Eugene Smiley

Eugene (born 12th January 1944 in New Orleans) lived between New Orleans, Kansas City, and a little place south of Jackson, Mississippi, Brookhaven. He moved to Chicago after High School and after he had been to Motown and eventually signed to Brunswick with the rest of the group The Visitors (Darrell Penrays, baritone singer. Wilbert Taylor, second tenor, and Ray Foreman, first tenor). Eugene left Chicago in ’70, ’71, and started re-establishing himself back in Kansas City, although he still toured and stuff, he didn’t want to live in Chicago. Smiley has performed with Johnnie Taylor, Al Green, Rufus Thomas, Bobby Womack, Albert King, Al Green, the Stylistics, Eddy Kendrics, Albert Collins, Vernon Garrett, The Chi-lites, and a host of other illustrious musicians. Smiley as a co-founder, lead vocalist, and lead guitarist of the "Mighty BWB Show Band", as well as touring with Brody Buster from 1995 to 1997. Smiley also formed the four-piece Eugene Smiley Blues Band and the eight-piece ESB Show Band. His son, Eugene Smiley Jr., also performs and records blues music out of the Kansas City area.