[Dixielandjazz] Keith Smith - RIP

[Brian Harvey]

I am very sorry indeed to have to report the sad death of my friend Keith
Smith who passed away earlier this week after suffering a major heart
attack. Here is a brief biog.................


>From Brian Wood's excellent book - The Song Is Me- A Glossary Of New Orleans
Musicians.

SMITH, Keith John, Trumpet
Born March 19, 1940. London, England
First played with a group known as the Powder Mill Lane Stompers in Hounslow
before joining the San Jacinto Jazz Stompers in 1958. Joined Micky Ashman in
1960; co-led the Climax Jazz Band the same year; with Bobby Mickleburgh, and
Mac Duncan in 1961. Made his first visit to New Orleans in 1964 where he
became very friendly with George Lewis and took lessons from Kid Howard. He
then went to California to look for Alton Purnell. The following year he
appeared with Micky Ashman again before he formed his own Climax Jazz Band.
That included John Defferary, Mike Sherbourne, Dave Evans, Paul Sealey and
Brian Turnock. In 1965 he toured the States and recorded with George Lewis
in New Orleans:
George Lewis-Keith Smith & Their Pals, issued on Doug Dobell's "77" label.
Keith toured Europe in 1966 as a member of the New Orleans All Stars with
Alvin Alcorn, Jimmy Archey, Darnell Howard, Alton Purnell, Cie Frazier,
Johnny St. Cyr and Pops Foster. After moving the States to live in '66 he
recorded with Capt. John Handy. He later returned to Europe and appeared
with Papa Bue's Viking Jazzband from 1972. In 1975 he returned to England
and formed a band, Hefty Jazz. From the early 80s he toured with "The
Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong" and "100 Years of Dixieland Jazz". On
page 191 of R&S there is a picture of actor Robert Morley looking on
benignly at a British Airways commercial being filmed with Andrew Hall's
Society Jazz Band, including Teddy Johnson, Ernest Poree, Andrew Hall, Gregg
Stafford and ..... Keith Smith. "Hall, Burke and Smith are Britishers who
settled in New Orleans" it says on the caption, although there is no other
mention elsewhere in the book or any dates given. Encouraged by devotee
Alvin Alcorn (who had motivated him to join the black musicians' union
(q.v.) and dubbed him the Albino Kid), Keith opened a successful fish and
chip business in New Orleans. Not a lot of people know that! Doug Landau
tells me that early on Keith played with Barry Martyn in a hot little band
going by the name of Fron-zim-ee.



No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1210 - Release Date: 05/01/2008
11:46