Paul Reed Smith is known as a guitar maker and leader of PRS Guitars. What is not commonly known is that Paul is a musician, songwriter and studio owner. Throughout his journey to find the ultimate tone in his guitars, a large number of extraordinary musicians have gravitated to playing music with him. In the beginning, this was for national music trade and guitar shows, music stores, guitar clinics and PRS Guitar promotional events. The goal was to sell guitars and let people know the head of the company could play. All the people joining him were professional musicians, but Paul doesn't consider himself a pro musician. He considers himself more of an expensive hobbyist who loves to play.
Paul loved music long before he ever built his first guitar. At one time, his father was a big-band leader and gave him a ukulele at the age of 4. "When the Beatles first came out, my mother was one of the first to buy their music. She used to play guitar and sing and my father encouraged us all. My mother had a Hi-Lo classical guitar and I remember trying to play 'Day Tripper' on it when I was about 12 or 13. But the first thing I played was bass. We used to play things like 'Proud Mary' during the 8th grade." Paul continued to play bass, then guitar in numerous short lived bands during high school.
When his interest for building guitars came about in his senior year of high school, this would become a huge turning point in his life. Building guitar's allowed him to rub elbows and jam with some of the most talented musicians in the business including Ted Nugent, Santana, Orianthi, Maná and Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge. Eventually, he was lucky enough to write and record with some of them.
Paul Reed Smith’s journey to find the ultimate tone in his guitars, combined with his passion for music and desire to share it with others, is the meaning behind this site. The CD’s currently offered are just two of many more to come.
Paul Reed Smith had no idea what he was going to experience at The Ricky Skagg's Family Studio in Tennessee, but hoped it would be something magical. The session was set up around Paul's 53rd birthday and his wish came true. He collaborated with gifted musicians such as Chuck Brown (The Godfather of Go-Go), Liz Hogue, Sergio Vallin (Mana), Cody Kilby (Ricky Skaggs and the Kentucky Thunder), Tony McManus, Marshall Keys , Gary and Greg Grainger, Michael Ault and Ralph Perucci to record tracks to be musically in tune with Ricky's Studio, and music Paul and the musicians loved.
Click Here to listen to some samples.
Paul Reed Smith (founder of PRS Guitars) and Derek St Holmes (former guitarist for Ted Nugent) spent two years writing these songs with Mike Ault and, Gary and Greg Grainger contributing. The CD is centered around Derek's voice, the powerful Grainger Brother's rythym section and Michael and Paul's guitar teamwork. Derek has an international reputation for being one of the best voices in rock. Basic tracks were recorded live at the Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore and mixed at Paul’s studio and mastered by Bob Ludwig, owner of Gateway Mastering.
