Kenneth Smith (5)

"Big" Ken Smith bassist and songwriter from Cookeville, Tennessee. A groovy bassist and growling lead singer, Smith is a regular guy with prodigious talents. He's been wallowing in music ever since his earliest days in Tennessee. His dad was a blues man and his brothers, Bobby Smith (6) and Dallas Smith (4), were both bluegrass musicians. As kids, Ken and his brothers were all in a band together called The Boys from Shiloh, which also featured the great fiddler Vassar Clements. During his 15-year stint as band leader for country star Bobby Bare, Ken traveled all over the world. He also recorded with the Big Dawgs group and toured Europe with them. It wouldn't be long before Ken toured Europe again, but this time with his own Ken Smith Band. The band played a mix of blues meet Southern rock. Working with his own band enabled Ken more time to concentrate on his songwriting. One of Smith's prime songwriting inspirations became a frequent co-writer - Don Nix, who penned such blues-rock classics as "Going Down," and "Same Old Blues. Another of Smith's frequent collaborators was Gary Talley. Ken had known Gary from his Nashville days when he was the original lead guitarist for the Box Tops. See also Ken Smith Songs