John Kingman Smith grew up in a musical household, raised by parents who played bluegrass and folk music, instilling in him a lifelong appreciation for a wide range of musical styles.
While in college, John co-founded the old-time folk band Hurricane Sadee. Though short-lived, the group released an album and played a formative role in shaping John’s musical direction.
After several years of writing and performing primarily as a solo hobbyist, John formed the band 3 Dollar Suit in 2007 and has been creating music with them ever since. With a sound often described as “Woody Guthrie bumps into R.E.M. at a thrift store,” 3 Dollar Suit is known for its high-energy, engaging live performances. The band has released one album, Grainery Road, which largely showcases John’s songwriting.
In recent years, 3 Dollar Suit has scaled back its performance schedule, allowing John to expand his solo work and pursue collaborations. Notable collaborators include Jenny Pickel (fiddle and vocals), known for her work with the bluegrass group Troy Engle & Southern Skies, and his son Asa Smith, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who co-founded the Philadelphia-based band Prill and currently plays bass for Josh Joplin Group.
John is currently working on a solo project, following the release of his 2025 single, “Picture of My Father.”
- Due to technical issues during distribution, the iTunes and Amazon Music links below are not yet available. To download John’s song, you can visit his BandCamp page.
