Gary Dean Smith – Interview
By Jeanie Straub
In 2011, Gary Dean Smith landed licensing deals for nine original songs with a Florida-based label. Two more of his original songs have been placed in the Rock Band video game library. “Diana Don’t Slow Down” in the Rock Band Country library, and “Fair Weather Friend” in the Rock Band Blues library. His original tune, “Your Gentle Soul”, was written and produced specifically for a project that Tulsa based producer, Scott Russell, is preparing for release. Scott also contracted Gary to cover the Eric Clapton tune, “You Were There” which is being included on the album The Tulsa Sound Then and Now, which features various artists including Leon Russell and Eric Clapton himself. See more at Garydeansmith.com. The singer/songwriter was fortunate to have a variety of teachers and influences, including spending time with jazz great Joe Diorio.
Straub: Would you consider yourself a Colorado-based performer?
GDS: Yes. I moved to Denver from L.A. 6 years ago. My publicist, Marlene Palumbo at Indienink Music is based in Fort Collins. So that is a pretty definitive “Yes.”
Straub: Do you do a lot of live shows in Denver? When is your next gig?
GDS: Last year I gigged regularly with a popular local band. Writing and licensing opportunities trumped that at the end of 2010. I plan to have a gigging band soon, focusing on originals & showcasing. In the meantime I’m looking forward to sitting in with other players at jams and doing some more writing and recording. I enjoy getting out and playing. Writing is wonderfully fulfilling but does require a lot of solitude. I need that balance. How was that for the short answer?
Straub: What can you tell us about the time you spent with jazz great Joe Diorio?
GDS: I was in my mid 20s at the time I was studying with Joe. He taught me many things. Music was the focus, but more than that, it was the catalyst for many other teachings. Joe is an incredible human being as well as being one of the most creative jazz guitarists ever. He was always humble and kind with an aura of coolness and hipness in the room whenever he was around. Joe and I would play for an hour or so (really Joe would play and I would sit and watch in awe). I learned humility, spirituality in the context of music, creativity and how it all relates universally. I have some video of a lesson I had with him and you can literally see my playing change right before your eyes. Joe is a great communicator and great soul.
Straub: Who or what were some of your other influences?
GDS: Listening to Robben Ford, Wes Montgomery, Allman Bros, Frank Marino, etc. Along with Joe, I was personally influenced by James Burton during the Leo Fender jam. That weekend literally caused me to stop gigging and spend a year woodshedding to learn that country-blues thing. My friend, Greg Gaffney, is the one who encouraged me to start writing and performing originals.
Straub: What about the video game songs? What was that experience like?
GDS: I am an avatar on Rock Band! How fun is that? The sessions were four days of intense work at Backbone Studio in Loveland. Producer Jason Larson did a fantastic job. We had a tight, organized schedule that went off without a hitch. A parade of professionals came in and did their parts. Read the credits of BACKBONE SESSIONS #1 EP and you will see all of the talent involved. It was great fun. You can hear that in the songs.
Straub: What are you working on now?
GDS: A well-known National Organization has asked me to write a song for them. It’s a theme song as well as a source of fund-raising for charities and scholarship programs. So we are putting that together.
Category: The Rock
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