Live & Touring Drummer
Deep Feel. Strong Pocket. Ready for the Stage.
Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith is an award-winning Chicago drummer available for live performances, touring, festivals, artist support, and select single-date engagements.
Rooted in Chicago blues with decades of professional performance experience, Kenny brings preparation, energy, musical awareness, and the kind of feel that helps a band lock together from the first count-in.
Playing for the Artist and the Music
Great live drumming is not only about energy. It is about listening, supporting the artist, responding to the band, and knowing when to push the music forward and when to leave room.
Kenny approaches every performance with the same goal: create a strong foundation, stay connected to the music, and help the entire band feel comfortable enough to perform at its best.
What Kenny Brings to the Stage
Deep Pocket
Strong time and feel that give the band a dependable foundation without overpowering the music.
Musical Awareness
Kenny listens to the artist, arrangement, dynamics, and band so the drums support what is happening in the moment.
Professional Preparation
Prepared, dependable, communicative, and respectful of rehearsals, schedules, production teams, and everyone involved in the performance.
Adaptability
Rooted in Chicago blues with the experience to adjust naturally to different artists, venues, arrangements, and performance settings.
Available for Select Live Work
Touring
Professional artist support for select touring opportunities that call for an experienced drummer with strong feel and stage awareness.
Festivals & Concerts
High-level live performance for festivals, concert stages, special events, and featured musical appearances.
Single-Date Engagements
Select performances, artist appearances, special projects, and one-off engagements based on schedule and project fit.
Experience Built on the Road and Stage
Kenny’s career includes international touring, festival appearances, recording sessions, cultural programs, and performances with respected artists across blues and roots music.
His recording work includes contributions to six Grammy-nominated albums, including the Grammy-winning Joined at the Hip. Kenny is also a four-time Blues Music Award winner for Instrumentalist—Drums, with additional recognition from Living Blues and the Blues Blast Music Awards.
The experience matters because every stage is different—but the responsibility of the drummer stays the same: listen, support the artist, and make the music feel right.
Tell Kenny About the Performance
When reaching out, include as much information as possible so Kenny can quickly understand the opportunity and determine availability.
- Artist or project name
- Performance date or tour dates
- City, venue, and location
- Rehearsal schedule
- Performance length and set details
- Travel requirements
- Music, demos, charts, or reference recordings if available
Bring the Right Feel to the Stage
Looking for a drummer who can step into the music, support the artist, and bring a dependable groove to the performance?
Send Kenny the details of the project, schedule, location, and music. Every opportunity is considered based on availability and fit.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
ken@beedyeyes.com
773-726-7343
Chicago-based | Available for select live performances, touring opportunities, festivals, and travel