The great Smokey Greene was one of my favorite country/bluegrass artists. I would always catch his band at the last “Music in the Park” concert date up in Stony Creek in August. It always seemed right to catch Smokey in that small Adirondack hamlet. And ya know what? This year I missed his closing show for that venue, which I now deeply regret. I guess I thought he would live on forever, and I would catch up with him next summer.
He seemed unstoppable, traveling the Eastern Seaboard to major bluegrass/country music venues, big and small, even performing on a Royal Caribbean Cruise.
Smokey looked great and photographed well. How could he not? Big, tall, handsome, dressed to kill, and always sporting a big hat. Smokey made us laugh, made us proud of our country, and then made us part of his family after seeing one of his shows.
You could walk right up to Smokey and start up a conversation. In front of you would be the great Smokey and his pipe, that beloved old patch jacket he wore, and his million-miles guitar case. Look at his guitar case! Those stickers all over it are a source of entertainment in and of themselves, and if you look closely, you’ll understand the miles Smokey had put in to entertain us all. That man traveled, and recorded, and performed, and sold CDs, and started bluegrass festivals, and performed with the biggest bluegrass performers in the country. And that patch jacket he always wore? A homemade gift and pure Americana. That needs to be put in a museum.
We received the public announcement in 2023 through Proctors Collaborative, that 93-year-old Smokey would be inducted into The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame, The Eddies honors local individuals who have made outstanding contributions to, or significant impact on the evolution, development, and perpetuation of the music industry. And boy did he! A well-deserved honor for a man who entertained us for over eight decades. His acceptance speech at the Universal Preservation Hall was less than 30 seconds, which for a man of many songs, speaks to one of his most unique traits… Smokey was down to earth.
I know Smokey’s family, friends, fans; Hank Soto, Kevin McKrell, and the Bluegrass / Country Nation were very proud that special night last winter of the man who has always proven that being true to one’s art was the way to go.
And let us not forget the fact that Smokey was a proud veteran during the Korean War, serving with the US Airforce. He always remembered those that served, those that served and did not come home, and those that are currently serving. He sang for veterans because he personally knew who they were, what they were going through. He always brought us back to what really mattered.
So, if you think you have plenty of time to do – whatever - think again.
Passing up seeing Smokey one last time was a hard lesson to learn.
