George "Harmonica" Smith

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For other persons named George Smith, see George Smith (disambiguation).

George "Harmonica" Smith (22 April 1924 – 2 October 1983) (born Allen George Smith) was an American blues harmonica player. He was also known as 'the master of the chromatic blues harmonica'.

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[edit] Life and Career

Born in West Helena, Arkansas, but brought up in Cairo, Illinois, he began playing professionally in 1951. He was recruited to join Muddy Waters' band in 1954, making his presence between the short-lived Henry Strong, and James Cotton. (He would rejoin Waters in 1966). He eventually made the decision to leave Chicago, and spent much of his adult life on the West Coast of America.

Smith played with the blues combo, Bacon Fat, and tutored its harmonica player Rod Piazza, before joining forces with Big Mama Thornton in the 1970s. He appeared on her album Jail (1975), and with yet another harmonica student William Clarke.

The few solo albums he recorded in his life reflected his admiration for the playing style of Little Walter.

George "Harmonica" Smith died in 1983 at the age of 59.

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