Limehouse Blues - Roy Smeck

Roy Smeck, born Leroy Smeck (1900-1994) was an American musician. His skill on the banjo, guitar, steel guitar, and especially the ukulele earned him the nickname "Wizard of the Strings." Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Smeck started on the vaudeville circuit. His style was influenced by Eddie Lang, Ikey Robinson, banjoist Harry Reser, and steel guitarist Sol Hoopii. Smeck could not sing well, so he developed novelty dances and trick playing to supplement his act. Smeck invented and endorsed the Vita-Uke and other stringed instruments marketed by the Harmony Company of Chicago. He made over 500 recordings for various companies, including Edison Records, Victor Talking Machine Company, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Crown Records, RCA Records and others. He also wrote instruction/method books and arrangements for the instruments he played.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Limehouse
• Blues
• Roy
• Smeck
• the
• Wizard
• of
• Strings
• Lap-Steel
• steel
• guitar
• Hawaiian Guitar
• Bottleneck
• Instrumental
• Vaudeville
• Vita-Uke
• Harmony
• compagny