Contemporary Jazz Guitarist Ronny Smith Mellow tone, subtle creativity, and ability to groove over catchy rhythms

Born in Baltimore Maryland, Grammy considered guitarist Ronny Smith is certainly one of the most underrated guitarists in music history. Smith’s playing is not dissimilar from Nick Colionne but with touches of Benson/ Norman Brown and even 70’s Johnny Guitar Watson, however, still owns his significant unique style.

He has recorded with some of the top session musicians of the Nashville and California scene, including, Gary Lunn (Peter Cetera), Pat Coil (Michael McDonald), Craig Nelson (Ben Tankard), and Dan Needham (Euge Groove), Scott Martin and Stan Martin (Quincy Jones) and Andy Martin (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat band). A premier jazz guitarist. His energetic and modern approach to standards and original compositions mesmerizes audiences and makes it impossible not to feel happy after listening. He is a master at creating atmospheres which make people eager to bury themselves in, and happy to stay submerged in for long lengths of time.

His unique style appeals to the audience, and shows in his number of releases which commenced in 2001 with ‘Long Time Comin’ and continued with ‘Laid Back’, ‘Got Groove’, ‘Simply Stated’, ‘Just Groovin’ and his highly acclaimed 2013 project ‘Can’t Stop Now’. Can’t Stop Now” is his sixth release and features the fantastic singles, "Slim Pickin" and, “City Groove”.

City Groove quickly became #1 on Billboards’ BDS New & Active SMOOTH JAZZ chart listing. Shortly thereafter, rose to become #25 on Billboards’ BDS radio SMOOTH JAZZ NATIONAL AIRPLAY top 30 charts. ‘Shake It Up’ followed four years later and in January 2020 he expands his discography yet further with ‘Raise the Roof’ and Coastal Sunset (2021) with his essential return with a special twist. As a result, he signed a licensed agreement with Sirius XM, a Broadcasting company that currently licenses his entire catalogue.

His experiences have afforded him the opportunity to tour extensively throughout the United States, Germany (Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Heidelberg), Nijmegen, Holland to La Paz, and Bolivia. He has shared the stage with such artists as the Marvelettes, and jazz drummer Bobby Durham.