Ok, so there's a story behind my new song, "Ronnie".  It's not new.  I wrote the song a few years ago, (2004 - 2005), with my acoustic guitar, almost unknowingly.  It's one of those songs where, it just came out of nowhere-- I didn't really plan it.  But, you could say it was inspired by someone in my family I never had the chance to meet.  In 1964, my dad's brother, Ronald Smith, was tragically killed in a workplace (logging) accident, the summer before he was to start his teaching career.  This was a devastating, unexpected loss for my family, and generations later, I decided to record this song in his memory.   Did you know that approximately 5,500 Americans and 1,800 Canadians are killed on the job every year?  That's 20 a day.  20 moms, dads, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, and friends won't ever come home from work each day.  That's too many.  This song tells just one of those stories, think about how many others have gone through the same thing. 

This track is my final single/demo before I start recording my first full length album, "The Demolition," which I expect will be completed by June, 2009.   It was interesting working on "Ronnie" with my dad, because the emotional connection for him is still very strong, and he truly will always miss his older brother.   It was also great to collaborate with him, and include the verse he wrote.  

Who played what?
Riley Smith: acoustic, electric, 12-string, and bass guitar, vocals
Norm Smith: accordion, 12-string guitar, vocals
Jason: drums and percussion

"Ronnie" was produced and mixed by Adam Sutherland at Infiniti Studios in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  Mastered by Alex DeGrace at Suite Sound Labs in Vancouver, BC.  Dedicated to Ronald Smith (1940 - 1964).