Steuart Smith (born 24 June 1952) is a retired American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, writer and producer from

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

, United States. He was a touring member of the American rock band

Eagles Eagle is the common name for the golden eagle, bald eagle, and other birds of prey in the family of the Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of Genus, genera, some of which are closely related. True eagles comprise the genus ''Aquila ( ...

, where he performed as one of the lead guitarists from 2001 to 2025 before retiring due to

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...

Career

Smith has recorded and/or toured with many musicians, especially, but not exclusively, country musicians, including

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

Rosanne Cash Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country musician Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Cash. Although Cash is often classified as a country artist, her music draws f ...

, Wynonna Judd, Terry Clark,

Trisha Yearwood Patricia Lynn Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is an American country singer. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single "She's in Love with the Boy", which became a number one hit on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Country Songs ...

Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...

, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Don Henley, Patty Smyth,

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He played in a number of local bluegrass music, bluegrass bands in the 1970s, and from 1978 to 1982, he achieved his first mainstream attention after ta ...

, and

Shawn Colvin Shawn Colvin (born Shawna Lee Colvin, January 10, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 1997 Grammy Award-winning song "Sunny Came Home". Early life Colvin was born Shawna Lee Colvin in Vermillion, South Dakota, and ...

. Smith has also produced for many musicians, at least partly as a result of encouragement from country music producer and record executive Tony Brown. Hits featuring Smith on lead guitar include Judd's " No One Else on Earth" and Gill's " What the Cowgirls Do", as well as Crowell's 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. Smith was also a member of Crowell’s band, Cicadas, which released one album in 1997. In August 1997, Smith supported singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin as lead guitarist in her trio on Sessions at West 54th, a music program for public television which was taped at

Sony Music Studios Sony Music Studios was an American music recording and mastering facility in New York City. The five-story building was a music and broadcasting complex located at 460 W. 54th Street, at 10th Avenue, in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhat ...

on West 54th Street in Manhattan. Smith was hired by the Eagles in 2001 after Don Felder was fired from the band due to legal and monetary disputes. He shared lead guitar duties with

Joe Walsh Joseph Fidler Walsh (born Joseph Woodward Fidler; November 20, 1947) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Best known as a member of the rock band Eagles (band), Eagles, his five-decade career includes solo work and stints in other ...

, such as the harmonizing duet in "

Hotel California "Hotel California" is a song by American rock band the Eagles, released as the second single of their album of the same name on February 22, 1977. The song was written by Don Felder (music), Don Henley, and Glenn Frey (lyrics), featuring H ...

", and (since 2017) Vince Gill. In addition to performing live with the band, he played on and co-wrote several songs on the Eagles' 2007 studio album ''

Long Road Out of Eden ''Long Road Out of Eden'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Eagles, released in 2007 on Lost Highway Records as their first ever double album. Nearly six years in production, it is the band's first studio album since 1979 ...

'', on which he also shared producing duties with the four band members and drummer Scott Crago. Smith was a member of Don Henley's solo touring band and occasionally played concerts with

Glenn Frey Glenn Lewis Frey (; November 6, 1948 – January 18, 2016) was an American musician. He was a founding member of the rock band Eagles, for whom he was the co-lead singer and frontman, roles he came to share with fellow member Don Henley, with ...

. He and Eagles touring drummer Scott Crago were in Henley's touring band for his 2016 world tour.

Personal life

Smith previously lived in

, Arlington, Virginia, and Falls Church, Virginia, but he has since moved to

Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem was one ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Steuart 1952 births Living people American country guitarists American male guitarists American rock guitarists American lead guitarists Songwriters from Maryland American male singers American country mandolinists Musicians from Baltimore Musicians from Arlington County, Virginia Eagles (band) Guitarists from Maryland 20th-century American guitarists