| Byther Smith | |
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Byther Smith at the Silver Dollar Room, Toronto, Ontario |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Byther Smith |
| Born | April 17, 1933 Monticello, Mississippi, United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupations | Guitarist, singer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | Late 1950s–present |
Byther Smith (born April 17, 1933, Monticello, Mississippi, United States)[1] is an American blues musician, noted for his gritty style and uncompromising delivery.
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Born the sixth oldest of seven children, Smith immigrated to Chicago in the mid 1950s. Although he worked for a candy company, Smith's real passion was music. He played bass for a three-piece jazz combo for a few years, but he eventually got a spot playing rhythm guitar for Otis Rush. He also backed Junior Wells, Big Mama Thornton and George "Harmonica" Smith. In the early 1960s, Smith began to take the guitar more seriously and learned much from J. B. Lenoir, Robert Lockwood, Jr., and Hubert Sumlin.
After years playing in clubs all over the United States and the world, a demo tape Smith recorded became the album Tell Me How You Like It, released by the Texas based Grits record label. The release brought him European opportunities, and his next album on a UK record label Addressing The Nation with The Blues appeared on JSP Records.[2] In 1995, Smith retired from his job at Economy Folding Box Company after twenty-five years, allowing him to focus fully on music.
Delmark Records boss Bob Koester observed, "There's a mellowness there that is disappearing in all but B.B. King".[2]
Smith still records and tours frequently.
Byther Smith is a first cousin of fellow blues musician and Monticello native, J. B. Lenoir.