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Join us for a night of extraordinary music and storytelling with G.E. Smith, Patty Smyth, and special guest John McEnroe as part of the 2026 G.E. Smith’s PORTRAITS series.

The evening brings together G.E. Smith—the masterful guitarist and bandleader known for his work with Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, and Saturday Night Live—with rock legend Patty Smyth, the Grammy-nominated voice behind Scandal’s hit “The Warrior” and the classic duet “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough.” They’ll be joined by tennis icon and lifelong music devotee, John McEnroe, whose passion for rock and blues has led to memorable musical collaborations and performances.

Together, they will share an engaging blend of songs, spontaneous performances, and stories from their remarkable careers in music and beyond.

PORTRAITS, created by Taylor Barton & G.E. Smith, is an intimate concert series featuring in-depth musical conversations that reveal the influences, artistry, and experiences behind today’s most compelling performers.

  • G.E. Smith

    G.E. SMITH was bandleader and Emmy Award Winning Musical Director for the Saturday Night Live (SNL) band from 85-95'. During this time he also toured with Bob Dylan for four years.  He was bassist on THE WALL LIVE TOUR for Roger Waters, 2010-2016 and sideman to Jagger, Bowie, and guitarist for Hall & Oates. He also helped Mike Myers write a song for Aerosmith, called Wayne’s World which went multi-platinum when they performed on SNL. 

    Photo: Rick Wenner

  • Patty Smyth

    Patty Smyth is a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter best known as the dynamic voice behind the rock band Scandal and for her successful solo career. She rose to prominence in the early 1980s with hits like “Goodbye to You”and “The Warrior,” songs that helped define the era’s rock sound and established her as one of its most powerful female vocalists. After her success with Scandal, Smyth launched a solo career that broadened her reach across pop and adult contemporary audiences. Her duet with Don Henley, “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough,” became a major international hit and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Over the course of her career, Smyth has also received additional recognition, including nominations from the American Music Awards and other industry honors, reflecting both her commercial success and critical acclaim. In addition to her work in music, Smyth has explored acting and theater, bringing her signature emotional depth and commanding presence to the stage. With a career spanning decades, she remains a celebrated performer whose work continues to resonate with audiences across generations.

    Photo: Melanie Dunea

  • John McEnroe

    John McEnroe is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential tennis players in the history of the sport. Known for his exceptional touch, creativity, and fiery on-court personality, McEnroe rose to prominence in the late 1970s and dominated men’s tennis throughout the early to mid-1980s. A former World No. 1, McEnroe won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including four U.S. Open championships and three Wimbledon titles. He also achieved remarkable success in doubles, capturing nine Grand Slam men’s doubles titles and one mixed doubles title, bringing his total Grand Slam tally to seventeen. In 1984, he had one of the most successful seasons in tennis history, finishing with an extraordinary 82–3 record. McEnroe’s career earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also a multiple-time recipient of the ATP Player of the Year award and the ITF World Champion honor, recognizing his dominance during his peak years. Beyond competition, McEnroe has remained a prominent figure in the sport as a commentator, coach, and ambassador for tennis. He has also pursued creative interests in music, performing guitar and collaborating with fellow musicians, and has appeared at various live events showcasing his passion for rock music. In addition, he has explored acting, appearing in television and stage projects, bringing his signature wit and intensity to new audiences. His legacy endures not only through his achievements, but through the passion and personality that helped redefine the game.

     

  • TAYLOR BARTON

    Taylor Barton is a multi-talented, writer, producer, and singer-songwriter. She is Vice President of Green Mirror Corp, a multi-media entertainment company. She has worked for four decades in the Music Industry and produced over 50 Events Worldwide.

    She has released ten critically acclaimed solo albums all available on Apple, Pandora, Spotify, and other digital platforms. Vanity Fair calls her voice beautiful and seductive. Rolling Stone calls her beguiling. She is the recipient of ten ASCAP Popular Panel Awards. Her film, 50 Watt Fuse, documenting G.E. Smith’s career as a sideman, was an Official Selection of the Mill Valley Film Festival. Written and directed by Barton with cameos from Lorne Michaels, Jimmy Buffett, to Bob Dylan and Hall & Oates; it garnered Barton a standing ovation.

    She is the producer of the performance series GE Smith’s Portraits at Guild Hall, East Hampton, NY. Featured guests have been The Avett Bros, Billy Squier, Roger Waters, Ethan Hawke, Trevor Hall, LeRoy Bell, The Bacon Bros, Sarah Jarosz, Paula Cole, and Carter Burwell to name a few. She also serves on the advisory Board of the Hamptons International Film Festival where she is the Founder of the Melissa Mathison Fund.

    She is married to GE Smith and lives in Amagansett, NY with their daughter Josephine Smith.

     

Sponsors

Performing Arts programs are supported by 2026 season sponsors Galia Meiri-Stawski and Axel Stawski, with additional lead support from Henry and Peggy Schleiff, The Melville Straus Family Endowment, Monica and Peter Tessler, and Vital Projects Fund. 

Guild Hall’s Performing Arts programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. 

Music Programming is supported in part by The Ellen and James S. Marcus Endowment for Musical Programming, and the Anne Wolf Concert Fund. 

Additional support provided by Friends of the Theater: Natascia Ayers and Jim Ciquera, Bonnie and Joel Bergstein, Gene Bernstein and Kathy Walsh, Amy Cooney and Marty Feinman, John and Joan D’Addario, Suzanne and John Golden, Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan, Steve and Susan Pesner and Peace, in memory of Michéle Pesner, whose entire life was devoted to all aspects of culture, The Schaffner Family Foundation, Lisa Schultz and Ezriel Kornel, Stacey and Oliver Stanton, and Susi and Peter Wunsch. 

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