Davey SmithHe might not have sideburns or take the stage in a sequined jumpsuit, but when Davey Smith gets behind the mike, he strives to act like The King.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been amazed by [Elvis Presley’s] whole deal, not just his singing or his music, but that whole persona he had,” Smith said. “His stage presence and owning the crowd is something that has always grabbed me and something I try to emulate.”
Elvis continues to shape Smith’s stage persona, but the local singer/songwriter was surrounded by music growing up.
His father and mother were members of a bluegrass band, and his uncle played pedal steel and banjo. At the time, Smith said, they were just as influential as outlaw country giants Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard would become.
“Before I could play, when I was young, they were as big as Elvis to me,” he said.