Lonnie Smith

Lonnie Smith (July 3, 1942 – September 28, 2021), styled as Dr. Lonnie Smith, was an American jazz Hammond B3 organist who was a member of the George Benson quartet in the 1960s. He recorded albums with saxophonist Lou Donaldson for Blue Note before being signed as a solo act. He owned the label Pilgrimage, and was named the year's best organist by the Jazz Journalists Association nine times.

Early life Smith was born in Lackawanna, New York, on July 3, 1942. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, and the family had a vocal group and radio program. He stated that his mother was a major influence on him musically, as she introduced him to gospel, classical, and jazz music.

Career Smith was part of several vocal ensembles in the 1950s, including the Teen Kings, with saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. and his brother Darryl on drums. Art Kubera, the owner of a local music store, gave Smith his first organ, a Hammond B3.

George Benson Quartet Smith's affinity for R&B mixed with his own personal style as he became active in the local music scene. He moved to New York City in 1965, where he met George Benson, the guitarist for Jack McDuff's band. Benson and Smith connected on a personal level, and the two formed the George Benson Quartet, featuring Lonnie Smith, in 1966.

Solo career; Finger Lickin' Good After two albums under Benson's leadership, It's Uptown and Cookbook, Smith recorded his first solo album (Finger Lickin' Good Soul Organ) in 1967, with George Benson (and guest Melvin Sparks) on guitar, Ronnie Cuber on baritone saxophone, and Marion Booker on drums. This combination remained stable for the next five years. Blue Note signed Smith in 1968, and he released five albums on the label, including Think! (with Lee Morgan, David Newman, Melvin Sparks, and Marion Booker)

Smith's next album, Move Your Hand, was recorded at the Club Harlem in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in August 1969. The album's reception allowed his reputation to grow beyond the Northeast. He recorded another studio album, Drives, and a live album (unreleased at the time), before leaving Blue Note. then with Lester's new group of LRC labels. It resulted in four albums, with the music output veering between jazz, soul, funk, fusion, and even an odd disco-styled track. His next Blue Note album, All in My Mind, was recorded live at the Jazz Standard in New York City (celebrating his 75th birthday with longtime musical associates – guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and drummer Johnathan Blake), and released January 12, 2018. His third Blue Note album of this era, Breathe, was also recorded live and released March 26, 2021. It features Iggy Pop on two studio vocal tracks: "Why Can't We Live Together" and "Sunshine Superman".

Tours and performances

Smith toured the northeastern United States heavily during the 1970s. He concentrated largely on smaller neighborhood venues during this period. His sidemen included Donald Hahn on trumpet; Ronnie Cuber, Bill Easley, and George Adams on saxophones; George Benson, Marc Silver, Billy Rogers, and Larry McGee on guitars; and Joe Dukes, Sylvester Goshay, Marion Booker, Charles Crosby, Art Gore, Norman Connors, and Bobby Durham on drums.

Smith performed at several prominent jazz festivals, with artists including Grover Washington Jr., Ron Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Lou Donaldson, Ron Holloway, and Carlos Santana. He also played with musicians outside of jazz, such as Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Etta James.

Personal life Smith had six children. Another is that he adopted the title in an attempt to differentiate himself from other musicians. Smith himself gave the following explanation:But I’m a doctor of music. I’ve been playing long enough to operate on it, and I do have a degree, and I will operate on you. I’m a neurosurgeon. If you need something done to you, I can do it. But when I go up on that stand, the only thing I’m thinking of is music. I’m thinking to touch you with that music. I don’t think about the turban, I don’t think about the doctor – I just think about how I’m going to touch you. Smith was well known for wearing a turban. Think! (Blue Note, 1968) Afro Blue (Venus; MusicMasters/BMG, 1993) – a tribute to John Coltrane initially released as by "The Lonnie Smith = John Abercrombie Trio" After Hours (Contemporary, 1997) Greasy Street (Zoho, 2005)

With Red Holloway Red Soul (Prestige, 1966) McGriff's House Party (Milestone, 1999) Come On Down (Muse, 1991) To Reach a Dream (Muse, 1991)

With others Johnny Adams, One Foot in the Blues (Rounder, 1996) Bobby Broom, Modern Man (Delmark, 2001) Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, The Bridge (Relaxed, 2002) Rodney Jones, Soul Manifesto (Blue Note, 2001) Kresten Osgood, Hammond Rens (ILK Music [denmark], 2003) Akira Tana, Secret Agent Men (Sons of Sound, 1992) Chester 'CT' Thompson, Mixology (Doodlin', 2012) Mark Whitfield, Mark Whitfield and the Groove Masters (Vega [jp], 2006)