As a guitarist myself, I love hearing guitar records from the 20s and 30s of almost any genre.
Roy Smeck, credited as “The Wizard of the Strings” on this Decca label, played guitar, banjo, ukulele, and octochord (lap steel guitar with 8 strings) on many 78 rpm discs starting in the mid 20s. His playing style ranged from Hawaiian guitar records with Frank Ferera to early country records by artists such as Carson Robison and Frank Luther.
He also played banjo on records for early jazz bands such as The Georgians and The Cotton Pickers. In the mid 30s, he played guitar on several sides with Clarence Williams.
“Slippery Fingers” demonstrates Smeck’s showy playing style which in its own way foreshadows later players such as Chet Atkins. Smeck playing here was no doubt inspired by early guitarists like Nick Lucas and Eddie Lang, among others.
Which reminds me – a long time ago on my instagram channel I played my three recordings of Nick Lucas’ guitar classics “Picking the Guitar” and “Teasing the Frets”. Need to get good transfers of those three up here!
Recorded on April 9, 1936.
Released as Decca 1089.
Credits:
Roy Smeck – guitar
Unknown artist – guitar accompaniment