Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Fred Smith was born in West Virginia, United States on September 14, 1949. Fred Smith was credited as a songwriter, guitarist and singer. Death is recorded on November 4, 1994, at the age of 45.
My Take
Fred "Sonic" Smith holds a special place for me as the MC5 guitarist who helped define Detroit's ferocious proto-punk roar. There was real artistry beneath that noise, and his partnership with Patti Smith, raising two children and even making music together, reveals a tenderness that the wild stage persona never advertised. Losing him at only forty-six in 1994 feels like a genuine cultural loss. I admire musicians who scratch their mark into a moment rather than chase longevity, and Smith did exactly that. He earns my full respect as a quietly soulful man hiding behind a wall of beautiful distortion.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Fred Smith
- Name (Japanese)
- フレッド・“ソニック”・スミス
- Reading
- ふれっど・“そにっく”・すみす
- Born
- September 14, 1949 – November 4, 1994
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Ox
- Origin
- West Virginia, United States
- Occupation
- songwriter / guitarist / singer / musician
2. Links
- Official sitehttp://sonicsrendezvousband.net/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred%20%22Sonic%22%20Smith
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2615615
3. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Fred Smith born?
Born September 14, 1949.
When did Fred Smith die?
Died November 4, 1994, aged 45.
Where was Fred Smith from?
Fred Smith was from West Virginia, United States.
What did Fred Smith do?
Fred Smith worked as songwriter, guitarist, singer, musician.
Songwriter — see all → · Guitarist — see all → · More people from the United States →