Great Caesar's Ghost with G.E. Smith: Live at Berkner Hall by Great Caesar's Ghost with G.E. Smith

The list of world-class players he has performed with is staggering -- Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Hall and Oates, Eric Clapton and David Bowie is only a good start.

Smith's life also changed in 1979 when he began a six-year stint as lead guitarist with Hall and Oates. The hits included "Kiss On My List," "Private Eyes" and "Man Eater," and they toured incessantly. Smith recalls how they once toured in the summer in the northern hemisphere followed by a summer tour in the southern hemisphere, avoiding the New York winter. The fantasy part of his career began in early 1985 at the Live Aid and Farm Aid concerts. The Hall and Oates band became the house band for both events and G.E. was the de-facto music director. He played with Jagger, Turner and whoever else didn't have a band. Jagger used Smith on Mick's first solo album She's the Boss as well as Primitive Cool. The hard-working G.E. also played on some one-off recordings and concerts with Bowie, Peter Wolf and others.

When Hall and Oates took an extended break from music, G.E. was offered the job of Saturday Night Live music director due to contacts made through Radner. Besides winning an Emmy for his work with the consistently excellent SNL band, G.E. performed with a stunning list of guest musicians -- Keith Richards, Al Green, Rickie Lee Jones, Bryan Ferry and others. He played out his fantasies by inviting hot guitarists to drop in unannounced, including Eddie Van Halen, Johnny Winter, David Gilmour, Lonnie Mack, Dave Edmunds and Buddy Guy. The Guy connection led to Smith and the SNL band backing him for a Grammy-nominated live album. While with SNL, G.E. wrote a theme song for Mike Myers to go with the "Wayne's World" skit. Smith wrote it to suit Aerosmith, that week's guest. When the skit became a hit movie, the soundtrack with G.E.'s tune became a platinum-selling smash. Also during his SNL tenure, G.E. toured for four years with Dylan, jetting all around the world and flying back in time for Saturday night's live show. As if he didn't have enough to do, Smith was the music director for special events including the 1988 Emmy Awards, the 1993 Rhythm and Blues Foundation Awards, a Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame Museum concert and the Dylan 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden.

Larry Hunter

Larry Hunter is a veteran singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.Having performed with Merl Saunders, Floyd Dixon, and Kingfish, he also performed and recorded with Moby Grape, Steve Marriott, and The Jerry Miller Band.

All this experience, teamed with his writing style, culminated in the formation of his own band, HEROES. Over the last six years most of his time has been spent in the studio producing and playing guitar and bass on two albums, while playing bass on four others. One of those efforts is his own album, "CABIN FEVER".

Shawn Murray

Veteran drummer Shawn Murray has years of experience, playing small clubs to outdoor arenas. Shawn has toured extensively throughout Europe, Canada, as well as the U.S. He was a member of the Mink Deville Band from 1984- 1999 as well as Willy Deville, recording a total number of seven albums. Shawn has performed with Ben E. King, Jon Bon Jovi, John Hammond, Mick Taylor, Jeff Pevar, Little Buster, Russell Smith, Tiny Tim and Lonnie Youngblood. He has also worked with local Long Island bands; Cadillac Moon, Inity , R&B singer Melanie Henderson and Full House. Shawn is endorsed by GMS Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Evans Heads.

Ray Penney

"Ray Penney's faultless guitar playing will transport you." (Val Leonhart Smalkin, Syndicated Music Columnist). "A sound so crisp and resonant, you can almost feel his fingers sliding across the strings." (New York Newsday). "Through so many stylings, encompassing so much territory, Ray Penney was born to play guitar." (Southampton Press) This is a sampling of reviews received by award-winning guitarist Ray Penney. He has toured with various outfits and done extensive studio work. While working primarily as a rhythm and blues guitarist, he recorded and performed with a large variety of artists including fellow guitarist Brian Setzer and the late Roy Buchanan. He has shared the stage with such greats as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Albert Collins. As a solo artist he has released multi-award winning children's instrumental recordings as well as being recorded on various solo guitar collections distributed by Mel Bay Publications.

