From that moment on he was Fred 'Sonic' Smith. Though it featured the anthemic "People Have the Power," a song that would become a highlight of Patti's live shows, Dream of Life failed to find an audience, despite strong reviews. fred smith's obituary from the village voice, 1994 The Motor City lost another one of its musical native sons when Fred Sonic Smith died last Friday in Detroit's St. John's Hospital. Contribute. He was 45. The couple moved to St. Clair Shores, a suburb of Detroit, and quietly settled down to raise a son and a daughter away from the media spotlight and the rigors of a musician's life. They also contributed a song to the Wim Wenders film "Until the End of the World." Frederick Dewey Smith (September 14, 1949 – November 4, 1994), known professionally as Fred "Sonic" Smith, was an American guitarist, best known as a member of the influential and political, Detroit rock band, the MC5. He was married to singer and poet Patti Smith. Fred "Sonic" Smith. During his early childhood, Smith's family moved to Detroit, MI, and at the age of 12 he began learning how to play guitar. The group's final LP, High Time, was the first to feature individual songwriting credits for the group's originals, and Smith contributed two superb hard rockers, "Sister Anne" and "Skunk (Sonically Speaking)," that open and close the album, while his sole lead vocal with the band, "Shakin' Street" (from Back in the USA), was one of that album's finest and most distinctive moments. It is difficult to understand. Overview ↓ Biography ↓ Songs ↓ Credits ↓ Related ↓ Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Mr. Smith was born in West Virginia but soon moved to Detroit. Fred wrote much of the material in collaboration with Patti, played guitar on the album, and helped to produce the sessions. Sadly, it would prove to be one of Fred's last major projects. Later, he founded Sonic's Rendezvous Band, which released one single, "City Slang", during Smith's lifetime. The band was signed to Elektra Records after its performance at the stormy 1968 Democratic National Convention, and released a controversial live record, "Kick Out the Jams." He soon formed a band called Ascension, reuniting with fellow MC5 vets Dennis Thompson and Michael Davis, but the band proved to be short-lived, and in 1973, Smith teamed up with another veteran of the Detroit scene, Scott Morgan, the former lead singer of the Rationals. After recording two more albums, "Back in the U.S.A." and "High Time," for Atlantic Records, the group disbanded in 1972. Today we pay homage to Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith, rhythm guitarist and songwriter with the revolutionary ‘60s Detroit band MC5: a Visionary Motherfucker who died of ill health at the age of just forty-five. Listen to music from Fred "Sonic" Smith like It Takes Time, People Have The Power & more. These bands (along with the Stooges and other Detroit-centered groups) advanced a strong political aesthetic in rock, as well as a totally "in your face" sound that was a prototypical … Later in life he married and raised a family with poet and fellow rock musician, Patti Smith. The recording quality is really good as well. In 1964, Smith and Kramer joined up with another of Detroit's teenage rock enthusiasts, Rob Tyner, and they decided to form a band called MC5 -- standing for "Motor City Five" and designed to make the group's name sound like a hot-rod club. Explore {{searchView.params.phrase}} by color family {{familyColorButtonText(colorFamily.name)}} Guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith of the group MC5 poses for a portrait in 1968 in Detroit, Michigan. Sonic's Rendezvous was one of the finest and most electrifying American rock bands of their day, but given the bad reputation MC5 and the Stooges left upon the music industry, a band featuring members of both groups would prove to be a tough sell, and the group was never able to score the record deal they richly deserved. In 1999, the same label released a second Sonic's Rendezvous collection, City Slang, which mixed a variety of live performances with the rare studio recording of the title cut. Fred 'Sonic' Smith was born on September 13, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan, USA as Frederick Dewey Smith. According to family friends, Smith was admitted midweek after collapsing at home, but succumbed on Friday to heart failure. While the band's early material was fairly standard-issue stuff for a local teen band of the mid-'60s, MC5's guitarists began exploring their shared passion for the blues, their budding fondness for the exploratory possibilities of jazz, and the otherworldly roar of guitar feedback. In 1967, MC5's musical approach attracted the attention of poet and counterculture organizer John Sinclair, who became the group's manager and put a new emphasis on the band's previously subtextural political slant. Fred 'Sonic' Smith also has a position among the list of Most popular Guitarist. Fred “Sonic” Smith was the rhythm guitar player in proto-punk band the MC5.He later went on to form Sonic’s Rendezvous Band.With Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, Smith released only one single, the classic Detroit rock song, “City Slang”.. Smith was married to the punk pioneer and poet Patti Smith, until a sudden fatal heart attack, at the age of forty five. Frederick Dewey Smith, known professionally as Fred “Sonic” Smith, was an American guitarist, best known as a member of the influential and political Detroit rock band, the MC5. Fred "Sonic" Smith was a legendary rock and roll guitarist from the Detroit scene. