Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers

Career His debut performance on stage was with Johnny Williams and Johnny "Man" Young. In the early part of the 1950s, Smothers played alongside his cousin Lester Davenport and with Arthur "Big Boy" Spires, Earl Hooker, Henry Strong, and Bo Diddley.

In 1956 and 1957, Howlin' Wolf invited Smothers to play as his rhythm guitarist on several tracks recorded for Chess Records, including "Who's Been Talking", "Tell Me", "Change My Way", "Goin' Back Home", "The Natchez Burning", and "I Asked for Water". Smothers secured a recording contract with Federal Records in August 1960. His album Smokey Smothers Sings the Backporch Blues, produced by Sonny Thompson, with Freddie King on lead guitar on some tracks, was released in 1962. A subsequent session produced four tracks, including "Twist with Me Annie", a reworked version of "Work with Me, Annie". As a part-time member of Muddy Waters's backing band, Smothers played on "I Got My Eyes on You" in 1968. He was survived by his wife, Earline Smothers, and by their sons and daughters, his five brothers and sisters, and his extended family.

His daughter, Crystal Q'Nef Smothers, produced a Blues Tribute on the Smothers brothers in 2016, which was held in Chicago. A documentary was produced by Ms. Smothers in 2019, based on the life stories of both Smothers brothers.

His rapper granddaughter took on the stage name Smokey Smothers.

Discography

Albums Smokey Smothers Sings the Backporch Blues (1962), King Drivin' Blues (1966), King (reissue of Sings the Backporch Blues) Got My Eyes on You (1986), Red Beans With Howlin' Wolf The Real Folk Blues (Chess, 1956-64 )

Compilation albums Chicago Blues Session Volume 1 (1998), Wolf