Real gone Jack Smith hangs up his rock ’n’ roll shoes BY BOB GULLA

Calling it quits seems rather permanent, but that’s exactly what 60something rockabilly legend Jack Smith will be doing this weekend at the Narragansett Café when he plays his farewell show. Smith, the state’s undisputed king of roots and rockabilly, has invested his heart and soul in music for more than three decades, and his longevity and endurance provide true testimony to his love for the idiom. To help him mark the occasion, we thought we’d grab his thoughts before he mounted his steed and trotted off into the rockabilly sunset.

So what led you to make this decision, Jack?

I’ve been out of the loop for a little while and I haven’t really pushed the whole music thing lately. I just think it’s time to wrap it up. This weekend is definitely gonna be my last Rhode Island date. I may do one more down in New London this spring for my dear friend Jeff Mullen at the Bank Street Café. My life has changed so dramatically and for the better. I have a beautiful family, a lovely new bride, a real family, a five-month-old step-granddaughter. We all live right here together. I spent 30 years alone, literally. This family thing is a new experience. Of course, music tugs at me once in a while. But I’ve always believed that I’m a man of my word, so if I say, "This is it," it’s the way it’s gonna be. The fact is I can’t do music half-heartedly. It has to be done professionally. You spend time writing new songs, making albums, touring. I’m in my sixth decade of living. I can’t keep up that pace.

Has your new family situation hastened your decision?

Yeah, you could say that. Family is a big important thing. I’ve been without a family since I was a teenager. I just happened to meet my wife and it developed into an immediate necessity to be together. We got married last year, went to Paris on our honeymoon. And now, instead of picking the guitar up and writing and booking, it’s a question of dedicating myself to being a family man. I have no voids in my life now. My time is involved with other things. To do music the way it needs to be done, I have to dedicate so much of myself. I just don’t have that ability right now. I’m a horrible multi-tasker. I can’t do it all. I’m afraid if I dabble I’ll get the rep of a weekend warrior and music deserves more commitment than that.

Tell me about the things you’ll miss after you leave music.

That’s easy. I’ll miss most the audience. There are so many amazing people that have given me 30 years of support. I’ll miss the excitement, the actual performance. Being onstage is so exciting. I’ll never be able to replace that. All the people I’ve met . . . I’ll never forget them. But I’ll keep in touch. I pride myself in maintaining contact with the people who mean a lot to me. Guys like Sonny Burgess, Dave Alvin, Bill Kirchen, Commander Cody. Lately I’ve found myself losing touch, which means to me that things are beginning to unravel. I’ll keep in touch with them eventually. My father once told that a friend is someone who is there when you needed them and wasn’t when you didn’t. I thought that was worth remembering.

Won’t you feel that pull to stay in music?

The music has always pulled at me — it overpowers you sometimes, which is why I have to make a clean break and see where that takes me. If you’re on top of the fence and you’re teetering there, wondering what decision to make, you’re not here or there. I need to make a decision and learn to live with it. Though I’ve learned never to say "never."

How did you get your start, Jack?

A friend of mine in the tire business back in the early ’70s picked up a hitchhiker, and he was selling a D35 Martin guitar. This hitchhiker needed money and wanted $100 for the guitar and case. So I bought it to sell and make money, but I was encouraged to pick it up because I was a singer and never put it down. Soon after I met Rick Bellaire and made a demo with him. We were called Jack Smith with Rick Bellaire and Trouble, then, within a two-year period, we were Jack Smith and the Rockabilly Planet. I was 30 when I started. I started music at a time most people leave it.

What was the roots scene like back then?

I literally believe that when we started it was us and Memphis Rockabilly and maybe two other bands in all of New England playing this style of music. Within a few years, before we knew it, there were hundreds of bands across the country doing it.

Can you tell me about some of the highlights you’ve had?

Recording for Flying Fish, working with Carl Perkins and Little Richard, meeting all of those Sun rhythm guys: DJ Fontana, Scotty Moore, Sonny Burgess, Billy Lee Riley, all those guys down there. I never imagined that I would have met those people, and sit around and talk to the guys that were in a car with Elvis Presley when he was 19 years old and playing those revolutionary gigs.

Tell me what you’ve prided yourself on the most?

The respect of everyone. We were highly respected as people; we had a lot of respect as men. The guys in my band are superb musicians, but also wonderful men. Together we’ve earned the respect of our peers and our audiences.

What have you learned about the music business over the years?

I’ve learned that the only thing in the music business that won’t let you down is the music. And that you have to realize it’s a privilege and an honor to make music and make a living doing it. People are blessed to be able to do it, and should consider it an honor.

What do you think of the climate for roots music these days?

If a roots band is real good and has all the right things going for it, they’ll make it. But the climate has changed drastically since the ’70s, ’80s, even the early ’90s. I was just speaking with an agent that was predominant in roots, rockabilly, and alt-country booking and he says he literally can’t book anything on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday! I can’t hassle with that anymore. I’ve got too many birthdays under my belt to sweat it.

Jack Smith plays his farewell gig at the Narragansett CafŽ, 25 Narragansett Avenue, Jamestown on Saturday, November 19 | No cover | 401.423.2150

HEAR! HEAR!

On Friday (the 18th), Hear in Rhode Island and the RI Songwriters Association present "An Evening of Ocean State Songwriters" at the Blackstone River Theater, 549 Broad Street, Cumberland. It’s the third annual RISA show at BRT and will star eight songwriters performing in the round: Kristi Martel, Anna’s House, Jackie O’Brien, Jacqueline Bartlett, Ray Jorgenson, Michelle Cruz, Heather Rose, and Keith White. For a complete lineup and info about RISA and the artists, go to www.risongwriters.com. Proceeds benefit the RISA, Hear In RI, and Blackstone River Theater (all are non-profits). Admission is $10 and showtime is 8 pm. Call 401.725.9272.

WANDERING EYE

On Saturday at AS220, it’s the Sleazies and the Fashion Failures holding the local slots, along with Endangered Feces (Long Island), LIVEFASTDIE (NYC), THEE BISHOPS (NJ), and STRESSBOMB (CT). On Saturday at Cats in Pawtucket it’s another big rock show with Silversted, Big Bolt Deluxe, Tommy Coma, and Triplock. Also on Saturday at the Living Room, you can see Rebecfca Nurse with Ketchfraze and Clones of Sam at an all-ages outing. If you punk rockers have anything left for Sunday, you can help the Goners celebrate the release of their new CD at the Living Room. Mustache Ride, Hibakusha, the Flukes, and Engine Room share the bill. The show is all-ages. Before that on Sunday, you record geeks might do well to check out the venerable Providence Record Show &Rock &Roll Yard Sale at AS220. It runs from 1 to 5 pm and admission is free. On Wednesday (the 23rd), Headroom401 will do their thing at the Century Lounge. If you’re curious, the show will have a "Family Affair" theme. Doors are at 8 pm. Expandid will open and Kickback City will close.

E-mail me with your music news. It’s big.daddy1@cox.net.