Jay Smith, guitarist for Canadian rocker Matt Mays, died on Wednesday morning, hours after their March 26 show in Edmonton.
Matt Mays posted a message on his Facebook page:
“Folks,
Our guitar player and dear friend Jay Smith passed away this morning in Edmonton. As you can all imagine, we are completely devastated. However, in our heart of hearts we know that we need to Play on. Jay’s family as well as the band know he would have wanted it that way. All the proceeds from the remaining shows will be put into a trust for his two beautiful children. Jay’s wit, charm, and unparalleled love of music will never be forgotten.
He was our brother and he will live in our hearts and song forever.
Matt, Serge, Damien, Adam and Matt”
Matt Mays and the band have two more shows on this current tour before taking a brea. They’re scheduled to start a US tour on April 16th, with Gaslight Anthem. *
Smith fronted his own band (Rock Ranger) from 1999-2007, the same year he started playing with Mays. Smith released a solo self -titled debut album in 2011 on his bandcamp site. According to the Music Nova Scotia site, Smith took home the 2009 East Coast Music Award for SOCAN Songwriter of the Year for co-writing the Gordie Sampson song “We Are Young And So Is The Night.” *
Smith was well loved within the industry, messages of shock and condolences are being posted by such Canadian bands as The Trews, State of Shock, Odds, Hey Rosetta! and Sam Roberts Band, who posted: Heartbroken to hear of our good friend Jay Smith’s passing today. Truly a man who exuded love everywhere he went. Our deepest condolences to his family.
“I’ve always heard that to play in a band you have to make sacrifices,” Smith acknowledged in that 2007 Cape Breton Post article, a quote that now takes on an unimaginable sadness. “I truly know what that means now. I missed out on my kid’s first steps. Hopefully I won’t miss his graduation.”
* sources:
Edmonton Journal by Sandra Sperounes
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