Jimmy Smith w/Etta James & Dr. John

Biography

Jimmy Smith, born James Oscar Smith on December 8, 1925, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, grew up immersed in music, playing piano from age nine and drums in his high school band. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he studied at the Ornette Coleman School of Music and Philadelphia Musical Academy, transitioning to the Hammond B3 organ in 1951 after witnessing Wild Bill Davis perform. This innovation defined his career, as he pioneered its use in jazz, blending bebop phrasing with blues and funk grooves, creating the soul jazz genre. Smith debuted in New York in 1956, signing with Blue Note Records and releasing seminal albums like A New Sound A New Star and The Sermon!, establishing him as the first jazz organ superstar through collaborations with Kenny Burrell, Lou Donaldson, and others.

Smith's career peaked in the 1960s with Verve Records, producing hits like Bashin' with Oliver Nelson's big band and duo albums with Wes Montgomery. He toured extensively, performed at Newport Jazz Festival, and appeared in films, though he took a hiatus in the 1970s to run a failed supper club. Revived in the 1980s-1990s, he recorded for Blue Note, Elektra, and Verve, contributing to Michael Jackson's Bad (1987) and Frank Sinatra's L.A. Is My Lady (1984) via Quincy Jones. His final album, Dot Com Blues (2000), featured Etta James, Dr. John, and B.B. King, incorporating blues and soul. Smith died on February 8, 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona, honored as a NEA Jazz Master that year, leaving a legacy as the Hammond B3 master whose style influenced hip-hop sampling by Beastie Boys and others.

The Spotify reference 'Jimmy Smith w/Etta James & Dr. John' highlights their collaboration on Dot Com Blues, a late-career soul jazz-blues fusion reflecting Smith's genre-spanning evolution from hard bop to funk.

Fun Facts

• John Coltrane briefly played tenor sax in Smith's Philadelphia club band in 1955, later recalling waking up at night haunted by Smith's screaming organ chords.
• Smith's funky B3 solo on Michael Jackson's Bad title track (1987) modernized the organ's role in pop, arranged by Quincy Jones.
• He ran a supper club in California's San Fernando Valley in the mid-1970s, which failed after a few years, prompting his return to touring.
• Smith performed 'The Sermon' and 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' with his trio in the 1964 film Get Yourself a College Girl.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Wild Bill Davis - Inspired Smith to switch from piano to Hammond organ (Witnessed Davis's performance leading to Smith's adoption of the instrument) [1951]

Key Collaborators

• Kenny Burrell - Frequent guitarist in Blue Note trio sessions (Groovin’ at Small’s Paradise, Blue Bash!, Organ Grinder Swing) [1956-1960s]
• Wes Montgomery - Guitar duo partner on Verve albums (The Dynamic Duo, Jimmy & Wes – The Dynamic Duo) [1960s]
• Etta James - Vocalist on final album (Dot Com Blues) [2000]
• Dr. John - Guest on final album (Dot Com Blues) [2000]
• Joey DeFrancesco - Protégé and live performance partner; posthumous collaborative album (Legacy (2005)) [1990s-2005]
• Quincy Jones - Producer inviting Smith to pop sessions (Michael Jackson's Bad title track, Frank Sinatra's L.A. Is My Lady) [1984-1987]

Artists Influenced

• Joey DeFrancesco - Called Smith his mentor; dedicated posthumous album (Legacy) [1990s-2005]
• Beastie Boys - Sampled Smith's Verve work ("Root Down") [1990s]
• John Coltrane - Played briefly with Smith's band early on; profoundly impacted by his organ playing (Short stint at Spider Kelly’s club) [1955]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia