I have known Chris Smith, the founder of the band for many years, and since Chris decided to get his work published digitally I have was delighted to help reach a worldwide audience.

Chris asked me publish a retrospective compilation of his solo work shortly after the demise of Queen’s front man, Freddy Mercury. Chris knew Freddie when he was at Art School in London in the Sixties and played keyboards in the band Smile, the group that was the precursor to Queen. This is a story that is well documented in his biography, “The Smile File (The Precursors of Queen)”.

Chris Smith has an impressive CV with main bands over the decades. It was no surprise when he approached me again to discuss his new project The C J Smith Band, which can be described has a super group of experienced musical all stars from the Leeds area. The double album “Autumn” the third release in a series of album since the band got together in 2019.

The band’s frontman, C J Smith, a multi-instrumentalist performing lead vocal, piano, electric and acoustic guitars and occasional harmonica. Lead guitarist Christy Herron and replacement Johnny Vincent are featured on the double album with the band’s two Johns; Heap on Bass and Shepard on drums and percussion, Ian Rose plays organ and keyboards to complete the sound of The C J Smith Band. Additional musicians featured on the album that are rarely see at their live performances are James Perris (steel guitar) and Katie Heap providing harmony vocals.

It’s been an interesting journey see The C J Smith Band develop from recording some demos with Chris singing and playing guitar into a microphone to getting that artwork and audio files together ready for publication and distribution.

The band describes their music as Americana, Roots, Country Blues and Soul, summed up with the cover of the first Album “Going West” that features the Vista Dome Twin Zephyr locomotive thundering through the country between Chicago and St. Paul-Minneapolis. A postcard sent to Chris when he was a small boy inspired dreams of distant adventures in the Wild West.

Like many teenagers of Chris Smith’s generation, he was inspired by the music of Dylan that influenced his own composition. Autumn is the final album from The C J Smith Band, Chris jokingly says he has sacked himself! Like the rolling tumbleweed Chris moves onto his next project the band has served its purpose. The Album is possible the most diverse range of musical styles ever recorded by the band, Chris describes the songs has protest songs, and feels it is some of his best work. The recording has really captured the natural quality of his unique voice.

The album is released May 2024 see events page.