smith, top left
Background information
Birth nameMichael Leroy Smith
Born(1942-03-27)27 March 1942
Portland, Oregon, United States
DiedMarch 6, 2001(2001-03-06) (aged 58)
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States
GenresPop, rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Drums, guitar
Years active1962–1972
LabelsColumbia, RCA
Formerly ofPaul Revere & the Raiders, Brotherhood, Friendsound

Mike "Smitty" Smith (born Michael Leroy Smith, March 27, 1942 – March 6, 2001) was an American drummer, guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his work as a drummer with Paul Revere & the Raiders.

Early life

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Mike Smith was born in Portland, Oregon to Howard and Mildred (Kugler) Smith.[1] His father was a truck driver.[2] He and his older brother Jerry grew up in neighboring Beaverton, and he graduated from Beaverton High School in 1960.[3] Both brothers competed on their high school wrestling team.[4] Smith received his first drum set at age ten.

Career

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The Headless Horseman

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After high school, Smith became part-owner of Portland teen club The Headless Horseman along with two friends, Al Dardis and Ross Allemang. Smith and Allemang were members of the club's house band, the former playing guitar and the latter on bass.[5] In 1962, Mark Lindsay and Paul Revere had relocated to Portland and were seeking musicians to complete their band. They visited the club, met Smith, and invited him to join as their drummer.[3][6]

The Raiders signed on as the club's house band, ultimately sharing time with Gentlemen Jim and the Horsemen as their popularity and commitments elsewhere increased. It was during this time that Revere was first exposed to "Louie Louie" when a fan gave him a copy of the 1961 Wailers' single. The 1963 Raiders recording featured Smith's "Grab yo woman, it's-a 'Louie Louie' time!" vocal intro.[5][7]

Paul Revere & the Raiders

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Main article: Paul Revere & the Raiders

Smith was the drummer for Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1962 to 1967, and again from 1971 to 1972. The classic line-up of Revere, Lindsay, Smith, Levin, and Volk performed on some of their biggest hits, including "Just Like Me," "Hungry," and "Kicks."[3][11] The group charted a multitude of singles during this period, and three of their albums were certified gold by the RIAA: Just Like Us!, Midnight Ride, and The Spirit of '67.[12] Their 1967 compilation album Greatest Hits also achieved gold certification.

Christened the "mad little wizard",[3] the "madcap jokester",[13] and "the kookiest member of the group",[14] he was noted for his "flair for comedy" and "outlandish sense of humor".[3] Smith was an integral component of the group's performance style, a "carefree attitude" that "produced as much laughter as musical appreciation"[15] with water fights and crazed drum solos.

He was a "powerful drummer" and a "strong, energetic player", but with "enough subtlety in his technique" to support the group's earlier R&B-focused dance music and their later garage and pop/rock phases.[6] At the height of the group’s chart success and Where the Action Is media exposure, “Smith was, for a time in the United States, probably the most well-known drummer in rock & roll after Ringo Starr of the Beatles,”[6] and boasted his own fan club.[16]

Brotherhood/Friendsound

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After leaving Paul Revere & the Raiders, Smith and ex-Raiders Drake Levin and Phil Volk formed Brotherhood. Originally called Phil, Drake & Smitty, the trio became a quartet with the addition of organist Ron Collins.

The band was signed to RCA, but their progress was hindered by the members' lingering contractual obligations to Revere and Columbia. Multiple lawsuits had to be resolved over the course of 18 months before any music could be released.[17] In the interim, Smith, Levin, and Volk did studio work for producer Terry Melcher and jammed with local musicians including Jimi Hendrix, David Crosby, and others.[18] They also wrote and performed on two songs for Barry McGuire's 1968 album The World's Last Private Citizen.[19]

The group was "interested in more complicated music ... interested in lyrics of real poetry and, perhaps, with a deeper message for today's youth".[19] and wanted to "write our own tunes and connect with the culture of that day".[18] Two albums were released, Brotherhood (1968) and Brotherhood Brotherhood (1969), plus two singles, "Jump Out The Window" (1968) and "Don't Let Go" (1969). Smith co-wrote, with Levin and Volk, all of the songs on the first album.

Another album, Joyride, was released in 1969 under the name Friendsound. Influenced by Cage, Stockhausen, and Zappa,[19] the production was a "musical free-for-all … spontaneous jam session … eight-hands-at-the-control-board" [20] creation using musique concrète and other experimental forms. Smith was listed as co-writer on all but one of the tracks and credited for playing drums, tambourine, celesta, shovel, and console. Joyride was included along with other experimental albums on the 1979 Nurse with Wound list of avant-garde music.

All three albums were rereleased by Real Gone Music on a 2014 CD compilation Brotherhood/Friendsong: The Complete Recordings.

Later events

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Smith left Brotherhood after the Joyride album citing lifestyle conflicts and constant arguing.[19] He rejoined the Raiders in 1971-1972 for the Indian Reservation and Country Wine albums and associated tours. After leaving the Raiders, he lived in Oregon and Hawaii and pursued various individual music projects.

