Biography
Jimmy Smith (born December 8, 1928, in Norristown, Pennsylvania; died February 8, 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona) was a pioneering American jazz musician who revolutionized the use of the Hammond B-3 organ in jazz. Raised in a musical family—his mother played church organ and his father was a tap dancer—Smith began performing as a child and won a local radio contest as a boogie-woogie pianist at age nine. After serving in the Navy and studying music in Philadelphia, he was inspired by organist Wild Bill Davis to devote himself to the Hammond organ, practicing intensively before debuting his new sound.
Smith's innovative approach transformed the organ from a novelty instrument into a central force in jazz, particularly through his virtuosic single-note lines, gospel harmonies, and blues-infused phrasing. His 1950s and 1960s recordings for Blue Note and Verve, including albums like 'A New Sound, A New Star' and 'The Sermon!', established him as the leading figure in soul jazz and hard bop. Smith's trios, often featuring guitar and drums, set the template for jazz organ groups, and his energetic, swinging style influenced generations of musicians.
Throughout his career, Smith collaborated with major jazz artists and crossed over into popular music, notably contributing to Michael Jackson's 'Bad.' He received numerous accolades, including the NEA Jazz Masters Award in 2005, and is widely credited with legitimizing the organ as a jazz instrument, leaving a lasting legacy on jazz, funk, and blues.
Fun Facts
- Smith practiced the Hammond organ for up to 14 hours a day in a rented warehouse before debuting his new sound.
- He was the first jazz organist to popularize the Hammond B-3 model, which became the standard for jazz organists.
- Smith opened his own supper club, 'Club Jimmy Smith,' in Los Angeles in the early 1970s.
- He won a radio talent contest as a boogie-woogie pianist at age nine.
Associated Acts
- Jimmy Smith Trio - organ, original
- The Rhythm Doctors
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Wild Bill Davis - Inspired Smith to switch from piano to Hammond organ after hearing Davis perform. (Smith's early organ recordings reflect Davis's influence.) [Early 1950s]
- Art Tatum - Major stylistic influence; Smith sought to emulate Tatum's piano virtuosity on organ. (Smith's right-hand melodic lines and improvisational style.) [1950s]
- Erroll Garner - Influenced Smith's registration and sound on the organ. (Smith developed organ settings to simulate Garner's piano sound.) [1950s]
- Bud Powell - Influenced Smith's bebop phrasing and improvisational approach. (Smith's horn-like melodic lines.) [1950s]
Key Collaborators
- Stanley Turrentine - Frequent collaborator; saxophonist in Smith's classic organ trios. (Albums such as 'Back at the Chicken Shack', 'Midnight Special') [Early 1960s]
- Kenny Burrell - Guitarist in Smith's trios and recording sessions. (Albums including 'Home Cookin'' and 'Organ Grinder Swing') [Late 1950s–1960s]
- Quincy Jones - Producer and collaborator; invited Smith to play on Michael Jackson's 'Bad.' (Michael Jackson's 'Bad' album)
- Joey DeFrancesco - Collaborated on Smith's final recording project. (Album 'Legacy')
- B.B. King, Dr. John, Etta James - Featured guests on Smith's late-career album. ('Dot Com Blues')
Artists Influenced
- Joey DeFrancesco - Directly inspired by Smith's technique and sound; later collaborated with Smith. (Organ jazz recordings, 'Legacy' album) [1990s–2000s]
- Jon Lord (Deep Purple) - Cited Smith as a key influence on his approach to the organ in rock music. (Deep Purple's use of Hammond organ) [1970s]
- Booker T. Jones - Influenced by Smith's soul jazz style and organ technique. (Booker T. & the MG's recordings) [1960s]
- Larry Young - Advanced Smith's innovations in jazz organ into more avant-garde territory. (Albums like 'Unity') [1960s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Midnight Special (Remastered) | 1961 | Album |
| The Cat | 1998-01-01 | Album |
| Dot Com Blues | 2001-01-01 | Album |
| Back At The Chicken Shack | 1963-02-12 | Album |
| Root Down | 1972 | Album |
| Organ Grinder Swing | 1965-06-15 | Album |
| Christmas Cookin' | 1964-12-01 | Album |
| The Complete Verve Singles | 2016-12-09 | Album |
| Got My Mojo Workin' | 1965-06-07 | Album |
| INTEGRAL JIMMY SMITH 1955 - 1957 | 2025-02-28 | Album |
| Further Adventures Of Jimmy And Wes | 1969-01-01 | Album |
| The Music of Lalo Schifrin (1932-2025) | 2025-06-28 | Album |
| Rockin' The Boat | 2004-01-01 | Album |
| Jimmy Smith-Retrospective | 2004-01-01 | Album |
| Bashin' - The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith (Expanded Edition) | 1962-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Midnight Special - Remastered 2007/Rudy Van Gelder Edition (Midnight Special (Remastered))
- The Cat (The Cat)
- I Just Wanna Make Love To You (Dot Com Blues)
- Back At The Chicken Shack (Back At The Chicken Shack)
- Jumpin' The Blues - Remastered 2007/Rudy Van Gelder Edition (Midnight Special (Remastered))
- Root Down (And Get It) - Live (Root Down)
- Organ Grinder’s Swing (Organ Grinder Swing)
- Got My Mojo Workin' (Got My Mojo Workin')
- 8 Counts For Rita (Dot Com Blues)
- Baby, It's Cold Outside (Christmas Cookin')
External Links
Tags: #hard-bop, #jazz, #jazz-musicians
References
Heard on WWOZ
Jimmy Smith has been played 46 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.