1978 - Promo picture of Kinfolk taken in Dallas Texas. (back, left to right: Lynn Smith, Joe Crisler, Rod Wallace. front with guitar: Larry Smith)
After opening for Hank Williams Jr. at a 1978 concert, Larry's friend from Texas, Charles Kennedy, suggested that the band could make a living playing their original style as part of the booming Texas music scene. Plans for releasing an album were abandoned because of financial concerns.
At first, only three band members agreed to make the move. The three were Larry Smith, Rod Wallace and Joe Crisler. At this time, Larry dropped his name from the band name, and the group was simply known as Kinfolk. The guys, along with sound and light technicians, Kenny and Nancy Stokes, and equipment manager Jim Rhodes, piled into an old station wagon and, pulling the band's equipment trailer, made the over 700 mile journey. The group was to live with Charles Kennedy at his home on Graywood Drive in Richardson Texas until they got on their feet. Charles Kennedy, a successful jewelry designer, had lots of good music business connections and was dabbling in artist with other groups and flet that he could help Kinfolk get bookings.
The first challenge for the now three-piece band was to find a drummer. Joe Bauer, an old friend of Charles' from his home town of Paris Texas auditioned and got the job. The band began to get jobs around Dallas and in the smaller towns in East Texas and, after a few months, was offered a job on the Chelsea Street Pub circuit.
At the time, Chelsea Street Pubs was an extremely popular chain with locations in college towns and larger cities from Florida to New Mexico. The group was auditioned and hired by Chelsea Street's owner the acclaimed race car driver and owner Kenny Bernstein. Kinfolk's first booking with Chelsea Street was at the Albuquerque New Mexico location.
Because of family obligations, drummer Joe Bauer was unable to continue with the band. The group held auditions and 16 year old Lisa Weems from Paris Texas was hired. After two months of traveling on the Chelsea Street circuit, Lisa left the band and was replaced by Larry's brother and former Kinfolk drummer, Lynn Smith.
Before getting the Chelsea Street job, the band had formed a partnership and signed a management contract with Charles Kennedy and booking contract with the Jack Page Agency of Dallas. Lynn Smith was added to the partnership an management contract and the above photo was commissioned. After the first few months with Chelsea Street, the band opted out of the booking contract and worked with the club chain as an independent agent.
Photographer not known