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. As the entertainment wing of the White Panther Party led by its manager, John Sinclair, the MC5 also developed a reputation for radical politics. Fred has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on September 13, 1943. In the late '80s, his health went into decline, and on November 9, 1994, Fred Sonic Smith died of heart failure in a Detroit hospital -- ironically, the same malady that took the life of MC5 vocalist Rob Tyner two years earlier. Other articles where Fred Smith is discussed: Patti Smith: …she raised a family with Fred (“Sonic”) Smith, founder of the band MC5. As the new house band of the radical, leftist White Panther Party, MC5 became one of the most controversial bands in America. MC5-Wikipedia. By the time Smith was in junior high, he was good enough to be playing in a local band, where he met Wayne Kramer, a classmate who, like Smith, was playing British Invasion-influenced garage rock; Kramer also shared Smith's curiosity about exploring unusual musical avenues. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from Fred "Sonic" Smith. He was married to Patti Smith. After Fred's death, Patti Smith returned to recording and performing, often citing Fred's influence upon her work, and a steady stream of archival MC5 releases brought his music to a new generation of fans. Fred (Sonic) Smith, a guitarist for the influential rock band the MC5, died on Friday at St. John's Hospital in Detroit. The cause was heart failure, said his wife, Patti Smith, the poet and musician. Patti Smith didn't know it at the time, but that new knowledge would be her salvation. Patti Smith lived in the home from 1980 to 1996 with her husband, the late Fred "Sonic" Smith, guitarist of MC5. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. In addition to his wife, Mr. Smith is survived by a son, Jackson; a daughter, Jesse; his parents, Dewey and Kathleen, and two sisters, Margie Provan and Pat Halett, all of the Detroit area. Help us build our profile of Fred 'Sonic' Smith! Mr. Smith went on to lead his own group, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, with former members of other Detroit groups like the Stooges. In 1972, MC5 called it quits, and Smith began looking for a new vehicle for his musical vision. Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith Zodiac Sign is Virgo, Ethnicity Not Known & religion Not Available.. Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith Net Worth 2018. Fred "Sonic" Smith was one of the key architects of the Detroit High Energy rock sound as guitarist and co-founder of the legendary MC5, and while his work after the band's breakup was sporadic,… Both Patti and Fred continued to write music together, and in 1986, Patti came out of retirement to record the album Dream of Life. Fred 'Sonic' Smith - Biography. He died on November 4, 1994 in Detroit. Fred "Sonic" Smith was one of the key architects of the Detroit High Energy rock sound as guitarist and co-founder of the legendary MC5, and while his work after the band's breakup was sporadic,…. The only studio recording the band released was a self-distributed single of Smith's masterpiece "City Slang," with the same song appearing on both sides (a stereo mix on the A-side, mono on the B-side). Fred "Sonic" Smith was one of the key architects of the Detroit High Energy rock sound as guitarist and co-founder of the legendary MC5, and while his work after the band's breakup was sporadic, what has survived is strong enough to confirm his reputation as one of the great unsung heroes of Midwest rock & roll. Fred 'Sonic' Smith is a member of the following lists: American rock guitarists, Musicians from West Virginia and 1949 births. Fred Sonic Smith was born in West Virginia on September 13, 1949. The realtor, Jackson Smith, is their son who grew up in the house. In 1976, firebrand rock poetess Patti Smith visited Detroit while touring behind her album Radio Ethiopia, and was introduced to Fred Sonic Smith at a party held at Lafayette Coney Island, one of the city's most celebrated hot dog stands. Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith estimated net worth in 2018 is Under Review. In 1980 he married Ms. Smith, and the couple retreated from music until 1988, when they recorded the album "Dream of Life." With Rob Tyner (who died in 1991) on vocals, the band helped create the Detroit sound, a high-powered, low-fidelity precursor to heavy metal and punk rock. He began playing guitar when he was 12, performing in a number of local bands before joining the MC5 in the mid-1960's. Although she recorded an album with her husband in 1988 (Dream of Life) and began working on new songs with him a few years later, it was only after his sudden death from a heart attack in… , November, 1977] When the 5 splintered, Smith picked up the pieces -- first with Ascension, which included fellow MC5 members Dennis Thompson and Michael Davis; then, beginning in 1974, putting in time as guitarist for the Scott Morgan Group (Morgan was the former frontman for the Detroit R & B-influenced Rationals). A few weeks later, Smith’s brother … Smith pitched in with lead guitar on Morgan's first post-Rationals single, "Take a Look"/"Soul Mover," and soon formed a band with Morgan. Fred « Sonic » Smith, de son vrai nom Frederick Dewey Smith, né le 13 septembre 1949 en Virginie-Occidentale et mort le 4 novembre 1994 à Détroit, fut le guitariste rythmique du groupe protopunk MC5 dès sa création en 1964 à Détroit. