Jeffrey Ryan Smoots
Hello! Here´s a short bio:
I´m a musician and a computer nerd. I´ve been playing musical instruments since I was old enough to hold my Father´s guitars (Les Pauls and Strats!) and play my Mother´s piano. At age thirteen I realized that I wasn´t going to be tall enough to be a professional basketball player, so I took formal guitar lessons to see if I had the gift of music that my parents have. I found something that I love and I´ve been playing ever since.
My major guitar influences include: Alex Lifeson, Eric Johnson, Phil Keaggy, Ty Tabor, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Paul Gilbert. I´m a huge fan of progressive rock music, particularly bands like Rush, Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and Kings X. I´m also an unrepentant metal-head and shredder, spending countless hours listening to (and learning from) bands like Racer X, Loudness, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Dio, and Ozzy Osbourne.
I´ve been playing guitar for nearly 20 years now. Through the years I´ve been in a few bands, paying my dues in the Seattle club circuit. I´ve released 5 albums and appeared on several compilation albums. I´ve been featured in Guitar for the Practicing Musician´s Spotlight column and Guitar One Magazine´s Fretbuzz column. I´ve written guest columns for Guitar 9 Records, Insane Guitar, and Sounduser.com. And I write album reviews for Prog4You.com.
2001 Despair to Peace (released by Fossil Records)
2001 Spank Your Inner Child (remastered CD audio edition, released by Fossil Records)
2000 Wings of Gold - Special Edition
2000 Spank Your Inner Child (mp3 edition, available from mp3.com)
1998 Wings of Gold
1991 Hybrid
1989 Of Sound Mind
1988 Tempt
1986 Bristol Shore www
