The first time I met Greg Smalley I thought he was the cockiest person I'd ever come across. That opinion never went away. Greg was one of the most straight-up folks in the world. There was no guessing what he thought; he told you - good or bad - and he always expected the same in return. He was as brutally honest with himself as he was with anybody. Uncompromising in lifestyle. Living life to the fullest until the end… there could have been no other way.
With the growing number of aids related deaths, I knew in no time I too would lose a friend. Unfortunately Greg was that friend. In characteristic form the news of his illness was delivered to me. Not by grapevine, but by Greg himself. And, being cocky, Greg hid very little. He rattled our oblivion, using his presence as a warning: Exposing all the ravages of what was consuming his flesh. Even on stage he wasn't afraid of sounding the alarm of what unprotected sex could do to a person. Once, while performing, his singing came to an abrupt halt, interrupted by a symptomatic coughing fit. Finishing the song, Greg frankly stated "Sorry 'bout that. I didn't wear a rubber."
Gregory Dean Smalley, the original mover and ass-shaker, consolidated Atlanta's Redneck Underground Movement with the relentless energy, devotion, and promotion. Greg, being the jokester that he was, played with all-too-familiar phrases naming his creation the "Bubbapalooza" festival. He even went so far as to trademark the term. Through his sickness he rallied beyond the festival, serving up Bubbapalooza Volume I. A computation disc of many of his favorite bands, which further spread the underground gospel through Atlanta and beyond. The yearly festival at the Star Community Bar continues his legacy, showcasing bands in the genre that Greg set out to help.
This CD is a tribute to Greg by some of the bands that he did indeed help. By no means is this a complete list. Time constraints have forced many deserving and offering acts to miss out on this one. This release could easily have been double or triple in length. If, perhaps, many of Greg's songs, now missing in action, could have been recovered. Nowhere could we find a copy of "Shit Eatin' Dog". But we continue to keep our fingers crossed on hopes that one will show up. Since Greg was one of Greg's biggest fans, we let him tribute himself here, with songs that show-off what he loved and did best - brilliant guitar playing.
A musical legacy is not the only great thing Greg has left us. We do have his living presence in his bright and talented son, Raymond. All of the profits from this CD are for him. Call it an inheritance of sorts. An inheritance in good company with stacks of comic books, favorite guitars, and Batman memorabilia - just another part of a father's eclectic gift to his son.
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