Album Notes

JOHNNY SMOKE is a rock band that has been playing in concert clubs and at festivals around Central and Western New York since 1994. Their crowd-pleasing, high-energy performances quickly established their reputation in the area, and earned them the nickname “Rochester’s Aerosmith” from local radio personality, Unkle Roger (RIP).


They followed their victory at The Made In Rochester Competition in 1999 with the release of their debut disc, Crime Don’t Pay Yet!! in 2000. The CD received airplay in the local showcases on stations in the Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo markets; and music from the album was used in commercials to promote the sports programming on 96.5 fm WCMF.


The band’s second disc, For A Dollar, was released the first week of April in 2007. This ten-song salute to Passion, Truth, Justice, and The American Way demonstrates their classic rock influences with songs that are raw reflections of modern life in the free world.


The line-up features lefty guitarist Anthony J. Carbone and drummer Joe Szembrot, the band’s remaining founding members. Lead vocalist Garrett Crumb came to define the voice of the group in 1996, and bassist Scott Dasson further solidified their powerhouse sound when he joined the band in 2001.