Legendary Guitar Maker Paul Reed Smith to Speak and Perform Friday Night of Fall Family Weekend

CHESTERTOWN, MD—World-renowned guitar manufacturer Paul Reed Smith will return to Washington College Friday, September 21 to speak and perform with his band.

            At 5 p.m. in “the Egg,” an intimate performance space on the first floor of Hodson Commons, he will talk about finding success in the music business. That talk is part of the George Washington Leadership Series of accomplished speakers.

            Later that evening, at 8 p.m., Smith will grab one of his guitars and lead the members of the Paul Reed Smith Band – bassist Gary Grainger, drummer Greg Grainger, guitarist Mike Ault and vocalist Mia Samone Davis—in a concert in Martha Washington Square, the open terrace outside the Gibson Center for the Arts. (In case of rain, the concert will move inside, into Decker Theatre.)

            Both the talk and the concert, which are part of a full schedule of events for the College’s Fall Family Weekend, are free and open to the public.

            A native of Bowie, Md., native Paul Reed Smith first began making guitars while studying at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. In 1975, he opened The Guitar Shop in Annapolis, where he custom-built guitars for local musicians. He formally established Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Guitars in 1985, and today the Stevensville-based firm is one of the largest manufacturers of high-end guitars in the world. Smith’s guitars, known for their distinctive tone and style, have been played by famous musicians of all genres and generations, from Carlos Santana to Dave Navarro to Jimmy Buffett.

            The Paul Reed Smith Band plays an eclectic mix of classic rock, current hits and original compositions and is known for its high-energy performances and interaction with the audience. The musicians have played throughout the United States and internationally. The band last performed at Washington College in late April, when Paul Reed Smith also offered a master class for students. For more information on the company, visit: http://www.prsguitars.com/index.php.