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Tim Smith Biography I was born on May 29, 1955 in Havre de Grace, Maryland and lived with my family in Essex, MD up to the age of 13. In those years I learned to play the fiddle from listening to my grandfather Kilby Reeves and my two uncles, Tom Reeves and Bert Reeves, playing at various family functions. I was probably age 6 or 7 when I took an interest in fiddling. I studied classical music in the Maryland public school system starting in the 3rd grade and continued every year thereafter up to the middle of the 8th grade. Most all those years I spent as a first chair violinist in the schools orchestras and playing fiddle music on occasion. My father, mother, brother Ron and I moved back to dad and mom's hometown of Sparta, NC in 1968. Soon after the move to Sparta, it did not take too long for the community to discover that I was a fiddler. I was invited to perform with some of the local well known musicians such as Sparta's great banjo player, Fred Roupe, who would take me to the local square dances long before I was old enough to drive a vehicle. Playing at the dances really helped me with my timing and style of playing. I am very grateful for all the area musicians who showed me a lot about the music. After graduating from Alleghany High School I continued my music career ambitions. In the past 30 years, I have performed and recorded with a lot of my favorites in the business and I feel very honored to have done so. My discography listed here mentions just a few of the entertainers I have performed and recorded with as well as some of my own recordings. I look forward and anticipate to adding to the following partial list in the future.
Discography
* 1972 - 37th annual " Old Fiddler’s Convention " at Galax , Virginia ( L P )
* 1973 - 38th annual " Old Fiddler’s Convention " at Galax , Virginia ( L P )
* 1976 - L.W. Lambert and the blue River Boys " The Old , Old Man " ( L P ) Anvil Records
* 1977 - L.W Lambert and the Blue River Boys " Bluegrass Gospel " ( L P ) Anvil Records
* 1978 - Tim Smith " 1978 World Champion Fiddler " ( L P ) Anvil Records
* 1980 - The Bluegrass Cardinals " Sunday Mornin’ Singin’ " ( L P ) CMH Records , Inc.
* 1981 - The Bluegrass Cardinals " Where Rainbows Touch Down " ( L P ) CMH Records , Inc.
* 1983 - Gary Adams and the Bluegrass Gentlemen " New Freedom Bell " ( L P ) Old Homestead Records
* 1984 - Mike Hazlewood " Sounds Of The Blue Ridge " ( L P ) Eastwood Records
* 1985 - Kent Dowell " Blue Ridge " ( C S ) Dowell Productions
* 1986 - Tim Smith " Favorite Pastimes " ( L P ) Heritage Records
* 1987 - Jim Eanes " Reminiscing " ( L P ) Rebel Records
* 1987 - Zeke Saunders and The Blades Of Grass " Steam Engine Train " ( L P ) Heritage Records
* 1990 - Tim Smith " Straight From The Heart " ( C D ) Heritage Records
* 1993 - Arnie Solomon " Transatlantica " ( C S ) Heritage Records
* 1993 - James King " These Old Pictures " ( C D ) Rounder Records
* 1993 - Larry Stephenson " Wash My Blues Away " ( C D ) Webco Records
* 1994 - Larry Stephenson band " Born To Sing " ( C D ) Webco Records
* 1994 - Highstrung " Stop , Look , and Listen " ( C D ) Pine Castle Records
* 1995 - Country Gentlemen " Souvenirs " ( C D ) Rebel Records
* 1995 - James King " Lonesome and Then Some " ( C D ) Rounder Records
* 1995 - Mc Peak Brothers " Pathway To Heaven " ( C D ) Copper Creek Records
* 1995 - Union Springs " Next Train Headed South " ( C D ) Copper Creek records
* 1996 - The Bluegrass Cardinals " Mountain Girl " ( C D ) BGC Records
* 1997 - David Nance " My Own Sweet Time " ( C D ) Mid-Knight Records
* 1999 - Tim Smith " Plain and Simple " ( C D ) TRS Records, Inc.
