G.E. Smith. Photo: Jessica Dalene
Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling as part of the 2026 G.E. Smith’s PORTRAITS series, featuring legendary guitarist and bandleader G.E. Smith with a special guest artist to be announced.
Known for his work with Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, and as bandleader for Saturday Night Live, Smith hosts each PORTRAITS performance as a one-of-a-kind musical conversation. In this intimate setting, he welcomes acclaimed artists from across the musical world to explore the songs, influences, and experiences that have shaped their creative journeys.
Blending live performance with candid discussion, the evening unfolds naturally as Smith and his guest share music, swap stories from the road and studio, and reflect on the moments that defined their artistry. From spontaneous collaborations to unexpected interpretations of beloved songs, every performance offers audiences a rare glimpse inside the creative process.
Created by Taylor Barton and G.E. Smith, PORTRAITS is a uniquely personal concert series celebrating the craft of musicianship through connection, curiosity, and conversation—ensuring that no two evenings are ever the same.
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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
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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
Radio Partner: Long Island Radio Broadcasting
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.
