About Kirk

Kirk Smart was born in Japan and grew up in Europe. He speaks (and sings in) English, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and German. He has been playing guitar professionally since his teens.

After studying at the prestigious Musicians Institute in Los Angeles he began "paying his dues" while working in California, New Orleans, Europe and South America. He was hired as a teacher at Musicians Institute and began focussing on playing high end events in the greater Los Angeles area, working at the Academy Awards, the Emmy's, countless corporate events as well as long running residencies at the best clubs (The World Cafe, Rix, Monsoons, Mandalay, etc). 

Upon relocating to Kauai in 2004, Kirk has concentrated on bringing professionalism and fun to private events, while continuing to teach and record. He also tours Italy on a regular basis, playing clubs, castles, mountain huts and weddings...

His radiant wife, Tora Smart (aka Serena Jewkes), is a Jazz singer/songwriter and has recently released a Jazz record that she recorded with her father, Noel Jewkes, called The Carriage House Sessions. Their son, Eli, is also incredibly musically talented and he too has recently released his first solo record entitled Victim Of My Nature. There isn't a day that the Smart household isn't filled with music and magic.

The Smart family owns the grooviest music shop in the Heart of Hanalei called Hanalei Strings where they sell everything from Island-made ukuleles to Hanalei Hand Dyed yarn and teach group ukulele lessons. Stop by the shop if you ever find yourself in beautiful Hanalei town. 

KIRK HAS STUDIED WITH: Joe Pass, Ted Greene, Robben Ford, Ron Eschete and Noel Jewkes.

HAS PLAYED WITH: Donavon Frankenreiter, Jason Mraz, Graham Nash, Donald Fagen, Taj Mahal, Dean Parks, Joni Mitchell, Todd Rundgren, John Oates, Shawn Colvin, India.Arie, Lady Ipo, Amy Gilliam, Sheldon Gomberg (Rickie Lee Jones, Warren Zevon, Kenny Wayne Shepard), Noel Jewkes (Jon Hendricks), Laurence Cottle (Eric Clapton, Bill Bruford, Black Sabbath), Buffy St. Marie, Michael Ruff (Chaka Khan, Stevie Nicks), G Love, Brett Denon, and many more…