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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSMITH, Darden(b 11 March '62, Brenham TX) Country singer, songwriter. Grew up in Houston; parents named him after a small-time rodeo rider, but he was soon more famous than that, with Lyle Lovett, Nancy Griffith, Robert Earl Keen one of the up-and-coming new Texas stars of the '80s. Played with garage bands in high school, moved to Austin and began appearing in clubs; led own band and evolved honky-tonk style owing nothing to e.g. the neo-hillbilly of Dwight Yoakum: excellent lyrics earned him honours at '85 Kerrville Folk Festival, came back '86 as feature artist; his yarn-spinning imagery makes characters come alive, like that of Guy Clark. Album Native Soil on his own RediMix label had Griffith and Lovett singing backup, guests such as Ponty Bone; Darden Smith '88 on Epic was prod. by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel. His music was too good for the modern country charts, but his cult following extends to Europe; recorded for Columbia in NYC incl. Trouble No More '91 and Little Victories '93. Deep Fantastic Blue '97 came out on Demon UK. |