Bennie Smith
Encyclopedia
Bennie Smith was a St. Louis blues
guitarist, considered to be one of the city's (http://www.bigmuddyblues.com/music.htm) patriarchs of electric blues.
His sound was emblematic of a St. Louis blues music that he helped define in over half a century practicing his trade. His contributions to the genre in that city, from the early 1950s and almost until the day of his death, included mentor, performer, and recording artist.
Due to his significant contribution to blues music in St. Louis, in October 2003 he received a proclamation from mayor Francis Slay marking October 5, 2003 as 'Bennie Smith Day' in that city. The board of alderman similarly honored Mr. Smith, recognizing him as the "Dean of St. Louis Electric Guitarists". http://stlcin.missouri.org/cityjournal/PDF/86_27_a.pdf During the 2006 'Big Muddy Blues Festival' in St. Louis, Mayor Slay honored Bennie once again on September 2 of that year, declaring that day also be known as 'Bennie Smith Day' in St. Louis.
's first recording, "Boxtop". The song featured Ike Turner
with 'Little Ann' on backing vocals, and Smith on guitar. In addition, he has played with such guitar players as Hubert Sumlin
, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, B.B. King and Grant Green
.
In addition to his featured albums, Smith provided lead and rhythm guitar on a number of released singles and albums. These included:
as his two greatest influences on the guitar.
, Mr. Smith suffered a heart attack
at his home on September 9, 2006. He died on September 10, 2006.
St. Louis Blues (music)
"St. Louis Blues" is an American popular song composed by W. C. Handy in the blues style. It remains a fundamental part of jazz musicians' repertoire. It was also one of the first blues songs to succeed as a pop song. It has been performed by numerous musicians of all styles from Louis Armstrong...
guitarist, considered to be one of the city's (http://www.bigmuddyblues.com/music.htm) patriarchs of electric blues.
His sound was emblematic of a St. Louis blues music that he helped define in over half a century practicing his trade. His contributions to the genre in that city, from the early 1950s and almost until the day of his death, included mentor, performer, and recording artist.
Due to his significant contribution to blues music in St. Louis, in October 2003 he received a proclamation from mayor Francis Slay marking October 5, 2003 as 'Bennie Smith Day' in that city. The board of alderman similarly honored Mr. Smith, recognizing him as the "Dean of St. Louis Electric Guitarists". http://stlcin.missouri.org/cityjournal/PDF/86_27_a.pdf During the 2006 'Big Muddy Blues Festival' in St. Louis, Mayor Slay honored Bennie once again on September 2 of that year, declaring that day also be known as 'Bennie Smith Day' in St. Louis.
Career
Smith worked as a session man on many recordings over the years, and has three original albums to his name: The Urban Soul of Bennie Smith (Blues Highway - 1993), Shook Up (Fedora Records - 2001)), and The Bennie Smith All Star Session (2006). In a notable 1958 session, Smith was invited to contribute on what would be Tina TurnerTina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
's first recording, "Boxtop". The song featured Ike Turner
Ike Turner
Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
with 'Little Ann' on backing vocals, and Smith on guitar. In addition, he has played with such guitar players as Hubert Sumlin
Hubert Sumlin
Hubert Sumlin is an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer, best known for his celebrated work, from 1955, as guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band. His singular playing is characterized by "wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic...
, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, B.B. King and Grant Green
Grant Green
Grant Green was a jazz guitarist and composer....
.
Albums
- The Urban Soul of Bennie Smith 1993 (Blues Highway Music)
- Shook Up 2001 (Fedora Records)
- Bennie Smith All-Star Sessions 2006
In addition to his featured albums, Smith provided lead and rhythm guitar on a number of released singles and albums. These included:
Sessions - singles
- "Boxtop", Ike Turner, (with Tina Turner (a.k.a. Little Ann) on vocals) 1958 (Tune Town)
- "Mistreated", Clayton Love with the Roosevelt Marks Orchestra, 1958-59 (Bobbin). It is likely that Smith recorded other songs with the Roosevelt Marks Orchestra during the period from 1958 to 1961.
- "Condition Your Heart", Little Herbert and the Arabians, 1961
- "Shook Up Over You", Jimmy "Soul" Clark, 1963
Sessions - albums
- Mean Disposition, Big Bad SmittyBig Bad SmittyBig Bad Smitty aka John H. Smith was an American blues guitar player and singer. Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, he started learning guitar at the age of ten. He would play his older brother Nelson's guitar when nobody was around.When he was in his 20's he worked as a truck driver...
, 1991 (Adelphi/Genes. This album is included in the Library of Congress) - - Cold Blood, Big Bad Smitty, 1997 (HMG) Mr Smith shared the lead guitar role with Hubert SumlinHubert SumlinHubert Sumlin is an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer, best known for his celebrated work, from 1955, as guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band. His singular playing is characterized by "wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic...
.
Style
Smith named Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Matt "Guitar" MurphyMatt Murphy (blues guitarist)
Matt "Guitar" Murphy is an American blues guitarist.-Life and career:Matt Murphy was born in Sunflower, Mississippi, United States, and was educated in Memphis, where his father worked at the Peabody Hotel...
as his two greatest influences on the guitar.
Death
As a complication to lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, Mr. Smith suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at his home on September 9, 2006. He died on September 10, 2006.