Richard D. Smith

Hello past or new visitors:

In addition to my books and newspaper/ magazine journalism, here you’ll find sections on my bluegrass music and theatre work.

My latest: I recently had the great happiness of attending a supper party with bluegrass/old-timey music jamming. An old friend, banjo innovator/virtuoso Tony Trischka, was also a guest. So was an old friend of his — actor, comedian, playwright and ace banjo player Steve Martin.

I’ve long enjoyed Steve’s creative work, including his music. Of course, it was great fun to chat and pick with him & Tony.

They’re both as genuine and down-to-earth as people as is their music. 

In my writing about music, I did a cover story profile for the June 2022 Bluegrass Unlimited on Chris Hillman — also a highly talented but down-to-earth person — who’s stayed close to his bluegrass roots while being a founding member of the famed Byrds rock band and the also-popular Flying Burrito Brothers country-rock ensemble.   

I also published in the Bluegrass Today web magazine of September 13, 2022, what I believe is an important opinion piece on Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass,” as a pioneering – but widely unrecognized – autobiographical singer/song writer. (See my Bluegrass Music section). 

I’ve been co-creating with Kenny Kosek and Marty Cutler an original two-act comedy/thriller “Tentacles! The H.P. Lovecraft Musical.” 

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is now lauded by authors as prominent as Stephen King and Joyce Carol Oates as a distinctive stylist and among the greatest masters of supernatural/sci-fi/strange tales (see Theater section).

Best,

Richard