Ed DiCapua

Journeyman Ed Dicapua is one of two drummers for Great Caesar's Ghost. Ed also plays congas and various percussion instuments in addition to his drumming duties. Ed has studied percussion since 1978 which culminated with his receiving his Master of Science in Music from C.W. Post as well as Doctoral study at New York University. Ed has maintained his private teaching practice since 1979, where he teaches drum, percussion and music theory. Ed has worked extensively with Richard Gilks at EMI Studio Recordings. He was also a member of the Chris Duarte Band where he recorded and toured extensively. Ed has also performed with: Julio Fernandez, Richie Cannata, G. E. Smith, Benny Goldstein, Jerry Jermott, Mary Wells, Dan Delaney, Jim Cameron, Doug McClean, Makoto Takenaka, Chicago Blues Club, Hiromatsu Suzuki, The Platters, Lee Genesis, Louisiana Red, Brook Benton, Shannon Early, Tom De Petris, Toby Walker, Rob Ames, Tracie Robbins, Twin Gold and has shared the stage with Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Canned Heat, B.B. King, Greg Allman, Dickey Betts, Rebbeca Paris, Tiger Bakau, Commander Cody, Heavy Metal Horns, and Sly Stone. Ed is endorsed by GMS Drum Co., Vic Firth, and Instanbul Mehmet Cymbals

Larry Schmid

Singer and guitarist Larry Schmid played in a number of bands before dedicated his time to his recording studio in the early nineties. Larry ran Applewild Studio for almost ten years, working with a variety of local and big name talent. Larry also recorded two of his own albums with fellow band mate Bosco Michne. Both albums were produced by G.E. Smith. After closing the studio, Larry began spending more time with his Les Pauls, which had become neglected during his tenure as engineer, producer, and studio manager. It was at this time that Great Caesar's Ghost came together. Larry has played with G.E. Smith of Saturday Night Live fame, Simon Kirke of Bad Company and Free, and Paul Ossola of the Saturday Night Live Band. He has recorded Steve Holly of Paul McCartney and Wings, T-Bone Wolk of Hall and Oates and the Billy Joel Band, Jazz pianist Eliani Elias, GE Smith and Taylor Barton, among many others.

Peter "Bosco" Michne

Peter Michne is a devoted guitarist who continues to study and explore his instrument. He is a versatile musician with the ability to interpret and incorporate any style of music. Peter earned a degree from Five Towns College in contemporary music with a concentration in guitar performance. After college he toured as a professional guitarist in the United States and Europe performing in California, Switzerland and London. Now settled on the east end of Long Island, he continues to write, perform, teach and record music all over Long Island, New York City and the Tri-State area. He plays extensively in New York City with various artists in Rock, Blues and Jazz bands. He has performed with artists such as G.E. Smith of the Saturday Night Live house band. He also shared the stage with Jaco Pastorius from Weather Report, Mick Jones from Foriegner, Drew Zing from Steely Dan, Anton Fig from the David Letterman Band and David Liebman from the Miles Davis Band. He has also performed in opening acts for The Marshall Tucker Band, Billy Squire, Albert Collins, Robin Trower, Richie Havens, Warren Zevon and Lionel Hampton. He appears on several recordings including "Mr. Gray" which he co-wrote with singer/guitarist Larry Schmid. The CD features G.E. Smith and Simon Kirke from Bad Company.

Keith Hill

Keith Hill holds down the Hammond B-3 and piano duties for Great Caesar's Ghost. Having been born into a musical family, Keith has been playing since the age of four. He studied music in college and went on to do post graduate work in a private setting. He has toured throughout the United States and is a veteran entertainer. He has the uncanny ability to remember most of what he has ever listened to and can play most tunes on demand. In addition to his duties in GCG he also spends a great deal of time in the studio working on various projects, as well as making time for his private teaching practice.

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