Michael Peter Smith

Michael Peter Smith (September 7, 1941 – August 3, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter based in Chicago. Rolling Stone once called him "The greatest songwriter in the English language". He sang and composed from the 1960s, and his rich and challenging songs have been recorded by more than 30 performers. He is remembered for writing "The Dutchman", popularized by Steve Goodman and also recorded by Suzy Bogguss, Tom Russell, Jerry Jeff Walker, Robert James Waller, Josh White Jr., and many others. He was in a Peter, Paul and Mary-style trio for a couple of years which included his wife Barbara Barrow and fellow singer Ron Kickasola. They expanded into a rock band called Juarez and recorded one album for Decca before disbanding. Smith and his wife then played as an acoustic duo for most of the early 1970s. Steve Goodman's recording of "The Dutchman" in 1973 on his album Somebody Else's Troubles, formally introduced Smith's songs to a large audience, and propelled "The Dutchman" into becoming Smith's most popular song. Smith has performed at dozens of major folk festivals including the Kerrville Folk Festival, Black Mountain Festival, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Owen Sound, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, and Winnipeg Folk Festivals.