A story by Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center Voices of Biddeford project from 1960s to current
Voices of Biddeford interview with Sam Smithwick on April 18, 2024
Sam Smithwick's authentic love for Maine, and Biddeford in particular, is palpable from the outset of a conversation with him. He grew up in the South, toured the country as part of the "Smithwick Machine," and spent years in the music business. He said that describing the moment he decided to move to Maine 20 years ago to be with his future wife, would make a great song lyric. Since then, he has been a Southern Maine educator and Biddeford Adult Education’s English Language Coordinator since 2017 while maintaining his other passion of storytelling and songwriting.
Although he and his family live in Kennebunk, Sam has focused on gaining a deep understanding of Biddeford's history and culture. As a Board member for the Heart of Biddeford, he is genuinely moved by the diversity of people and organizations coming together to build a positive trajectory that is evolving our community into what he calls a "magical city."
The top highlights include:
*Deep interest in family ancestry which features roots in England, Ireland, and the South's Native American tribes,
*Growing up in a very small, poor, and diverse farming community in the South's Hill Country,
*Challenges and opportunities of touring across America as part of a rock'n'roll band, then making the transition from life on the road to settling down in Maine,
*Diversifying his employment to balance family responsibilities while tapping his passion for music, history, and teaching,
*How Biddeford's growing English-as-a-Second Language Program contributes to not only the individuals it serves but the community as a whole.
Recorded on April 18, 2024
View a transcript of this interview, more pictures, and additional information.
See more stories from the Voices of Biddeford project.
Sam Smithwick, April 2024
Sam performing at Echo Lounge with Smithwick Machine at 1999 Atlantis Music Conference
Sam and the Luvumbua family, chefs from Angola at Biddeford’s River Jam
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