CHESTERTOWN, MD—World-renowned guitar manufacturer Paul Reed Smith and the Paul Reed Smith Band will perform at Washington College on Friday evening, April 27. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at Decker Theatre in the Gibson Center for the Arts.
Smith will also hold a master class for WC students that Friday afternoon.
The Paul Reed Smith band consists of Paul Reed Smith and Mike Ault on guitar, Gary Grainger on bass, and Greg Grainger on drums, with vocalist Mia Samone Davis. The band, which plays an eclectic mix of classic rock, current hits, and original compositions, is known for its high-energy performances and interaction with the audience. The musicians have played throughout the U.S. and internationally.
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.