Smokey Smith
If you read The Strange B16 post a few weeks back you’ll know we were wondering who the picker was with the neat modified Telecaster. Thanks to Jeff Baker of Des Moines, Iowa the mystery is solved. Turns out his name was John Fields. Unfortunately, he has passed and the guitar is long gone. Jeff printed out the picture and took it to Smokey himself (also known as Iowa’s “Mr. Country Music”) who identified all the players. Smokey is still going strong at 95! Awesome.
There’s also a book by Terry Manley about the bands Smokey booked at the KRNT Theatre in De Moines over the years. I’m ordering mine now, and you can get a copy here.
t
January 18, 2013 at 7:16 pm //
wow…good detective work fellows!…that’s a great pic…even better with addenda!
NEBRASKA:
Grand Island, KNNJ ??
go smokey!!
nice!
cheers
t
January 18, 2013 at 7:28 pm //
ps-
smokey & garland dye..with morrie jones..our original suspect
http://sonic.net/mjones/morrie/music.html
cheers
lee jeffriess
January 19, 2013 at 2:25 am //
Tk, I knew Johnny Rienfeld pretty well, he lived in Minneapolis.
He played excellent guitar and steel, he told me the high light of his career was ” subbing on bass for Thumbs and Curly”.
A very cool Gentlemen !!
admin
January 19, 2013 at 10:35 am //
Hey Lee, Thats crazy! Small world. Wonder where that tele ended up?
lee jeffriess
January 22, 2013 at 2:24 am //
At his house he had large photo of himself seated behind a D8 Rickenbacker and he is holding a tele, I don’t remember it having that front PU mod, but it was probably the same guitar.
I think the photo I saw was a little earlier ?
John was a very articulate smart guy and had a great memory, he could certainly spin a yarn !
Mike anderson
January 22, 2013 at 11:47 am //
Lee, was the Rick an “ole ulgy” aluminum/Bakelite, or something more in a console vein? Inquiring minds want to know… :)
t
January 22, 2013 at 7:53 pm //
the guys over at the steel guitar forum know some stuff about johnny…w pics!
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1493488&sid=e2fbafca599ce48efc88de7175502d31
cheers
lee jeffriess
January 27, 2013 at 4:25 pm //
Mike, it was the solid body console, kinda there version of a ”Dual professional” John was extremely knowledgeably about all things steel ! and I’m sure he was holding the unmodified version of the Tele in the pic !