Email   Print   Share By Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious June 7, 2012 | Leisure

Jeffrey Smith greets his friend, Timothy Craig, at the Clear Creek PX Friday. Craig has been returning to listen to Smith play his “talking guitar” at Fort Hood since 2004. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Jeffrey Smith has been playing his jazz guitar on Fort Hood and military installations all over the world since 2001, and he returned to Fort Hood from Thursday through Saturday to perform at the Clear Creek PX.

Being raised in a civilian world, Smith was not exposed to the military lifestyle until his adult life, where the Army became something close to his heart.

His brother, Marvin Smith, is currently stationed in Japan and has served in the Army for more than 20 years. When Jeffrey wanted to find his own way to thank the troops for the daily sacrifices that they make, he turned to his passion of playing jazz music.

“After I played the very first time for Families whose Soldiers were deploying, I knew this would be something that I continued doing for many years to come,” Jeffrey said. “It inspired my most popular song, ‘In the Midst of War.’”

“I looked at the fact that I’m going to be selling my music anyway, but when I sell in a civilian community, the money just goes to that community. When I sell my music in the military community, the money goes back into the AAFES circulation. This is my way of giving back to the troops, while also doing something I’m passionate about.

Jeffrey and his instrument, nicknamed the “talking guitar,” frequent Fort Hood and have fans that come to see him play every time he’s in town.

Sgt. 1st Class (ret.) Timothy Craig has been coming back to hear Jeffrey perform since 2004. Timothy and Jeffrey have become friends over the years, and Timothy said Jeffrey’s music is what he turns to when he goes for cruises on his bike.

Jeffrey’s music is available on iTunes and Amazon.com. To find out how to buy his music, his calendar dates and other information, visit his website at www.4daru.com.