Among the events planned for the event are a clinic with guitarist Jeff Waters, a Q&A with instrument historian and author Walter Carter on his new release, The Epiphone Guitar Book: A Complete History of Epiphone Guitars, a demonstration of select instruments and pickups, and a charity auction of one-of-a-kind Epiphone instruments.

An exhibit will display Epiphone’s collection of rare vintage banjos, mandolins, and archtops dating back to the Stathopoulo family’s earliest instruments. To learn more, visit  epiphone.com.

This year’s festival is curated by John Jorgenson and features Jerry Douglas Band, Coco Montoya, Tony Joe White, John Jorgenson, Jake Shimabukuro, Bill Kirchen, Pete Huttlinger, Mark Selby Band, Rory Hoffman, Carl Verheyen, Daniel Donato, Josh Nordlund, and L.A.-based fingerstylist Scott Goldman, who will once again emcee the weekend’s performances in addition to his festival-opening set.

A free-admission event, Guitar Town includes a kick-off performance by Pete Huttlinger and Sean Della Croce and a fingerstyle workshop by Jim Deeming, as well as main-stage acoustic performances and electric performances.

Each morning includes workshops where fans gain insight on techniques and develop a connection with the musicians. Music themed activities are also available for kids each day. Each day concludes with an all-star jam that encapsulates the day’s lineup.

Visit www.villageatcopper.com/guitartown.

Many regard Smith as one of the most important musicians of the 20th century.

He was the recipient of the Smithsonian Institution’s James Smithson Bicentennial Medal presented, “in grateful recognition for your contribution to American music.” In 1999, his admirers organized a tribute at Hunter College in New York to celebrate his career. Virtually every major jazz guitarist from Martino to Mottola attended. Barney Kessel and Chet Atkins, both too sick to attend, sent statements of praise and admiration.

Smith’s prolific recording career yielded dozens of albums, many of which are still available. His hit recording of “Moonlight in Vermont” in 1952 became Downbeat Magazine’s number two jazz record of the year.

As staff guitarist at NBC in the forties and fifties he appeared on more than 35 programs a week. In addition, Smith recorded with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Dmitri Mitropoulos including Schoenberg’s “Serenade” honoring the composer’s 75^th birthday. The guitarist also appeared with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Symphony.

Smith, a pilot and outdoorsman, was unhappy in New York and told me that perhaps the most beautiful thing he ever saw was “New York City in my rear view mirror.”

“My life in New York was stifling. I had no time.” His wife at the time had died and he was left with young children to raise. But a serendipitous occurrence with Chet Atkins and the popular group the Ventures helped Smith realize a move to Colorado Springs. After hearing Atkins’ version of Smith’s composition, “Walk, Don’t Run” the group’s 1959 release of the instrumental reached number two on the charts. Then in 1964, their rerecorded release reached number eight. The proceeds allowed Smith to move and open a music store in Colorado Springs.

Yet he had to endure another tragedy. While adjusting the seat of his airplane he lost the tip of his ring finger. He said, “When the accident happened I was out for a year. The store wasn’t established so without the Ventures I don’t know if I could have survived.” He joked, “The Ventures came to Colorado Springs and I had them over for hamburgers. My son was really impressed but they weren’t too impressed with me. But I think the hamburgers came out all right.”

Johnny Smith’s influence on the guitar community is incalculable. – Jim Carlton

Photo: Derrick Santini.

Buddy Guy’s next studio album, Rhythm & Blues, launches July 30. A double disc heavy on collaborations, it’s Rhythm set includes a take on Junior Wells’ 1960 hit “Messin’ With The Kid” with Kid Rock, “One Day Away” with Keith Urban, and “What You’re Gonna Do About Me” with Beth Hart. Guy rounds it out with “Best In Town,” “Whiskey Ghost,” Guitar Slim’s “Well I Done Got Over It,” and more. On the Blues disc, he works up “Meet Me In Chicago,” “I Could Die Happy,” “Never Gonna Change” and “All That Makes Me Happy Is The Blues,” then collaborates with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Brad Whitford on “Evil Twin,” and Gary Clark, Jr. “Blues Don’t Care.”

Fred and Dinah Gretsch. Photo by Jonathan Hobson.

As part of the celebration of the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Gretsch Company, it is conducting promotional events in cities across the U.S. and Canada to showcase its guitars and drums, and host performances by endorsers.

One element of the proceedings is the Fred & Dinah Gretsch 130th Anniversary Tour. Representing the fourth generation of the Gretsch family, Fred will greet fans, sign autographs, and relate the history of the business that was founded by his great-grandfather, Friedrich, in 1883. At several events, Fred will be joined by his wife, Dinah, founder of the Mrs. G’s Music Foundation, a charitable organization that supports music education in rural schools.

Their tour will start June 15 at StreetSounds, in Brooklyn, and continue through October 12. Artists scheduled to appear nclude The Romantics, the Michelle Marie Trio, Jet Weston & His Atomic Ranch Hands, Foxy Studs, Fountains of Wayne, the Joe Robinson Trio, Rosie Flores & The Rivetors, Mister Barrington, The Octanes, Steve Ferrone, Paul Pigat & Cousin Harley, and the Kimberly Thompson Quartet (featuring drummer Kim Thompson). For more, visit Gretsch.com.

At PRS, he helped develop the two-channel “H” amp and two-channel custom amps, working alongside artists including Dave Weiner, Joey Santiago (Pixies), and Bugs Henderson. Most recently, he was the company’s Sales and Marketing Manager. Based in Dallas, he has been a blues-rock guitarist and singer for more than 40 years. He toured with Texas blues legend Bugs Henderson as well as with the Stratoblasters and with Turnabout. In 1983, he won the Texas Tornado award, joining a list that includes Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons, Albert Collins, Doyle Bramhall II and  Johnny “Guitar” Watson. He currently gigs with his own band, Junior & The Journeymen.

Clark previously worked as a factory rep for Gibson, where he helped establish Epiphone’s involvement with the Tejano Music Awards and the Selena tribute guitar. Beyond his sales work at PBG, he will also play a role in product development and artist relations.

The event will include Shepherd performing alongside Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford, slide-guitarist Robert Randolph, contemporary-blues star Keb Mo, and the band Trampled Under Foot. Learn more at www.dcfconcerts.com.

Set against the rugged scenery of southeast Alaska and with a soundtrack featuring music by Yo La Tengo, Kaki King, Steve Earle, and more, the film reveals the clash between the Native American loggers, corporate CEOs, and the environmental group Greenpeace. For a list of screening dates, visit: http://musicwoodthefilm.com.