Drummer and harpist played for over two decades with the legendary Muddy Waters, until 1980 when he and the rest of Muddy's group joined the Legendary Blues Band (recording discs like Money Talks). Smith also has one solo recording Bag Full of Blues on local Blind Pig Records (1995). Smith was born in 1936 in Helena, Arkansas, but has become inextricably linked with the "Chicago-style shuffle" blues drumming. He played in his own bands and backed Muddy Waters in the late '50's. The early sixties were lean times for Smith as he was working in restaurants and collecting welfare. A late '60's Muddy Waters gig reinvigorated him and he returned to drumming. He was a co-founder (with Pinetop Perkins, Louis Meyers, Calvin Jones and Jerry Portnoy) of the Legendary Blues Band. Together they won six Grammy Awards and played with notable artists such as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. They also appeared in the movie "The Blues Brothers" as John Lee Hooker's backing band of street musicians.
Bag Full of Blues is Smith's first recording as a solo artist/band leader. Though Smith breaks little new ground (this is a solid, if unadventurous, meat-and-potatoes Chicago-style blues record), his song-writing is solid and he proves that his vocal abilities are equal to his prodigious drum and harp talents. He is very ably backed on the record by Pinetop Perkins, Kim Wilson (ex-Fabulous Thunderbirds) and Ross Bon (of Mighty Blue Kings Fame).
He and his son Kenny Smith (who is currently playing with Dave Myers & His New Aces) are scheduled to perform on the Front Porch Stage at the 1999 Chicago Blues Festival.
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