Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith

Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith made his recording debut as a vocalist, while playing drums on the 1996 Earwig release Aron Burton Live (4935).  Kenny also played drums on the 1996 Earwig release by Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones, Ain’t Gonna Worry (4937), and on the 2008 release on Earwig, Hole In That Jug (4952) by Dennis Binder. He also played drums, as did his father Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, at the Earwig 30th anniversary concert at Evanston Space in 2009, which will be released on Earwig on CD and DVD.

Kenny Smith was raised in the heart of the Chicago blues scene. While other babies listened to nursery rhymes, Kenny listened to the blues, and the blues in Kenny’s house were played by America’s finest. His father, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, was one of the best-known blues drummers. Willie played in Muddy Waters’s band for some 30 years. So, it’s only natural that Kenny would grow up with a drumstick in his hand and a back beat in his head. Muddy Waters and his band were like family to Kenny, they encouraged his music and were his mentors.

In a recent article about Kenny’s drumming capabilities Robert Margolin said: “…Kenny … plays in the moment and provides a great drum part in any musical situation. He listens and creates in an instant. Kenny is certainly already one of the best drummers out there. Trust me on that. I’ve been on bandstands with some of the best–and the worst.”

While Kenny acknowledges that his father taught him 99% of what he knows, he has also studied with such great drummers as Odie Payne, Fred Below, Earl Phillips, S. P. Leary, Francis Clay and Art Blakey.

Kenny has performed with an impressive list of blues legends that includes Pinetop Perkins, Big Bill Morganfield, Homesick James, Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Townsend, Rusty Zinn, Fingers Taylor, Mississippi Heat and The Cashbox Kings– just to name a few. He has played on more than 50 albums with people like Jody Williams, Big Jack Johnson, Aron Burton, Lurrie Bell, Dave Myers, Kim Wilson, Paul deLay, Junior Wells and the Legendary Blues Band.

Kenny reports: “I am seriously developing my piano playing and my vocals. The harp is just a hobby, but the drums are my heart and soul. If there comes a time when I feel the blues is dying, I will make a Kenny Smith CD to carry on the tradition, to keep the blues alive. I grew up with the blues all around me, from the very day I was born, so the traditional blues will always be a big part of me. I can play different styles of music but I learned it all from the blues.”