TFT-TV presents Michael Smith: A Retrospective

Michael Smith was an integral part of Tales from. the Tavern. Between 2003 - 2018, he performed eight times on the TFTT stage. His award-winning CD, Such Things Are Finely Done, was the first record released on the Tales from the Tavern label.
Michael Smith passed away Aug. 3, 2020, one month before his 79th birthday.
This film, taken from several of his performances and interviews at Tales from the Tavern, traces the stages of his work and his life. We offer it with Love and Respect. @ / talesfromthetavern

[@nbenefiel]

I sat next to Michael Smith at a dinner theatre in Detroit. The show was called Personals and it used his songs. We talked for about an hour. He was a very interesting guy.

[@RobertElliott-cz4lg]

What a treat to find this video. Discovered Michael when he was playing Detroit venues with his wife Barbara. To truly appreciate him you had to see him in person. Saw him at The Raven Gallery, Focus Hope Christmas Folk Festival, at small house shows from Northern Michigan to Florida. Was watching Tony awards one night and Michael appeared on stage.I could not believe it. I was truly excited for him, he finally got the recognition he deserved. Still have our first e-mail address Spoonriver.

[@TXmuseic]

Grateful for this❣️ Genius from Dutchman to Dead Egyptian. Such a gift, such a loss.

[@fredarcoleo]

This is precious. A profound talent.

[@TalesfromtheTavern]

absolutely!

[@michael1949eldredge]

Bless you for this sharing! I met Michael and Barbara in 1970 while they were Juarez! In and out of touch ever since; didn’t get to see him preform nearly enough, but every time I did see him, it was a gift from music heaven. Lyrics, melodies, guitar, variety of topic, serious, hilarious, tear in the eye, heavy on the heart, lighter than air ... there is really no way the English language he used so exquisitely can adequately describe Michael Peter Smith in performance of his music, his interaction with and connection to the audience, or the generosity of his time after a show to spend at least a little time with each and every person who wanted so much to meet and say thank you to this amazing entertainer and graceful human being!

[@TalesfromtheTavern]

Bless you, Michael, for your spot-on description. Hope you can join us, and a lot of other Michael Smith appreciators, for the Premier of this program.

[@michael1949eldredge]

Tales from the Tavern I’ll be in the front row, where I usually was for any show of Michael’s. I shared the link for the show on Facebook to Friends of the Swannanoa Gathering (a “music summer camp” at a community college near Asheville, NC - BIG community of musicians including singer songwriters) and a Facebook group I started named Friends/Fans of Michael Peter Smith, which now boasts over 200 members with posts by fans with photos and “fan stories”, friends with stories, videos, links to videos on KZbin and elsewhere, and even a few of Michael’s family - two sisters, a brother, a niece, and a daughter - all with their own additions. You are welcome to join the group and hopefully add us to any promotion of similar events featuring Michael or just an occasional video, interview, jokes, whatever. The group was formed to help archive any materials like this that we can to preserve and share stories about Michael, and other material mentioned above so that people that only knew Michael slightly can know him better, and people that never knew Michael and his music have a place to “meet” him. I hope TFTT will show a place viewers of your program can tip, since you guys can’t provide the live performers to live, paying audiences right now.

[@TalesfromtheTavern]

@@michael1949eldredge Again, Michael, bless you. We have eight concerts and eight interviews with Michael Smith all filmed and recorded between 2003 - 2018. We offer this with love and respect. The program is made possible through support from the nonprofit Artist Advocacy Foundation, which since April, has given grants to 23 inspirational artists, events and programs. People can contribute at artistadvocacyfoundation.org/ Thank you. see you at the Premier.

[@ziziroberts8041]

Just so wonderful ❤

[@davids5568]

I'm glad I stumbled upon this retrospective. The reproduction is excellent and gives people a taste of Smith in action. I saw three or four times in Chicago and wanted to take his songwriting class at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Unfortunately, not enough people enrolled, so the class was canceled. I would have loved to hear how he created his songs. Anyway, thank you for posting this. Dave Surdam

[@JoeChrisMorris]

Ballad of Elizabeth Dark..so beautiful....good interview w Mike in Zollos book on songwriting, mentioning the Beatles Let It Be film

[@michael1949eldredge]

Just watched TFT-TV Michael Smith Retrospective. Ahhhhhh, Michael, couldn’t you have stayed even a little longer? TFT-TV ... Thank you for sharing so much of this beautiful man and music. This Thing Was Finely Done.

[@monicamcmahon6887]

Brilliant

[@oldtownclasses]

this is absolutely gorgeous thank you for capturing so much of the essence of this great artist.

[@TalesfromtheTavern]

Thank you for watching this episode of TFT-TV. Such a great privilege to be associated with, as you say, a great artist

[@jimburnham7282]

So happy to run across this! Michael Smith played here in my area in small, intimate venues, but had such a wonderful concert and rapt audience... I was so lucky to be there, to actually talk with him and get his CD's. This capture from "Tales of the Tavern" is so wonderful to see, hear and have to share.

[@TalesfromtheTavern]

Yes, we too were lucky. Thanks for checking it out.

[@uhlijohn]

I saw Mike perform most of the songs in this video at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, IL. During the break I asked Mike when he was going to record Russian Easter and he said "That's a tough tune to record" or words to that effect. I have no idea what he meant by that. Such a lovely tune...I tried to see him every time he was booked at Fitzgerald's. I saw Mike in the Looking Glass play, Eastland, where he played the captain of that ill-fated vessel that capsized in the Chicago River and killed hundreds. I also saw him in the Ice Princess at The Old Town School of Folk Music and saw him perform The Gift of The Magi at The Space in Evanston, IL during Christmas week. The year I can only guess at. I think it was 2012 or thereabouts. Mike will always occupy a special place in my heart despite his left-wing crazy politics.

[@vonVlunt]

My first show at FitzGerald's was Small Potatoes and Michael Smith in '05. I had no idea what to expect.

[@user-uf3tm5dz4g]

Thank you so much for this. Michael was special and his music has meant so much to me over the years. I used to see him in the 90s but moved to Japan and lament never having the chance to see him again. This was much needed. So sad to hear of his passing.

[@TalesfromtheTavern]

thank you for watching

[@stevenkarras3490]

i am coming to this video a year later. I was in my twenties when I took Michael's songwriting class at OTS in Chicago. Really a prince of a man and as great a songwriter as they come. I'll never forget him. Thank you for making this show and interview accessible!

[@TalesfromtheTavern]

thank you - for receiving it

[@Bad__Scooter]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for this. I never got to see Michael perform so this is a nice treat. Would love to hear all 8 shows at some point!

[@TalesfromtheTavern]

so glad you got to see him here - a true master. we'll see about the rest of the shows ...

[@MsMastromonaco]

Bravo 🌟

[@scottmemmer6684]

Michael was one of the most brilliant songwriters I ever encountered. His songs have touched so many. None finer, in my book.

[@cornfield4489]

Have you got a video of him playing “Honey to the Hive”?

[@gregparaskou5913]

Life is pretty zippy when you stop doing weed!