G.E. Smith Brings His American Blues Series to The Suffolk With Special Guest Albert Lee

Guitarist and East End resident G.E. Smith returns to The Suffolk with his American Blues Series featuring special guest Albert Lee on Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m. Get ready for the soul-stirring rhythms of blues legends Smith and Lee when these two iconic television musical directors join forces for one night only.

Albert Lee is a Grammy Award-winning British guitarist and multiple recipient of Guitar Player Magazine’s “Best Country Guitarist” who is celebrated by fans and musicians the world over for his finger style and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked both in the studio and on tour with many notable musicians from a wide range of genres including Eric Clapton, the Everly Brothers, Bill Wyman, Emmylou Harris, Joe Cocker, Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash and more. In 2002, he appeared on stage at the “Concert for George,” celebrating the life and music of Beatle George Harrison. Lee is touring the U.S., Canada and England in 2024 and 2025 celebrating the release of his new album, “Lay It Down.” Recorded at the legendary Konk Studios in London in March 2024, the album is a tribute to some of Lee’s favorite artists and biggest inspirations.

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 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 group’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. Smith has said of this time, “I was really lucky to meet Daryl and John in the summer of 1979. 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 are $39 to $59 at thesuffolk.org. The Suffolk is at 118 East Main Street in Riverhead.