by Frank O’Donnell

February 12 marks the 45th anniversary of the local rock band now known as Steve Smith & The Nakeds. To honor the occasion, we sent Steve ten questions to help him look back on his four-plus decades as a performer.

Looking back on 45 years driving crowds wild with your music, what’s your best memory?

There are too many special moments to single out one. The most memorable ones would be working with Clarence Clemons for 20 to 30 shows a year until his passing. The one event that comes to mind was playing with The Big Man at Liberty State Park for President Bill Clinton’s Heath Care Rally with Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary fame) and Boyz II Men.

Reflect on those who’ve contributed to the Nakeds along the way who aren’t with you any longer.

Over the last 45 years there have been 63 band members. Each one of them has left their DNA on the band. There are two who we miss the most. Thomas “TJ” Schwartz who passed away 3 years ago. TJ was our baritone sax player for 36 years.  He was not only a catalyst which held the band together but he was also one of my best friends. He is missed daily. Some nights I look over where he used to stand and I see him there. His spirit still drives the band to this day.

The other person who had a great effect on the band was Clarence Clemons. He gave us the opportunity to play all over the United Sates and Canada. He contributed to our successful CD  “Never Say Never.” He performed on six tracks, wrote one of the songs and got Nils Lofgren – another E-Streeter – to write three more songs for that CD.

How much do you remember about your first-ever gig?

My first show with the Nakeds was in the spring of 1973. We performed at North Kingstown High School. We opened up for Ken Lyons & the Tombstone Blues Band. It was the first I had ever met Ken and he complimented me by telling me he loved my voice. He said, “Keep it up, you’re going to go a long way.”

What’s an average month look like for you and the group?

Normally we perform every Friday and Saturday. Our weekly average is 3.5 nights a week. We have more show during the summer months than in the winter. In the 70s and 80s when the drinking age was 18, we performed seven nights a week. Those were the good old days.

How tough is it to keep the momentum going?

When you find a bunch of guys that have the same passion as you do to perform music at the level we have reached, it’s not hard at all. When you have a fan base such as ours, it’s very easy to get up and perform every time we have the opportunity. Without our fans we are nothing.

What sort of toll has all this taken on you physically – or, do you have a secret formula for maintaining your youth?

I pride myself in staying physically fit. I have been athletic my whole life. I still play hockey as many off nights as I can. I have also studied martial arts since 1971. I still teach and referee tournaments. My other secret formula is Narragansett Beer.

What does your day-to-day (non-performance-related) life look like?

Over the years I have become the booking agent and manager for the band. Probably the worst part of being in this business is the business end of this band. Managing the band is full time job. The reason the band has been so successful is because we keep reinventing ourselves.

When did you first realize you wanted to do what you’re doing?

I started to sing at the age of 4. My father recognized my talent and sent me for vocal lessons at the age of 7. I was in my first band in the 8th grade. In high school, my interest turned to sports.

When I decided to end my hockey career at Providence College, I was asked to join a band. Through my last two years of school, that band was how I made money. In my senior year at PC, I joined the Nakeds. After a few month I realized I wanted to make a career singing.

When did you first realize you could make money doing what you’re doing?

My junior year of college.

How has the record distribution deal affected your lives?

When we got the distribution deal from Sony, things changed a little. Every accomplishment helps, but you can’t sit back and admire what you have done. As I said before, you need to keep moving forward. So we took advantage of that situation and used it to make us even better.

Since that happened we have been inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, we continued to tour with Clarence and we recorded our fourth CD of cover tunes, “Under the Covers”. In 2016 one of our songs was featured in “Dumb and Dumber To.” Last year, we were ask to revamp the Biggest Little State In the Union for Benny’s.  And just recently, I was approached to do a song for a sitcom pilot which may be filmed in RI.