In 1889 a large part of downtown Seattle was burned to the ground by an out of control fire . Before rebuilding the city Fathers decided to bury what remained of the burned out buildings in twenty-two feet of dirt and gravel . Businesses were re-built on the same locations using what was left of the old buildings as basements and underground storage . Some had as many as three full floors below street level .

In 1979 almost anyone could rent a fairly large space for fifty to one hundred dollars a month and turn it into whatever they wanted . This is where the Seattle underground music scene got its start .

The Great Seattle Fire

"The Girls" was my first real band. I started it when I was a teenager in Seattle . It was me, Pam Lillig, Brent Pennington, Tim Leahy and Marty Wycoff. We were an angry young band with a good sense of humor. When I listen to the recordings we did, they sound like a cross between 1960's Northwest Rock & Roll and New York punk , but that could be my rose-colored headphones .

From 1981 to 1983 I was in "The Lonesome City Kings". The Kings were a very creative band. We made a record for "First American Records", but the label folded before the record was released, the Kings broke up and I headed for L.A.

The Lonesome City Kings

Rick Smith 2005

Rick Smith at 17

I moved to L.A. to work with producer/engineer Ed Thacker who also worked with Tommy Tu Tone, Red Ryder, Tom Petty and Lucinda Williams. I met him while I was in California on vacation. I just played him some songs, and he said "how soon can you move to L.A.?" And that's all it took .

I lasted three years in L.A. Everyone there was kind of a hustler; I was just a songwriter . That's when I decided to move to Austin .

Rick Smith and Joe Ely

Austin proved to be the perfect place for me to be. I signed a Songwriter/Artist Development deal with Warner/Chappell Publishing, Joe Ely was producing my demo tapes, and I was writing songs with Jimmie Dale Gilmore.



At the time just being from Austin had a cool factor that seemed to open doors. I found myself working in the song mines in Nashville TN with other Warner/ Chappell writers and once, when I was in New York City opening a show for Joe Ely, I met and wrote a song with the late great Doc Pomus (This Magic Moment / Save the Last Dance for Me / Little Sister, to name a few).



These days I'm working on a solo acoustic CD and I'm hoping to put out a "Girls" four-song EP in a limited number . I am also playing in and around Austin, so check for show dates and I'll see you out on the road .

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