Curly Smith

William "Curly" Smith was born in Wolf Point, Big Sky country of Montana, USA on January 31, 1952. He started playing guitar, drums and singing by the time he was 12 years old and picked up the harmonica at 14. Prior to his 20th birthday, he began classical piano lessons, adding yet another instrument to his growing repertoire. Working in various bands in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, he honed his skills before joining Jo Jo Gunne in California, an offshoot of the classic rock group Spirit (8).

After Jo Jo Gunne, Curly worked as session drummer with a variety of artists in Los Angeles, London and Miami, including Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Branford Marsalis, The Monkees, Joe Walsh, Warren Zevon, Brian Auger, Sam Kinison, Billy Idol, Willie Nelson, Ron Wood, Dickie Betts, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Ian Hunter, and many more.

In the 1980s, Curly played with Spirit (8). He joined Boston, and toured and recorded with the band from 1994 to 2001.