About Cliff
Cliff Smith was born in Kennington in 1973, and began playing the guitar at around age nine or ten. Originally inspired by his older brother Mike’s punk guitar riffs, Cliff went on to take classical guitar lessons at primary school. On starting secondary school, Cliff was provided with electric guitar lessons. These lessons (and the great teacher he had) combined with his newly discovered passion for sixties & seventies rock (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix etc.) set him firmly on the path to a career in music – he loved it too much to spend the rest of his life doing anything else. In his second year he started his first band, playing his original compositions.

On leaving school he studied piano, electric guitar, classical guitar, folk guitar, percussion, music theory and composition at Morley College, London (where he was later to become the tutor for both the classical and folk guitar courses). He also started another band; ‘The Glass Tears’, who played psychedelic rock (much of the band’s material was composed and arranged by Cliff). During his time with the ‘Tears, Cliff was also making a living from busking. It was during this time that he began his guitar teaching career, as people would stop and ask for lessons.

Cliff then joined rock band Hog as lead guitarist, playing a multitude of venues including The Rock Garden and The George Robey (Now the Powerhaus). Resolving to study music in more depth, he enrolled on a one year intensive ‘Access to Music’ course at Merton College, Surrey.

During his studies Cliff joined the ‘Pandemonium’ steel-pan jazz-rock orchestra as lead guitarist, playing some of the most well attended gigs of his career - including the Radio One Roadshow. He was also playing in a jazz duo with a pianist, and teaching guitar voluntarily in both primary and secondary schools to gain some experience in teaching children.

Cliff later graduated from Kingston University in 2000 with an honours degree in Classical Music, specialising in performance and composition. While at university he sang tenor in the choir, presented solo recitals on the classical guitar, and performed live with several bands and ensembles including ‘Dangerland’, performing at venues such as The Acoustic Café in London’s Soho. He also formed a ‘Madchester’ band for a one-week-only stint at ‘Chez Wayne’s’ English pub in Nice – playing for two hours every night to an aggressive, drunken mob!

Since graduating, Cliff has performed extensively in the genres of pop, rock and classical music around England, France and Ireland. Highlights include playing to 3000 people at ‘Boogie In The Park’ in Bedford with Ultimate Beatles in the summer of 2005.

A keen songwriter, Cliff is equally comfortable performing his own songs, playing cover versions, or improvising in many styles from rock and blues through to jazz and avante garde. He currently performs regularly with Ultimate Beatles, in addition to solo work and collaborations.

When he isn’t performing, Cliff is a peripatetic guitar teacher at preparatory schools (key stage two) in and around London, as well as teaching adults privately from his home studio. He runs guitar ensembles and bands, and enjoys the challenge of igniting a spark in his pupils and inspiring them to reach their full potential.

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