Roy Smeck: The Wizard of the Strings — Documentary Short

Roy Smeck: The Wizard of the Strings is an Academy Award-nominated documentary short from the mid-1980s, portraying one of America’s most influential musicians of the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Roy was Known as “The Wizard of the Strings” because of his virtuoso talents on the guitar, banjo, ukelele and Hawaiian guitar, and who is shown in the film to be still active, in his mid-80s, teaching students and giving occasional public performances.

The documentary (which can be seen in full below) profiles Smeck’s career, 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.

With appearances by Mel Bay, Gene Autry, and Benny “King” Nawahi. Written and Produced by Alan Edelstein. Directed and Edited by Peter Friedman.