This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2016) |
Craig Smith | |
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Birth name | Craig Vincent Smith |
Also known as | Maitreya Kali, Satya Sai Maitreya Kali |
Born | Los Angeles, U.S. | April 25, 1945
Died | March 16, 2012 Los Angeles, U.S. | (aged 66)
Genres | Pop, psychedelic folk, rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, actor |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, voice |
Years active | 1963–1972; sporadically to the late 1990s |
Labels | Capitol Records, Akashic Records, United Kingdom of America Records |
Craig Vincent Smith (April 25, 1945 – March 16, 2012) was an American musician, songwriter and actor. He began his career in the 1960s playing pop and folk music, and appearing on The Andy Williams Show. Smith wrote several songs that were recorded by successful artists of the time including Glen Campbell, The Monkees, and Andy Williams. After using drugs while travelling on the hippie trail, he had mental health problems which worsened over time. He released two solo albums, Apache and Inca, in the early 1970s under the names Maitreya Kali and Satya Sai Maitreya Kali. After spending nearly three years in prison for assaulting his mother, he spent the majority of the next 35 years homeless.