The Incredible And Influential Jimmy Smith

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People have overlooked Jimmy Smith way too long. His Hammond organ playing influenced just about everyone that followed him in jazz and rock. Jon Lord of Deep Purple, Peter Bardens and Rick Wakeman acknowledged the influence of Jimmy. Without him, Booker T would not have developed his sound. James Oscar Smith’s father had a song-and-dance act in the clubs and by the age of twelve, as a young boy, his son taught himself to be an accomplished “Harley Stride” pianist. He won talent contests with his boogie-woogie piano playing but unfortunately, his father became unable to perform and settled to manual labor for income.

The shock that people felt on hearing Jimmy’s Hammond organ in full flight is impossible to measure today. We’ve become so used to every kind of synthesised sound that we take for granted that with today’s keyboards we can make anything, sound like anything.

Smith left school to help support the family and joined the Navy when he was fifteen years old. With financial assistance from the G.I. Bill of Rights, set up in 1944 to help Second World War veterans rehabilitate, Smith was able to return to school in 1948, this time studying bass at the Hamilton School of Music in Philadelphia. At this point he was juggling school with working with his father and playing piano with several different R&B groups. It was in 1953 while playing piano with Don Gardener’s Sonotones that Smith heard Wild Bill Davis playing a Hammond organ and was inspired to switch to the electric organ.

Smith heard Will Bill Davis play a Hammond organ and was inspired to switch to the electric organ. Jimmy got his first B3 in 1953 and constructed ways to navigate the complex machine. He mentioned he would be at it for hours.

Jimmy built his technique from playing independent from outside influencers, by cutting himself off from the outside world. Within three months, his technique steeped in the gospel tradition. It was like nothing ever heard before. Smith began playing in Philadelphia clubs in the same year. Shortly afterwards, Smith left Philly behind, landing his debut gig in Harlem, New York. It wasn’t long before his novelty was attracting a lot of attention. Blue Note Label owner Alfred Lion offered him a record deal and his success was instantaneous. “A New Sound...A New Star” launched his successful career and gave Blue Note an abundance of income over the next seven years.

As his reputation grew, Smith’s Blue Note sessions partnered him with Kenny Burrell, Stanley Turrentine, Art Blakey where he immediately released a commercial success in the form of Bashin, made Billboard records and was the biggest hit of his career and had tours in Europe. Smith settled down with his wife doing festival appearances not receiving the same acclaim as before and actually produced his well-reviewed albums in the late 80’s. He got recognition from Qunicy Jones to play a session for Michael Jackson. Smith recorded the album “Damn!” featuring Etta James and B.B. King. After moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, Jimmy Smith died in 2005 shortly after his wife. Jimmy leaves a legacy as one of the greatest and most innovative musicians.