There is a large mountain of songwriters in Chicago and somewhere near the very top sits Michael Smith. Among some of his most famous compositions are The Dutchman and Spoon River, but he is also highly regarded as a singer and guitarist and his live performances can be electrifying. Smith and his wife Barbara Barrow settled in Chicago in the early 1970s and he immediately became a major presence on the folk music club circuit here. He was still performing and releasing new CDs up until his death in 2020.