Roy Smeck
| Roy Smeck | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Leroy Smeck |
| Also known as | The Wizard of the Strings |
| Born | February 6, 1900 Reading, Pennsylvania |
| Died | April 9, 1994 (aged 94) New York City |
| Genres | Jazz, country, ragtime, Hawaiian |
| Instruments | Ukulele, steel guitar |
| Years active | 1920s–1950s |
| Associated acts | Vita Trio |
Roy Smeck (born Leroy Smeck, 6 February 1900 – 5 April 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, Johnny Marvin and steel guitarist Sol Hoʻopiʻi. Smeck could not sing well, so he developed novelty dances and trick playing to supplement his act.
Smeck was one of only two vaudeville artists to play the octachordia, an 8-string lap steel guitar. He was introduced to the instrument by Sam Moore when he played on the bill with Moore and Davis in 1923. His 1928 recording of Sam Moore's Laughing Rag, played on the octachorda, is considered a classic of slide guitar.
Like so many of the performers during the era, he was a big fan of the instruments created by the C.F. Martin & Company and used a variety of their instruments. Smeck, like other performers, was unsuccessful in obtaining an endorsement deal with Martin, who limited their support to a 20% discount for all performers. As a result, he endorsed the Harmony and Gibson guitars and Harmony ukuleles. Smeck was also known for his work on the Harmony company's Vita-Uke along with a number of other version sold with his signature across the headstock.
Smeck was not a vocalist; to compensate he developed a large number of novelty items for his act. In addition to playing the ukulele with his teeth, he would play it behind his back or even use a violin bow.
Smeck was an early radio performer, putting together acts for appearances across the country. Almost all of them had his name in the band title, including The Roy Smeck Trio, The Roy Smeck Quartet, Roy Smeck and his Vita Trio, Roy Smeck's Novelty Orchestra and Roy Smeck and His Music Men.
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