Buster Smith
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| Buster Smith | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Henry Smith |
| Also known as | Buster, Professor |
| Born | August 24, 1904 Alsdorf, Texas |
| Died | August 10, 1991 (aged 86) Dallas, Texas |
| Genre(s) | Jazz, big band, swing |
| Instrument(s) | Alto saxophone, organ, guitar, clarinet, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1923–1980 |
| Label(s) | Atlantic |
| Associated acts | Oklahoma City Blue Devils, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hodges, Oscar Peterson, Bobby Short, Earl Hines, Eric Dolphy, John Lewis |
Henry "Buster" Smith (August 24, 1904 – August 10, 1991), also known as Professor Smith, was an American jazz alto saxophonist and mentor to Charlie Parker.[1] Smith was instrumental in instituting the Texas Sax Sound with Count Basie and Lester Young in the 1930s. Smith played saxophone for a range of musicians including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Earl Hines, though in his career only recorded one solo album in 1959. Despite intending to release a follow-up in the 1960s, Smith was injured in an accident leading to a follow-up never eventuating.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Smith was born and raised in Alsdorf, Texas, a small township near Telico in the outskirts of Dallas, where he attended school as a child. Smith earned the name "Buster" from his parents as a baby, as he was born as an overweight child.[2] Buster was the third of five boys and had no sisters, though both of his older brothers died in childhood of measles.[2]
Smith's early musical influences were his mother, a church pianist, and his father, who played guitar. At four years old, Buster was playing the organ with his brother, pianist Boston Smith; Buster played the keys and Boston stepped on the pedals. Soon thereafter, his grandfather gave away the family organ because he believed it would only direct Buster to a life of sin.[2]
[edit] Early career
In 1919, Smith picked cotton for a week earning himself $350 to buy himself a clarinet. Though prohibited from playing music in the home, Smith learnt to play several instruments by the time he was eighteen years old. In 1922, Smith and his family moved to Dallas where Smith supported the family with his income from playing music and working in a bank. He joined the Voodie White Trio, playing Alto saxophone and clarinet. In 1923, he began his professional music career playing alto saxophone with the medicine shows, though he had to play very loudly to draw in more customers.[1] This experience led to Smith defining his own musical style, known for being loud. The time with the medicine shows also led to Oran "Hot Lips" Page inviting Smith to join his group, the Oklahoma City Blue Devils, in 1925. Over the next few years, Smith wrote much of the group's music, learning from banjo player Johnny Clark, writing lyrics with co-workers from the bank that he worked in.[2]
[edit] Peak success
When Smith joined the Blue Devils, the line-up consisted of Walter Page, Oran Page, Lester Young, Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing, and Emir "Bucket" Coleman. They toured the Kansas City area and the Midwest, playing jazz for a year, bringing all of its members into prominence. Basie and Page both left the group; however Smith decided to stay on, though this was very short lived and soon after he left also. After leaving the group, he and Basie formed the Buster Smith-Count Basie Band of Rhythm, where the two innovated a louder style of Jazz. Buster's contribution to the unique sound was by using a tenor saxophone reed in his alto saxophone to achieve a louder, "fatter" sound.[1] Lester Young also joined the band and, to complement Smith's louder sound, he also opted for a heavier reed, using a baritone saxophone reed on his tenor saxophone. This sound was later labelled the Texas Sax Sound. Smith gained a great amount of influence in the Texan music community and industry. Smith mentored legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker during the 1930s, developing a "father-son relationship" through mentoring Parker.[2]
Smith also aided old Dallas friend, Charlie Christian, in his saxophone playing before Christian joined Benny Goodman's band. Despite being an African American and the civil rights issues of the time, Smith received much respect for his musical contributions. In 1941, Smith decided to return to Dallas and to cease touring, though he remained active in the local music scene. In the following years, he wrote for jazz and blues bands, played often, and taught many young Texan musicians, including Aaron "T-Bone" Walker and Red Garland among others.[3] He also performed session work with artists such as Pete Johnson's Boogie-Woogie Boys, Eddie Durham, Leo "Snub" Mosley, Bon and His Buddies, and the Don Redman Orchestra.[2]
[edit] Solo career
In 1959, Buster led his first solo recording session in Fort Worth, as prompted by Atlantic Records. From these sessions, released by Atlantic with the title The Legendary Buster Smith, Smith's notable songs included "Kansas City Riffs," "Buster's Tune," "E Flat Boogie," and Kurt Weill's "September Song." For the sessions, Buster enlisted his brother Boston Smith to play piano, along with musicians spanning his career to date.[4]
[edit] Later life
In the 1960s, Smith was involved in auto accident, in which he was injured and no longer able to play the saxophone. In order to continue playing music, he started to play the bass guitar throughout Dallas and continued to participate in the Dallas musical community. Buster led a dance music band until 1980. Smith died in Dallas on August 10, 1991 of a heart attack.[1]
[edit] Discography
- The Legendary Buster Smith, Atlantic Records, 1959 (Reissued by Koch Records, 1999)
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Who's Who of Jazz: Storyville to Swing Street by John Chilton (First published 1970).
- Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians by Eileen Southern (First edition 1982).
- Kansas City Jazz: From Ragtime to Bebop - A History by Frank Driggs & Chuck Haddix (First published Oxford 2005; ISBN 0195307127, Page 165).
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ a b c d Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsmgx.html (accessed October 27, 2007)
- ^ a b c d e f African American Music Collection. Henry "Buster" Smith. University of Michigan (emich.edu) (February 23, 1974). Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ Jazz Artists blog. Red Garland. topblogarea.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ Legendary Buster Smith CD. Detailed Information. CD Universe. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Smith, Buster |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Smith, Henry |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Jazz alto saxophonist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 24, 1904 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Alsdorf, Texas |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 10, 1991 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Dallas, Texas |