* 2001 - Tim Smith " The Lonesome Blueridge " ( C D ) TRS Records, Inc.
* 2005- The Hungry Hash Ramblers "Passing The Buck" Flyin’ Cloud Records
* 2005- Marshall Stephenson & The Dixie Mountain Boys "Pure Roots Of Bluegrass" Audio Farm Records
*2006- Chris Malpass & Don Helms "Turn Back The Years" Chris Malpass & Don Helms Records
*2006- Marshall Stephenson & The Bluegrass Train Band "Back On Track"
Audio Farm Records
My grandfather Kilby Reeves, from Sparta, NC, was a great old-time fiddler---an early Galax,Va fiddler's convention champion-- and sought after area square dance fiddler. Kilby Reeves is also given credit for teaching legendary fiddler Art Wooten, who was also from Sparta, NC, to play the fiddle. Art was Bill Monroe's first fiddler to perform with him, as a Bluegrass Boy on The Grand Ole Opry in 1939. My grandfather and uncle Bert have passed on, but my uncle Tom continues to play and perform with various bands in the state of Maryland and elsewhere. We still try to get together for a good jam session when time permits. My dad, when he was younger, played good rythm guitar and we would play a lot of those great old fiddle tunes together. I can still remember hearing and seeing my father, grandfather and uncles playing music together at my grandfather and grandmothers' old homeplace. I was probably age 3 or 4 and was fascinated by how all the musicians would position themselves in a circle and play music together ( formally known as a jam session ). I do believe it was then that I decided I would like to play an instrument. It just looked and sounded like too much fun! I feel so lucky to have these wonderful memories of my family's music at such an early age. My dad and mom, both have been very supportive of my musical explorations and have a real love for the music. My father, grandfather and both uncles were very influential to me musically and were and are my earliest and favorite music mentors.
In 1977 I won the prestigious 1st place fiddle prize at the famed "Galax Fiddlers Convention" at Galax, Va. In 1978 I won the world championship fiddle prize at the famed " Union Grove Fiddlers Convention" at Union Grove, NC. I worked with a group called "The Bluegrass Cardinals" from 1979 to 1982. I have performed as a Bluegrass Boy with Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys. I have performed or recorded with the following; Lester Flatt and The Nashville Grass, Jim and Jesse and The Virginia Boys, Jim Eanes, Roy Acuff, Tommy Faile, Mac Wiseman, The Country Gazette, Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen, The Johnson Mountain Boys, Del McCoury, Vassar Clements, Chubby Wise, Jerry Douglas, Bill Emerson, Bobby Hicks, Kenny Baker, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, The Shenandoah Cut-ups, Tony Rice, Doug and Taylor Rorrer, John Starling, L.W. Lambert and The Blue River Boys, The Lost and Found, Craig Smith, George and John Shuffler, Blue Ridge, The Blinky Moon Boys, Marshall Stephenson, The Bluegrass Tradition, Lou Reid, Larry Stephenson, Jimmy Haley, Hersie McMillian, Ronnie Simpkins, Ricky Simpkins, Terry Baucum, Eric Ellis, Wayne Benson, Clay Jones, Leon Poindexter, R.C. Harris, The Cana Ramblers, Wes Golding, Hershel Sizemore and numerous others down through the years.
On June 19th, 1982 I married my beautiful wife, Anita. We have two wonderful children, Melissa 22 and Andrew 15, and we have lived in Kernersville, NC for the past 21 years. I was employed by a major airline for 23 years and after 9-11-2001, I decided to prepare for a new career and most recently accepted an early retirement from the airlines. I have always loved and enjoyed the music business so in 1999 I created my own record label, " TRS Records, Inc.", and have since recorded and released my most recent cd's "Plain and Simple" and "The Lonesome Blueridge" on my label. I have my own publishing company "Big Baby Boy Music-BMI". Performing, recording and teaching music is something I am very passionate about, and I am very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to do something I enjoy. I am a family man and I love spending time with my family, and the love and support I receive from them is simply wonderful.
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