Biography
Huey Pierce 'Piano' Smith (January 26, 1934 – February 13, 2023) was born in New Orleans' Central City neighborhood and showed early musical talent, writing his first song, 'Robertson Street Boogie,' at age eight. Influenced by Professor Longhair's innovative style and boogie-woogie masters like Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, and Jelly Roll Morton, as well as R&B artist Fats Domino, Smith developed a distinctive shuffling right-hand piano technique. He attended Walter L. Cohen High School, began club performances at 15 with Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones), and signed his first recording contract with Savoy Records in 1952 at age 18, releasing 'You Made Me Cry.' By 1955, he played sessions for Little Richard, Lloyd Price, Earl King ('Those Lonely Lonely Nights'), and Smiley Lewis ('I Hear You Knocking').[1][2]
In 1957, Smith formed Huey 'Piano' Smith and His Clowns with vocalist Bobby Marchan, signing with Ace Records under Johnny Vincent, and scored massive hits like 'Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu' (with vocalists Sidney Rayfield and 'Scarface' John Williams) and 'Don't You Just Know It' (No. 9 Billboard Pop, No. 4 R&B). His infectious New Orleans R&B style epitomized rollicking energy, influencing early rock 'n' roll. Post-Ace, he made comebacks with groups like the Hueys and Shindig Smith and the Soul Shakers, including a 1971 'Rockin' Pneumonia' re-recording on Cotillion, but never matched prior success. His last Clowns performance was in 1981 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and he received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award in 2000.[1][2]
Smith's legacy endures through covers of his tunes by Aerosmith, Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, and Deep Purple, and his pivotal role in New Orleans piano R&B. He died at home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, aged 89.[1][2]
Fun Facts
- Wrote his first song 'Robertson Street Boogie' at age 8, named after his street, and performed it as 'Slick and Doc' with friend Percy Anderson.[1][2]
- Didn't like his own singing voice, so instructed vocalist 'Scarface' John Williams to 'get in closer' to the mic during 'Rockin' Pneumonia' sessions, saying 'I'm trying to get a hit out of this.'[1]
- Played piano on Little Richard's first band sessions for Specialty Records in 1955 and backed regional hits like Earl King's 'Those Lonely Lonely Nights' and Smiley Lewis' 'I Hear You Knocking'.[1][2]
- Received Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award in 2000, performing 'Rockin' Pneumonia' and 'Sea Cruise' (written by him, sung by Frankie Ford) after nearly 20 years off stage.[2]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Professor Longhair - key early stylistic influence on innovative New Orleans piano (general early development) [childhood/early 1950s]
- Pete Johnson - boogie-woogie piano influence (piano playing style) [early career]
- Meade Lux Lewis - boogie-woogie piano influence (piano playing style) [early career]
- Albert Ammons - boogie-woogie piano influence (piano playing style) [early career]
- Jelly Roll Morton - jazz piano style influence (piano playing style) [early career]
- Fats Domino - R&B piano style influence (piano playing style) [early career]
Key Collaborators
- Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones) - early club and recording partner (club performances) [late 1940s-early 1950s]
- Bobby Marchan - vocalist in Huey 'Piano' Smith and His Clowns (band formation and recordings) [1957 onward]
- Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) - session musician in early recordings (1956 sessions with Rhythm Aces) [1956]
- 'Scarface' John Williams - vocalist on hit single ('Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu') [1957]
- Sidney Rayfield - vocalist on hit single (Huey's barber) ('Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu') [1957]
- Little Richard - piano player in first band sessions (Specialty Records sessions) [1955]
- Earl King - session and recording work ('Those Lonely Lonely Nights' (1955)) [1953-1955]
- Smiley Lewis - session musician ('I Hear You Knocking' (1955)) [1955]
Artists Influenced
- Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) - cited Smith's distinct piano style as major influence (early career development) [1950s onward]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| For Dancing | 1961-01-01 | Album |
| More of the Best: Havin' Fun | 1999-01-01 | Album |
| Snag-A-Tooth Jeanie (Rare and Unreissued Recordings 1960-1964 From The Vaults of Imperial and Pitter-Pat Records) | 1996-06-11 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Free, Single and Disengaged (For Dancing)
- Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues (For Dancing)
- The Second Line (More of the Best: Havin' Fun)
- Baby You Belong to Me (More of the Best: Havin' Fun)
- If It Ain't One Thing, It's Another (More of the Best: Havin' Fun)
- At the Mardi Gras (More of the Best: Havin' Fun)
- I Didn't Do It (More of the Best: Havin' Fun)
- She Got Low Down (For Dancing)
- Rockin' Behind Then Iron Curtain (For Dancing)
- Somebody Put a Tack (In My Cotton Pickin' Chair) (For Dancing)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Huey Piano Smith & dr john has been played 48 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station. Showing the 10 most recent plays.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 2026 | 21:33 | money (that's what I want) | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold | |
| Jan 8, 2026 | 19:59 | a little closer to my home | R&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri | |
| Jan 5, 2026 | 12:40 | Mess Aroundfrom Live At The Village Gate | New Orleans Music Showw/ Murf Reeves | |
| Jan 2, 2026 | 21:35 | I like ki yoka | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold | |
| Dec 31, 2025 | 12:34 | ONE DIRTY WOMAN | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen | |
| Dec 29, 2025 | 19:57 | ROCK''N'PNEUMONIA AND THE BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. | |
| Dec 26, 2025 | 21:34 | peace brother peace | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold | |
| Dec 26, 2025 | 11:34 | quitters never win | New Orleans Music Showw/ Black Mold or Bill DeTurk | |
| Dec 19, 2025 | 21:38 | Doing the Santa Claus | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold | |
| Dec 12, 2025 | 12:07 | you might be surprised | New Orleans Music Showw/ Black Mold or Bill DeTurk |