G.E. Smith functioned as Saturday Night Live's bandleader and most dazzling on-stage presence throughout 1985–1995, anchoring musical segments and bridging sketches with energetic guitar work. He routinely backed musical guests, turned commercial breaks into showcases, and provided unmistakable charisma and visual flair. Smith built his career as a New York session musician before becoming Daryl Hall & John Oates's lead guitarist during the duo's peak, contributing signature riffs and appearing in their videos. He emphasized live performance strengths and hooks, and his presence shaped the show's musical identity during that decade.
"I've been so lucky because there's a zillion great guitar players," he says now. "This is the United States, it's lousy with great guitar players. I just happened to be at the right place and the right time. I'd show up, I'd meet this guy, I'd meet this woman, and then I'd be recording something in the studio. That's the story."
Prior to joining SNL,Smith found gainful employment as a session musician in New York City, which led to a multiyear stint as Daryl Hall & John Oates's lead guitarist during the duo's most successful era. (If you can't conjure up his intro riff to "Private Eyes," fix that immediately.) Smith also appeared in several of the duo's music videos, which teased his future SNL face-mugging persona. "Funny enough, I always thought I was more useful to the guys live than in the studio," he explains. "I was good with the hooks."
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