Roy Smeck: The Wizard of the Strings (better quality)

This Academy Award-nominated documentary short from 1983 portrays one of America’s most influential musicians of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Roy Smeck was one of the first to popularize the guitar, the Hawaiian guitar, the banjo, and the ukulele. From his earliest vaudeville days in the 1920’s and his groundbreaking appearance in the very first “RCA Vitaphone“ sound film in 1926 to his sellout comeback concert at the age of 82, the joy Roy always takes in his art makes him the consummate entertainer. With appearances by Mel Bay, Gene Autry, and Benny “King“ Nawahi. Written and Produced by Alan Edelstein. Directed and Edited by Peter Friedman.