Willie Smith (alto saxophonist)
Encyclopedia
William McLeish Smith was one of the major alto saxophone
players of the swing era. He also played clarinet and sang. He is generally referred to as Willie Smith.
, South Carolina
, Smith's first instrument was clarinet and his education was in chemistry. He received his chemistry degree from Fisk University
. Nevertheless in 1929 he became an alto saxophonist for Jimmie Lunceford
's band. He would be one of the main stars in Lunceford's group and in 1940 had his own quintet as a side project. His success with Lunceford had lost its charms by 1942 as he now wanted more pay and less travel. He then switched to Harry James
's orchestra, where he made more money, and stayed with him for seven years. After that he later worked with Duke Ellington
and Billy May
. He was also part of the Gene Krupa Trio, and can be heard on the 1952 live Verve album The Drum Battle - part of the Jazz at the Philharmonic series (battle is with Buddy Rich). In 1954 he returned to Harry James's band. Added to all this he was involved in Jazz at the Philharmonic
and worked with Nat King Cole
.
He died of cancer
in 1967, in Los Angeles
, California
, at the age of 56.
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
players of the swing era. He also played clarinet and sang. He is generally referred to as Willie Smith.
Biography
Born in CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, Smith's first instrument was clarinet and his education was in chemistry. He received his chemistry degree from Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
. Nevertheless in 1929 he became an alto saxophonist for Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford
James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.-Biography:...
's band. He would be one of the main stars in Lunceford's group and in 1940 had his own quintet as a side project. His success with Lunceford had lost its charms by 1942 as he now wanted more pay and less travel. He then switched to Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
's orchestra, where he made more money, and stayed with him for seven years. After that he later worked with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
. He was also part of the Gene Krupa Trio, and can be heard on the 1952 live Verve album The Drum Battle - part of the Jazz at the Philharmonic series (battle is with Buddy Rich). In 1954 he returned to Harry James's band. Added to all this he was involved in Jazz at the Philharmonic
Jazz at the Philharmonic
Jazz at the Philharmonic, or JATP, was the title of a series of jazz concerts, tours and recordings produced by Norman Granz....
and worked with Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
.
He died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1967, in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, at the age of 56.
External links
- [ Biography] at Allmusic