The Raiders classic line-up (Revere, Lindsay, Smith, Levin, and Volk) reunited for Dick Clark's Good Ol' Days II special in 1978. Four of the group, minus Revere, reunited again for a 1997 concert in Portland.[21]

On October 13, 2007, the entire group was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

Discography

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Paul Revere & the Raiders (1962-1967, 1971-1972)

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Main article: Paul Revere & the Raiders discography

Brotherhood/Friendsound

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  • 1968: Brotherhood (RCA LSP 4092) [d]
  • 1969: Joyride (as Friendsound, RCA LSP 4114)) [e][f]
  • 1969: Brotherhood Brotherhood (RCA LSP 4228) [g]
  • 2014: Brotherhood/Friendsound: The Complete Recordings (Real Gone Music RGM 0220)
Discography notes
  1. ^ Lead vocal on "I Know".
  2. ^ Co-writer on "There's Always Tomorrow".
  3. ^ Writer and lead vocal on "Our Candidate".
  4. ^ Co-writer on all 12 tracks.
  5. ^ Co-writer on five of six tracks.
  6. ^ Some sources have Friend Sound as the group name.[19]
  7. ^ After his departure from Brotherhood, Smith was replaced by Joe Pollard for this album, but the change was not publicized. Ron Collins also departed and was replaced by Lee Michaels[19]

Personal life

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Smith married longtime girlfriend Susan Moore on June 7, 1963, in Stevenson, Washington.[22] They had two children together, Rory and Alexandra.[6]

He met his second wife, Brenda Hibbs, in Brookings, Oregon, while he was recovering from a car accident. They married in 1978 and had two children, Rio and Jenna, before divorcing in 1996.[6]

Smith and girlfriend Mia Kiemele moved to Hawaii in 1997 where he enjoyed fishing, sailing, and hiking in addition to managing his business, Hot Lava Productions.[1]

Death

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Smith died on March 6, 2001, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii from natural causes after being found unconscious in his home.[23] After cremation and a memorial service, his ashes were returned to Portland and subsequently scattered in Hawaii.[24]

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References

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  1. ^ a b Thompson, Rod (13 March 2001). "Michael L. Smith, former Paul Revere drummer dies". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. 7. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  2. ^ Amans, Mark "Hoss" (2010). Where The Action Was: On the Inside of the Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll. Bloomington, IN: Xlibris. p. 69. ISBN 978-1456815905.
  3. ^ a b c d e Duchene, Paul. "So long, 'mad wizard', Raiders' drummer Michael 'Smitty' Smith dies in Hawaii". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  4. ^ 1958 Beaver. Beaverton, Oregon: Valley Publishing Inc. 1958. p. 89.
  5. ^ a b Blecha, Peter (2009). Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From "Louie Louie" to Smells Like Teen Spirit. New York: Backbeat Books. pp. 135–136. ISBN 978-0-8793-0946-6.
  6. ^ a b c d e Eder, Bruce. "Mike Smith Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. ^ The 1963 version was released as a single. The 1965 Here They Come LP has a different "Louie Louie" version with a different vocal intro.
  8. ^ Cianci, Bob (2006). Great Rock Drummers of the Sixties. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. p. 216. ISBN 978-0634099250.
  9. ^ Ciccone, Don. "An Interview with Paul Revere and the Raiders' Mark Lindsay". Stereo Embers. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  10. ^ Lindsay, Mark (13 March 2019). "Mark Lindsay Post". x.com. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  11. ^ Some sources credit session drummer Hal Blaine for the studio drumming on the major Raiders hit recordings,[8] but Mark Lindsay has confirmed that Smith was the drummer.[9][10]
  12. ^ "Paul Revere & The Raiders". Ed Sullivan Show. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Oregon: Paul Revere and the Raiders drummer Michael Smith Dies". Longview Daily News. 13 March 2001. p. 2.
  14. ^ "The TV Mail Bag". Atlanta Journal. 19 November 1966. p. 25.
  15. ^ Marder, Phill (17 March 2011). "Paul Revere & Raiders Face Long Ride to Hall of Fame". Goldmine. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  16. ^ Simmonds, Jeremy (2012). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press. p. 445. ISBN 978-1613744789.
  17. ^ Visconti, John (16 December 2020). "Paul Revere's Phil "Fang" Volk: Getting His "Kicks"". CultureSonar.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  18. ^ a b James, Gary. "Interview With Phil Volk Of Paul Revere And The Raiders". ClassicBands.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Kopp, Bill (23 April 2012). "Jump Out the Window: The Brotherhood Story (part 1)". MusoScribe. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  20. ^ Brotherhood (1969). Joyride (LP liner notes).
  21. ^ Prince, Patrick (17 August 2015). "Don't discredit Paul Revere and the Raiders". Goldmine. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Smitty's 'Secret'". 16 Magazine. New York: 16 Magazine, Inc. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  23. ^ Burghart, Tara (13 March 2001). "Drummer for 1960s rock band dies in Kona". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. p. 10.
  24. ^ Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 699. ISBN 978-1476625997.
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