G.E. Smith and His American Blues Series in Concert at The Suffolk

Get ready for the soul-stirring rhythms of blues legends G.E. Smith and his special guest Jimmy Vivino when these two iconic television musical directors join forces for one night only. Smith returns to The Suffolk with his American Blues Series featuring Vivino on Friday, January 10, at 8 p.m.

Jimmy Vivino (aka Jimmy V) has always considered himself “a blues man with a job.” Although best known for serving 26 years as Conan O’Brien’s musical director, guitarist and bandleader, his experience in the music business predates that by 20 plus years.

Jimmy V has produced, led bands and recorded with a countless number of rock ’n’ roll and blues artists for five decades including the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Warren Haynes, Bob Weir, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Johnnie Johnson, Son Seals, Shemekia Copeland, Levon Helm, Phoebe Snow, Dion, Laura Nyro, Bob Margolin, Lowell Fulson, John Sebastian, Joe Louis Walker and Al Kooper, to name a few. When not producing, recording or touring with other artists, Vivino still tours the country and the world with his own band. A musician all his life, he also devotes his time to organizations that are close to his heart and helping to promote causes such as The Blues Foundation, Songs of Love to help terminally ill children and God’s Love We Deliver charity to feed the Hungry.

G.E. Smith is one of the most in-demand blues and rock guitarists in the world. He may be best recognized as the Emmy award-winning bandleader for NBC’s Saturday Night Live that millions of viewers would see on their televisions every week. He has also done extensive touring playing in the bands of Bob Dylan, Roger Waters and recording with artists such as Mick Jagger, Tom Waits and many more. His first big break, however, came in 1979 when he teamed up with Daryl Hall and John Oates. For the next six years they recorded and toured almost nonstop. Many of the duo’s biggest records were made during this period. Songs such as “Private Eyes,” “Maneater,” “I Can’t Go for That” and “Out of Touch” propelled Hall and Oates to the top of the popular music world.

“I was really lucky to meet Daryl and John in the summer of 1979,” Smith has said. “I had been living in New York City for about a year at that point playing whatever kind of gig I could pick up.”

Tickets range from $35 to $69 at thesuffolk.org. The Suffolk is at 118 East Main Street in Riverhead.