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Roy Smeck

Leroy Smeck (6 February 1900 – 5 April 1994) was an American musician. His skill on the banjo, guitar, and ukulele earned him the nickname "The Wizard of the Strings".

Birth and Death Data: Born February 6, 1900 (Reading), Died April 4, 1994 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, guitar, steel guitar, banjo, octo-chorda, composer, jew's harp, harmonica, ukulele, performer

Notes: Sometimes billed as the "Wizard of the Strings."

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 235 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-30546 10-in. 8/5/1924 Hayseed rag The Dizzy Trio Instrumental trio, with jew's harp and piano instrumentalist, banjo, jew's harp  
Victor BVE-35305 10-in. 4/12/1926 Twilight echoes Carson Robison ; Roy Smeck Octo-chorda and guitar duet instrumentalist, octo-chorda, composer  
Victor BVE-35306 10-in. 4/12/1926 Tough pickin' Carson Robison ; Roy Smeck Octo-chorda and guitar duet instrumentalist, octo-chorda, composer  
Victor BVE-36092 10-in. 9/2/1926 There's a new star in heaven tonight Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-36093 10-in. 9/2/1926 An old-fashioned picture Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-36364 10-in. 9/29/1926 The Miami storm Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-36365 10-in. 9/29/1926 A handful of earth from Mother's grave Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-36949 10-in. 11/19/1926 Far away in Hawaii Vernon Dalhart ; Carson Robison Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Victor BVE-39279 10-in. 6/21/1927 Itchin' fingers Art Kahn ; Roy Smeck Guitar and piano duet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-39281 10-in. 6/21/1927 Banjokes Art Kahn ; Roy Smeck Guitar and piano duet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-39282 10-in. 6/21/1927 The ghost of the banjo Art Kahn ; Roy Smeck Guitar and piano duet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-43505 10-in. 3/27/1928 Dream River The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano and octo-chorda instrumentalist, octo-chorda  
Victor BVE-46397 10-in. 12/18/1928 Trundle bed Frank McCravy ; James McCravy Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, guitar, jew's harp  
Victor BVE-46398 10-in. 12/18/1928 Hide away Frank McCravy ; James McCravy Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, guitar, jew's harp, harmonica  
Victor BVE-46399 10-in. 12/18/1928 Sister Lucy Frank McCravy ; James McCravy Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, guitar, jew's harp, harmonica  
Victor BVE-49299 10-in. 12/27/1928 Birmingham jail Bud Billings ; Joe Billings Male vocal duet, with violin and 2 guitars instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Victor BVE-49419 10-in. 12/28/1928 You're as welcome as the flowers in May Bud Billings ; Joe Billings Male vocal duet, with instrumental trio and whistling instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Victor BVE-49420 10-in. 12/28/1928 When the harvest moon is shining Bud Billings ; Joe Billings Male vocal duet, with instrumental trio and whistling instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Victor BVE-49421 10-in. 12/28/1928 How to make love Bud Billings Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-49422 10-in. 12/28/1928 Barnacle Bill, the sailor Bud Billings Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Victor BVE-49600 10-in. 12/27/1928 Columbus stockade blues Bud Billings ; Joe Billings Male vocal duet, with violin and 2 guitars instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Victor BVE-49873 10-in. 2/19/1929 She just kept kissing on Kelly Harrell Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, jew's harp, harmonica  
Victor BVE-49874 10-in. 2/19/1929 All my sins are taken away Kelly Harrell Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, harmonica, jew's harp  
Victor BVE-50885 10-in. 5/16/1929 Sittin' and whittlin' Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, jew's harp  
Victor BVE-50886 10-in. 5/16/1929 Do you believe? Billy Hays and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 235 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smeck, Roy," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104764.

Smeck, Roy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104764.

"Smeck, Roy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104764

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