Obituary of James Stark Smith

At just before midnight on February 5, 2015, James Stark Smith, 66, left this earthly life and took a seat at the ancestral family table where he joined his parents Clara T. Taylor and Jack W. Smith and other departed loved ones. He entered this life just after midnight in Arlington, Va., on May 18, 1948. During the all-too-short space between those two midnight events, he made his mark upon this world and among his family that will never be forgotten. Staying behind to cherish his memory are his beloved wife and soulmate Pam Smith, wife of 30 years. They resided in Martinsburg, W.Va., where they owned and operated Good Natured Market and Vegetarian Café. Jim was also the owner of Muddy Hole Studios LLC, a digital audio and digital video recording and production service. Jim grew up in the Hyattsville, Md., area, graduating from Northwestern High School and attending the University of Maryland. Music and sound were always a part of Jim's life and during the 1960s and 1970s he performed in many original pop music bands before gravitating to the technical and recording side of the business. He played his last bar gig in 1979. Eventually his skill as a recording engineer led him to NPR where he engineered such productions as "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition." He went on to be the NPR Engineering Supervisor overseeing a team of more than 40 engineers. In 1997, Jim became the engineer-in-charge for BET's new, digital video and audio production truck, which he helped design and build and then oversaw the production of hundreds of concerts, news, and entertainment productions with that mobile studio. Eventually he began producing concert DVDs for The Jazz Channel. His live recordings and broadcasts included such musical giants as Dizzy Gillespie, Sun Ra, Archie Shepp, Wynton Marsalis, National Symphony Orchestra, Emmy Lou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and Nasar Abadey. He recorded 15 albums for The Capitol Steps, and produced a number of television documentaries and specials. For Jim, nothing trumped family. Enriched by that philosophy are those left behind to miss him, especially his three sons: Gabe Sales-Smith and his wife Donna of Gaithersburg, Md.; Calvin Smith of Martinsburg, W.Va., and Jacob Smith and his girlfriend India, also of Martinsburg. Jim also adored his two grandchildren Ethan and Gaby Sales-Smith. Jim leaves behind seven siblings: Bob Smith and wife Ellen of Baltimore; Paul Smith and wife Page of Annapolis; Charlie Kertay of Morenci, Arizona; Ann Marie Chiasson of Tuscon, Arizona; Nancy Sorrells and husband Randy of Greenville, Virginia; Martha Walker of Huntsville, Alabama; and Andrew Taylor and wife Lori of Marion, North Carolina. A number of nieces, nephews, and greats thereof, also will miss Uncle Jim, including: Rachel, Dave, Ben, Lorna, Mike, Jeanna, Mia, Seth, Tristan, Sam, Sarah, Will, Kyle, Mea, Mederic, Imogen, Erin, Abbey, Lindsey, Justin, Evan, Landon, Derek, Katie, Maggie, Tim, Christina, Jonathan, and Stephanie; as well as numerous other cousins, especially Mike and Patti Slay. He will also be remembered fondly by special friends Richard Sales, Nasar Abadey, Jeff McCoy, Chris English, Jay Turner, Robert Jackson, Andy Fahs, Rob Parrish, Greg Lukens, Ed Helvey, Van Williamson, and Rocky. Jim is also survived by his step-mother Ernestine Smith and his mother-in-law Betty Harshbarger. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father John Taylor and his father-in-law Rollin Harshbarger. Jim's earthly remains will be laid to rest in the Hopewell Friends Meeting House cemetery in Clear Brook, Va. There will be a Memorial Meeting at the historic meeting house on Saturday, February 14 at 1 p.m. where all are welcome to share Jim's life in photos, music, art, and spoken word or silent witness. There will be a short graveside gathering following the Meeting. Arrangements are being handled by Rapp Funeral and Cremation Services in Silver Spring, Md. (www.rappfuneral.com). The historic meeting house is located at 604 Hopewell Rd., Clear Book, VA 22624. Those wishing to make donations in lieu of flowers can send those in Jim's memory to the Hopewell Friends Meeting House at Hopewell Centre Friends, c/o Jim Riley, 1321 Vanceright Circle, Winchester, VA 22601.