PHOTOS OF PAT SMILLIE BY KURT SWANSON
contact: kurtswanson@juno.com

Website: http://www.patsmillie.com


Born in Detroit, MI on Valentines Day 1969, Pat Smillie, was the first of two children born to young parents Ronald Smillie (an iron worker) and Rose Marie Charles (an administrative assistant at General Motors). Some of Pat’s earliest musical memories included sitting in front of the radio with his dad to listen to the music of classic Detroit-based artists such as The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Mitch Ryder. Pat’s interest in singing and writing songs developed through his early teens while making music with assorted friends and relatives. In 1986, during his junior year at Detroit Catholic Central High School, Pat started singing in his first rock & roll band! He’s never been the same…

In 1992, Smillie moved to Chicago to attend Loyola University. He soon began sitting in at various blues clubs across the city – usually at either open mic nights or blues jams. In 1994, he met a popular south side guitarist/vocalist named Vance Kelly at the Checkerboard Lounge. The group’s musical versatility and Vance’s natural charisma on stage made them one of the cities most popular draws. Kelly soon took Pat under his wing, and during this period, Pat performed with the Kelly’s band in many of Chicago’s south side blues lounges (e.g., The Checkerboard Lounge and Lee’s Unleaded Blues). In 1996, Pat Smillie booked his first headlining gig at The Tyrone Davis Entertainment (with Tyrone’s blessing). That first gig was an unqualified success and Pat and his band began to find work more regularly as time went by.

In 1996, Pat accepted a Wednesday night residency at The Checkerboard Lounge. He performed there weekly for well over a year. His group opened for r&b vocalist, Andre Williams during his comeback performance at The Beat Kitchen. Williams co-wrote such soul music classics as “Jail Bait”, “Shake Your Tail Feather” and Alvin Cash’s “Twine Time”. Williams continued his comeback and is currently enjoying renewed popularity (including a recording contract with Bloodshot Records).

Since then Pat Smillie has served as a supporting act for blues legends such as Koko Taylor, Bobby Rush, and original “Blues Brother” Dan Aykroyd (who performed at The Vic Theater with Jim Belushi and their “Have Love Will Travel” Revue). Over the years, Pat has also shared stages with most of Chicago’s current blues stars including John Primer, Willie Kent, Billy Branch, Jimmy Burns, Joanna Connor, The Chicago Playboys, and countless others.

In 2001, Chicago R&B legend Tyrone Davis joined the band on stage during a tiny gig at the Lexus Social Club on Chicago’s west side. Pat and his background vocalists (Renee Ruffin & Tina Howell) provided back-up vocals for Mr. Davis as he performed “Turning Point”, “Turn Back the Hands of Time”, and “Mom’s Apple Pie”. The evening remains one of the highlights of Pat’s musical life.

In May 2003, Pat and the band celebrated the release of their first full-length CD, Letter to Hampton (Fat Bank Music). By March/April 2004, the CD reached the #21 slot on Living Blues Magazine’s TOP 25 album chart after garnishing airplay on blues radio shows across the country. The title track was also featured on the nationally syndicated Blues Deluxe radio program.

The group is currently working in the studio with producer/engineer, Bud Johnson (of Redbrick Recording Studio). Pat is writing and recording new original material for an upcoming CD release.~patsmillie.com


Performances at Major Music Festivals
· 22nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival (Chicago, IL) – June 10, 2005

· 20th Annual Chicago Blues Festival (Chicago, IL) – May 30, 2003

· 18th Annual Fiesta Bowl Block Party (Tempe, AZ) – Dec 31, 2002



PAT SMILLIE AT THE PARK WEST CHICAGO (Opening for Robert Cray) 8/25/05

DOUBLE CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE