Chris Durman of Smiley & the Lovedawg is a East Tennessee singer/songwriter, journeyman musician, and librarian who has tried with varying degrees of success to play heavy metal, rock, bluegrass, folk-rock, old-time, R & B, doo-wop, soul, Americana, and that one, oh-so-ill-fated and ill-advised jazz gig. He’s been lucky to have played with, worked with, and/or hung out with some of the greatest musicians in East Tennessee and the world, many of whom have become his friends. It’s a shame more of their talent hasn’t rubbed off on Chris.

Chris has played in Lace, Oedipus Rex, Overkill, The New Left, Reenie’s Swinging Jugs, The Fun-Time Trolley Band, and the John Myers Band. Chris plays regularly with Exit 65 and Smiley and the Lovedawg. He’ll occasionally do a solo or duo gig with a friend, too, and he loves to jam with Folks, typically feeling most in his element when jamming with friends new and old around a campfire at a party.