Guitarist Johnny Smith will always be best
remembered for his 1952 hit recording of "Moonlight in Vermont,"
a mellow ballad that also features Stan Getz. Smith, whose chordal-oriented
style is self-taught, originally played trumpet, violin, and viola
before switching to guitar. A studio musician from 1947 on, Smith's
impressive technique and quiet sound made him in great demand
even before "Moonlight" and, although he never had another
hit, he was a popular attraction throughout the 1950s. After moving
to Colorado in the 1960s he opened a music store, taught, and
maintained a lower profile, occasionally recording in New York.
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