JESSE SMATHERS
“Sleepy Eyed John”
DESCRIPTION:
After signing with Mountain Home as a solo artist, Lonesome River Band’s Jesse Smathers releases “Sleepy Eyed John,” an old favorite among old-time country, swing, and bluegrass musicians. Legendary banjoist of The Lost & Found, Gene Parker, inspired this version of ‘Sleepy Eyed John”. Originally written by fiddler-turned-actor Tex Atchison and made a hit by country singer Johnny Horton, Smathers wanted to give the song a mountainous string band flavor.
KEY SELLING POINTS
- Jesse comes from a long line of musicians. His grandfather, Harold Smathers, and grand Uncle Luke Smathers recorded for June Appal and were awarded the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1993.
- He joined Nothin' Fancy in 2014. That year he also he was also inducted in Phi Mu Alpha, a music fraternity, as an honorary Sinfonian, joining such greats as John Phillip Sousa, Count Bassie, Duke Ellington, and Andy Griffith.
- Lonesome River Band welcomed Jesse to the group as the mandolin player in 2015.
- In 2017, he won the IBMA Momentum Award for Vocalist of the Year.