Tab Smith

Biography

Talmadge "Tab" Smith (January 11, 1909 – August 17, 1971) was a prominent American alto saxophonist whose career bridged the worlds of swing, jazz, and rhythm and blues. Born in Kinston, North Carolina, into a musical family—his mother and four sisters were pianists—Smith began on piano before switching to saxophone as a teenager. He joined his first professional band, the Carolina Stompers, in 1929 and quickly became an in-demand performer, playing with groups such as Eddie Johnson’s Crackerjacks and on riverboats with Fate Marable.

Smith rose to national prominence in the 1930s and 1940s as a member of the bands led by Lucky Millinder and Count Basie, and he also freelanced as both a player and arranger. He participated in notable recording sessions with jazz greats including Billie Holiday, Earl Hines, and Coleman Hawkins. After World War II, Smith led his own groups, shifting towards rhythm and blues as jazz evolved. His biggest commercial success came in 1951 with his saxophone rendition of "Because of You," which topped the R&B charts and crossed over to the pop charts. Smith recorded prolifically for United Records until its closure in 1957, after which his career declined. He spent his later years in St. Louis, working in real estate and performing locally until his death in 1971.

Fun Facts

• Smith’s mother and four sisters were all pianists, and he originally started on piano before switching to saxophone.
• He played not only alto saxophone but also tenor, soprano, and C-melody saxophones throughout his career.
• Smith’s 1951 hit "Because of You" was a saxophone instrumental cover of a Tony Bennett vocal hit and reached number 1 on the R&B chart.
• After retiring from music, Smith worked in real estate and played piano part-time at a steakhouse in St. Louis.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Johnny Hodges - Formative stylistic influence on Smith's alto saxophone playing; Hodges was a leading figure in the Duke Ellington band and a contemporary rival. (General influence, especially in swing and jazz phrasing) [1930s–1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Count Basie - Band member; Smith played alto and tenor saxophone in Basie's orchestra. (Live performances and recordings with Basie’s band) [1940–1942]
• Lucky Millinder - Band member; Smith played and recorded extensively with Millinder's band in several stints. (Live performances, recordings) [1936–1938, 1942–1944]
• Coleman Hawkins - Recording collaborator; Smith arranged and played on Hawkins-led sessions. (1944 recording session) [1944]
• Billie Holiday - Session musician; Smith played on recording sessions with Holiday. (Recordings in late 1930s–early 1940s) [1930s–1940s]
• Earl Hines - Session musician; Smith played on recording sessions with Hines. (Recordings in late 1930s–early 1940s) [1930s–1940s]
• Wynonie Harris - Band member; Harris sang in Smith’s band during the 1940s. (Live performances, recordings) [1940s]

Artists Influenced

• Earl Bostic - Contemporary and competitor; Smith’s R&B saxophone style influenced the competitive landscape of postwar R&B saxophonists. (General influence on R&B saxophone sound) [1950s]
• Otis Redding - Indirect influence; Smith’s saxophone version of "Try a Little Tenderness" predated and may have influenced Redding’s later iconic vocal version. ("Try a Little Tenderness") [1950s–1960s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. D.A.N.C.E. (D.A.N.C.E.)
2. PUFF PUFF (PUFF PUFF)
3. Run (Run)
4. Run (D.A.N.C.E.)
5. Lobby (Lobby)
6. Pathetic (Pathetic)
7. Lemon (Lemon)
8. Bougie Bitch (D.A.N.C.E.)
9. Lobby - Rock Version (Lobby (Rock Version))
10. Lobby - 6th FLR Version (Lobby (6th FLR Version))

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia