Harold Smith
Co-Producer, Pickin'Harold "Butch" Smith was introduced to Bluegrass Music at an early age. His family would "pick up" WSM's Grand Old Opry on Saturday nights and it was through these broadcasts that he was introduced to the music of Bill Monroe. Harold's first "taste" of organized music was playing mandolin with a bluegrass band while serving in the Navy during the mid 60s. That band did a lot of USO shows and some live radio an TV shows in Europe.
The early 70s found him playing mandolin for several local bands, but in 1976 he would become a member of the Norfolk based band East Virginia and remained there for over 30 years and recorded with that band in four consecutive decades. During his performing years he shared a stage with Bluegrass royalty. He has been featured in numerous recordings including several on the prestigious Rounder Record label. He shares his stories from those years each week on Pickin'.
He has been the co-producer for Pickin' on WHRV since its debut in 2001 and in 2011, he donated his papers and memorabilia from his years as a performer to create an archived library of material at WHRV. In 2013, Harold and the members from East Virginia were recognized in a ceremony in Virginia Beach as one of the greatest bands to ever emerge from Southeastern Virginia.
Virginia Beach and Ocala Florida are home for Harold, and spending time playing golf and fly-fishing now share duties with bluegrass music.