Big Smith

Biography

Hailing from Springfield, MO, Big Smith mixes bluegrass, gospel, and acoustic country noises with Southern-accented rock and roll & roll right into a good-naturedly eclectic mixture which has gained the music group a loyal audience within the South and Midwest, because of repeated touring and a lively live show. Produced in 1996, Big Smith is normally a family group affair — the group contains two pieces of brothers, Tag Bilyeu (electric guitar) and Jody Bilyeu (mandolin and keyboards), in addition to Jay Williamson (percussion) and Mike Williamson (bass), most of whom eventually cousins, as is normally soundman and 5th member Rik Thomas. Motivated with the Appalachian gospel and dance music they was raised with, the associates of Big Smith began as an acoustic “hillbilly” quartet; as time passes, electric powered guitars, keyboards, and periodic horns begun to make their method in to the band’s repertoire, and Thomas became a member of the Bilyeu and Williamson brothers to greatly help deal with the band’s more and more elaborate touring timetable and occasionally sign up for the on-stage jams. With the band’s very own MayApple Information label, the group were able to discharge four albums in its initial seven years jointly — two studio room pieces, Big Smith and Big Rock and roll, and two completely different live recordings, a assortment of classic Appalachian gospel music known as Big Smith Relatives and buddies Live at Lonestar along with a raucous two-disc record of a far more typical live present, Gig.

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