By: Tracy Sanders | tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
T-Bone Smith isn’t your typical musician. Born from the heart of garage band culture, Smith transcends the ordinary with a blend of authenticity and musical innovation that’s hard to find in today’s music scene. “I just consider myself a garage band musician who just happened to get a few lucky breaks,” T-Bone remarks, encapsulating his humble beginnings and serendipitous rise in the world of music.
Refusing to be pigeonholed into any singular genre or trend, T-Bone Smith has always carved his own path, with a disdain for the insincere and a thirst for genuine creativity. “I hate fake people and phony smiles,” he states, showcasing his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to life and music. This philosophy has guided his journey from playing covers in local bars to creating his own distinctive sound. “Well, if you paint, you don’t try to recreate ‘The Mona Lisa’, do you? I refuse to paint by the numbers or color within the lines. I gotta be creative,” T-Bone declares, emphasizing his commitment to originality.
Despite starting in cover bands, T-Bone’s ambition was never just to emulate others. His early bands, Southern Ecstasy and 20 Point Turn, saw success with Electric City Records and even graced local TV stages. His versatility as a musician is evident from his stints as a record producer and a session bass player, working with icons like George McCorkle of the Marshall Tucker Band and Artimus Pyle of Lynyrd Skynyrd. “If it was a gig, I took it. I wasn’t above playing with nobody. I do it because I love it. And if I make a bill or two from it, then that’s good too,” he explains, highlighting his pragmatic yet passionate approach to his career.
In 2018, T-Bone Smith embarked on a solo journey with the release of “Going Back Forward,” a project that symbolizes both a look back at his roots and a step into new musical territories. His follow-up, “Friday Night Deja Vu,” saw him collaborating with his wife Amy and their friends The Benders, further expanding his creative horizons.
T-Bone Smith, now 59, has faced remarkable challenges that would sideline many. Eight years ago, a stroke rendered his left eye completely non-functional, and glaucoma severely compromised the vision in his right eye. Despite these adversities, T-Bone’s resilience shone through when he underwent surgery to remove a cataract and received an artificial lens, a procedure that preserved the remaining 10% vision in his right eye. While he can no longer drive, T-Bone has adapted to his condition with the aid of dark glasses, which mitigate his sensitivity to light and enable him to continue seeing the world around him, albeit in a new way. “A lot has changed, but the music in me never did.” T-Bone reflects, his spirit undeterred by the trials life has thrown at him.
T-Bone declares with unmistakable pride, “Despite being handicapped I’m blessed to still be able to live life and enjoy doing this. Just because I’m disabled and can’t do certain things doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy life. And I choose to enjoy life.”
As a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, T-Bone plays the bass, guitar, keyboards, and drums, embodying the spirit of a true musician. From a garage in Woodruff, SC to the studio, T-Bone Smith continues to inspire with his unwavering dedication to his craft and his fearless pursuit of the uncharted musical landscapes that lie ahead.
Author: Tracy Sanders
