Fans of masterful guitar performances are in for a treat as the world-renowned fingerstyle guitarist Richard Smith returns to Sedona for a highly anticipated live concert. The show, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, is presented by SIFF and promises to be an unforgettable evening of extraordinary musicianship.
Praised by musical legends, Richard Smith’s guitar skills are nothing short of astonishing. Chet Atkins, often considered the “Godfather” of fingerstyle guitar, once said of Smith, “He can play anything I know, only better.” Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel called him “the world champion,” while thumbpicking wizard Doyle Dykes added, “Guitar playing at its finest. Don’t miss this one.” Muriel Anderson, renowned for her All-Star Guitar Night performances, simply described Smith as “one of the world’s greatest guitarists.”
Smith’s solo concert promises to deliver a musical journey that spans genres and eras. His setlist includes everything from classical Bach compositions and Beatles hits to Scott Joplin rags and gypsy jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt. Audiences will be treated to both high-energy, lightning-fast tunes and heartwarming ballads, often spiced with a vocal performance or two.
Richard Smith’s journey into the world of music began at the age of five, under the guidance of his father. Born in Beckenham, Kent, England in 1971, he quickly mastered the intricate picking styles of Chet Atkins and Merle Travis. By age eleven, he had the chance to perform alongside his hero, Chet Atkins, on stage at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London. Atkins, stunned by Smith’s talent, later referred to the young guitarist as his “Hero.”
Now based in Nashville, Richard Smith has earned accolades around the world, performing as a solo artist, as part of a guitar and cello duo with his wife Julie Adams, and with his brothers in the Richard Smith Guitar Trio. He also plays in the swing band The Hot Club of Nashville, which features top-tier musicians such as Stuart Duncan on fiddle and Pat Bergeson on guitar. Smith’s career highlights include winning the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2001, being named Thumbpicker of the Year in 2008, and his 2009 induction into the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame.
Smith has been a fixture at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville since 1991, where he’s performed with some of the music world’s greatest talents, including Boots Randolph and John Jorgenson of Desert Rose Band and Elton John Band fame.
Tickets for Richard Smith’s Sedona concert are priced at $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The event also includes a special meet-and-greet session with Smith in the lobby following the performance.
Don’t miss the chance to experience one of the world’s finest guitarists live in concert on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
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