Gene Smarte
Gene playing snare with the RP Blandford and Son Pipe Band at the 2004 World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

Gene simultaneously started playing bagpipes and Scottish snare about four years ago. The pipe band he joined needed drummers more than pipers, so while he took piping lessons, he started adapting his rudimental drumming background to the demands of Scottish music.

A native Californian, Gene and his wife, Shelby, moved to the Lexington, Kentucky area in the Fall of 2005 looking to escape the west coast's congestion. His background is in magazine publishing and currently he's looking for something interesting to do in addition to playing with Kentucky United Pipes and Drums.