Folk and Roll/ Country
Breezy folk and acoustic tear-jerkers intermingle with a little boogie and a little rock, making a solid, pop-inflected roots album without relying to heavy on standard formula.
Ric Taylor- The View Magazine

14 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk Pop, COUNTRY: Country Folk



Details:
Hamilton singer-songwriter, Les Smith playfully calls his music "Folk & Roll". His simple yet poignant lyrics and infectious melodies are unique in style. The songs reveal a great deal of humility, a sense of humour, and a folksy insight into the human condition.
Smith's experience as a blues harmonica player serves to inject a lot of soul into his music as well.

Les Smith had been writing and performing for friends and campfires since his late teens but began to take the craft more seriously in 1993 after winning a CBC radio contest to compose a song for Toronto's 200th birthday. The tune was called "Tranna" and was an irreverent spoof of Toronto from an outsider's perspective. He was subsequently encouraged to keep writing by song-writer Eddie Swartz ("Hit Me with your Best Shot") with whom he met and co-wrote on the radio show.

In 1996 Smith's song "Piece by Piece" was picked up by Sylvia Tyson and performed on Quartette's CD "Works of the Heart". The tune received high critical praise by CBC's late Clyde Gilmore(of "Gilmore's Albums") who claimed it was his favourite song on the album. "Piece by Piece" was also chosen by Timothy Findley for his musical "The Piano Man's Daughter" which toured across Canada in 1997.

Les's song "Weatherman" has been covered by Bourealis recording artists Ken and Chris Whiteley on their Juno Nominated "Sixteen Shades of Blue". Guitarist, Bill Candy recorded Smith's co-write with Chris Whitely, "Education in the Blues" on his "Common Ground" release in 2002. Most recently Smith's tune "The Hands that Rock Your Cradle" (co written with Kristi Magraw) was performed by Maple Blues award winner Suzie Vinnick on her 2003 release; "33 Stars". The same song placed second in the Ontario "Songs from the Heart" competition in 2000.

As well as writing his own music, Les plays harmonica, guitar, and sings; performing regularly with the Hamilton band Trickbag; all it's members are former King Biscuit Boy Alumni.
Smith's harmonica playing is featured prominently on Harrison Kennedy's Juno Nominated Album "Sweet Taste", Mike Birthelmer's "Grand Review", and various others.