People named Ben Smith have been making recordings with stringed instruments ever since the early 20th century when Edison Diamond Discs manufactured runs of a slab entitled Ben Smith and His Uke. An Austin picker recorded with obscure but worthwhile singer/songwriter Brian Burns on a 1997 release that wears its heart on its sleeve title, Highways, Heartaches & Honky-Tonks. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi