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. This man is Fred “Sonic” Smith, a genuine guitar Hero. He was 44 and lived in St. Clair Shores, a suburb of Detroit. He was married to Patti Smith. He died on November 4, 1994 in Detroit. By 1978, Fred was once again single, and he and Patti were free to go public with their relationship. Their experiments scared away the group's first rhythm section, but with Michael Smith on bass and Dennis Thompson on drums, they soon evolved into one of the most powerful bands of their day, with the fiery wail of Smith and Kramer's guitars sounding a clarion call for a trailblazing blend of hard rock punch and free jazz wanderlust. This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Fred (Sonic) Smith, a guitarist for the influential rock band the MC5, died on Friday at St. John's Hospital in Detroit. Fred was the main guitarist of the Vibratones while Wayne was the same in the Bounty Hunters. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in … A man and guitar player, who in my mind, is so underrated. Children of Frederick Dewey Smith and Patricia Lee Smith Age 51 years (age at death) old. [Fred "Sonic" Smith, Bomp! referencing Sonic's Rendezvous, CD, Album, Ltd, DA-2K1601 This is a great album for serious fans of Fred Smith as it's mainly just isolated guitar tracks. In a 1996 interview, Patti said, "Dream of Life was really more Fred's record -- it was all Fred's music, Fred's philosophy." More tragically, Sonic’s MC5 career (and role … Fred 'Sonic' Smith is one of the Richest Guitarist who was born in United States. Read Full Biography. In 1998, a local Detroit label, Mack Aborn Rhythmic Arts, released the first authorized Sonic's Rendezvous Band album, Sweet Nothing, a previously bootlegged live recording of a firestorm live show the group played in Ann Arbor in 1978. Fred 'Sonic' Smith is one of the successful Guitarist. Guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith of The group MC5 performs live at the Detroit Rock 'N Roll Revival in 1969 in Detroit, Michigan. See the article in its original context from. The last thing Fred "Sonic" Smith taught his wife before he died was how to play guitar. fred "sonic" smith [text by C. Ross; photo by Robert Mathau] As guitar heroes go, Fred "Sonic" Smith was one of the best, his musical legacy firmly established by his time spent as one half of the dual guitar arsenal that fueled the legendary MC5, and later fronting his own Sonic's Rendezvous Band and collaborating with his wife, Patti Smith. About Fred "Sonic" Smith Frederick Dewey Smith (September 14, 1949 – November 4, 1994), known by his stage name Fred "Sonic" Smith, was an American guitarist. Fred "Sonic" Smith was one of the key architects of the Detroit High Energy rock sound as guitarist and co-founder of the legendary MC5, and while his work after the band's breakup was sporadic,… Read Full Biography. Fred 'Sonic' Smith was born on September 13, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan, USA as Frederick Dewey Smith. He was 44 and lived in St. Clair Shores, a suburb of Detroit. In 1980, Fred and Patti were married; Sonic's Rendezvous Band had recently broken up, and after a calamitous European tour following the release of her album, Wave, Patti opted to retire from touring. His pure, driving sounds can be heard in the works of the MC5 (1967-1971) and Sonic's Rendezvous (1975-1980). Ms. Smith said she and Mr. Smith had been working together on several new projects that remain uncompleted. Fred (Sonic) Smith, 44, Guitarist With Rock Bands of 3 Decades. Fred "Sonic" Smith (b: September 13, 1949 in West Virginia, U.S. – d: November 4, 1994 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.) was an American guitarist, best known as a member of the band MC5. While their music was, in many ways, as revolutionary as their political stance, their image as rabble-rousers made it all but impossible for the band to reach a sizable audience outside the Midwest, despite the strength and musical diversity of their three albums (they were frequent headliners at Detroit's Grande Ballroom, but had little luck finding gigs on the East Coast or West Coast). - DT Browse 25 fred sonic smith guitarist stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith is a American Guitarist, songwriter, who was born on 13 September, 1943 in West Virginia, United States. Wayne had taught him a few chords but now they were rivals on the competitive Detroit scene. Smith bought a Fender Duo-Sonic and, although he did not like his sound, decided to keep the nickname. Fred "Sonic" Smith was one of the key architects of the Detroit High Energy rock sound as guitarist and co-founder of the legendary MC5, and while his work after the band's breakup was sporadic, what has survived is strong enough to confirm his reputation as one of the great unsung heroes of Midwest rock & roll. By 1976, the group had evolved into Sonic's Rendezvous Band, a Detroit supergroup that featured former Stooges drummer Scott Asheton and Up bassist Gary Rasmussen alongside Smith and Morgan. Fred Sonic Smith's profile including the latest music, albums, songs, music videos and more updates. In late 1994, her husband, Fred “Sonic” Smith, guitarist with ’60s agit-rockers the MC5, died of heart failure. Fred "Sonic" Smith formed a new group called Ascension, consisting of Smith on guitar, Thompson on drums, Davis on piano, and to replace Davis on bass a local working bass player, John Hefty, was brought in. While Fred Smith was married at the time, he and Patti immediately hit it off, and before long a low-key romance blossomed between them. 6,717 likes.