International Archives For The Jazz Organ (IAJO) - The Jazz Organ Scene USA

The Jazz Organ Scene

USA

Lonnie Smith

Lonnie was born in Lackawanna/NY into a family with a vocal group and radio program. Smith says that his mother was a major influence on him musically, as she introduced him to gospel, classical, and jazz music. He was part of several vocal ensembles in the 1950s, including the Teen Kings. Art Kubera, the owner of a local music store, gave Smith his first organ, a Hammond B3.

Smith's affinity for R&B melded with his own personal style as he became active in the local music scene. He moved to New York City, where he met George Benson, the guitarist for Jack McDuff's band. Benson and Smith connected on a personal level, and the two formed the George Benson Quartet, featuring Lonnie Smith, in 1966.

After two albums under Benson's leadership, "It's Uptown" and "Cookbook", Smith recorded his first solo album ("Finger Lickin' Good") in 1967, with George Benson and Melvin Sparks on guitar, Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax, and Marion Booker on drums. This combination remained stable for the next five years.

After recording several albums with Benson, Smith became a solo recording artist and has since recorded over 30 albums under his own name. Numerous prominent jazz artists have joined Smith on his albums and in his live performances, including Lee Morgan, David "Fathead" Newman, King Curtis, Terry Bradds, Blue Mitchell, and Joe Lovano.

In 1967, Smith met Lou Donaldson, who put him in contact with Blue Note Records. Donaldson asked the quartet to record an album for Blue Note, "Alligator Bogaloo". Blue Note signed Smith for the next four albums, all in the soul jazz style, including "Think" and "Turning Point".

In the mid-1970s, Lonnie Smith converted to Sikhism. Smith has also been referred to from around that time as "Dr. Lonnie Smith" although the honorific does not represent an academic doctorate degree.

Smith toured the northeastern United States heavily during the 1970s. He concentrated largely on smaller neighborhood venues during this period. His sidemen included Ronnie Cuber, Dave Hubbard, Bill Easley and George Adams on sax, Donald Hahn on trumpet, George Benson and Larry McGee on guitars, and Joe Dukes, Sylvester Goshay, Phillip Terrell, Marion Booker, Jimmy Lovelace, Charles Crosby, Art Gore, Norman Connors and Bobby Durham on drums.

Smith has performed at several prominent jazz festivals with artists including Grover Washington jr, Ron Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Lou Donaldson and Ron Holloway. He has also played with musicians outside of jazz, such as Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Etta James, Joan Cartwright, and Esther Phillips.

He was named the "Organ Keyboardist of the Year" in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009 by the Jazz Journalist Association.

source: Wkipedia

contact:	info@drlonniesmith.com
homepage:	www.drlonniesmith.com
	www.myspace.com/drlonniesmith
	Click on the logo to see Lonnie's tour dates.

Discography

It's Uptown Columbia CS 9325 recorded february through march 1966 in USA	George Benson, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Jimmy Lovelace, drums Ray Lucas, drums
The George Benson Cookbook Columbia CS 9413 recorded august through october 1966 in USA	George Benson, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ Benny Green, trombone Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Jimmy Lovelace, drums Marion Booker, drums
Alligator Bogaloo Blue Note BST 84263 recorded april 1967 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Lou Donaldson, alto sax Lonnie Smith, organ Melvin Lastie sen, cornet George Benson, guitar Leo Morris, drums
Fingerlickin' Good Columbia CS 9496 recorded may 1967 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ further details unknown
Midnight Creeper Blue Note BST-84280 recorded march 1968 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Lonnie Smith, alto sax Blue Mitchell, trumpet George Benson, guitar Lonnie Smith, organ Leo Morris, drums
Think! Columbia CS 9496 recorded july 1968 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Lee Morgan, trumpet David Newman, tenor sax, flute Melvin Sparks, guitar Marion Booker jr, drums Henry Brown, timbales Willie Bivins, conga Noberto Appelaniz, conga
Turning Point Blue Note BST-84313 recorded january 1969 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Lee Morgan, trumpet Julian Priester, trombone Bennie Maupin, tenor sax Melvin Sparks, guitar Leo Morris, drums
Move Your Hand Blue Note BST-84326 recorded august 1969 at Club Harlem in Atlantic City, NJ/USA	Lonnie Smith, organ, vocal Rudy Jones, tenor sax Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Larry McGee, guitar Silvester Goshay, drums
Everything I Play Is Funky Blue Note BST-84337 recorded january 1970 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Lou Donaldson, alto sax Blue Mitchell, trumpet Lonnie Smith, organ Melvin Sparks, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass Idris Muhammad, drums
Drives Blue Note BST-84351 recorded january 1970 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Dave Hubbard, tenor sax Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Larry McGee, guitar Joe Dukes, drums
Live At Club Mozambique Music Masters 65158 recorded live may 1970 at Club Mozambique in Detroit, MI/USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Dave Hubbard, tenor sax Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax George Benson, guitar Joe Dukes, drums Gary Jones, conga Clifford Mack, tambourine
Mama Wailer King Records KU-02, reissue KICJ 8104 recorded july 1971 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Danny Moore, trumpet, flugelhorn Grover Washington jr, tenor sax, flute Marvin Cabell, tenor sax Dave Hubbard, tenor sax George Davis, guitar Robert Lowe, guitar Jimmy Ponder, guitar Ron Carter, bass Chuck Rainey, bass Billy Cobham, drums William King, percussion Airto Moreira, percussion Richard Pratt, percussion
Afro-Desia Groove Merchant GM-3308 recorded 1975 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Jamey Huddad, drums, percussion Ben Riley, drums Joe Lovano, tenor sax, soprano sax Ralphe Armstrong, bass Ron Carter, bass Gerg Hopkins, trumpet
Keep On Lovin' Groove Merchant Records GM 3312 recorded august 1976 in USA	Lonnie Smith, piano, keyboards, vocals Bob Babbitt, bass Will Lee, bass Rick Morotta, drums George Young, flute, alto sax Lew Del Gatto, flute, baritone sax Fred Griffen, french horn Jerry Friedman, guitar Lance Quinn, guitar Jimmy Maelen, percussion Joe Lovano, tenor sax Barry Rogers, trombone David Taylor, bass trombone Alan Rubin, trumpet Randy Brecker, trumpet
Flavors America 6145, reissue Musidisc 5008028 recorded 1976 in New York City/USA	Lonnie Smith, organ, vocal, synthesizer Greg Hopkins, trumpet Joe Lovano, tenor sax George Benson, guitar Ron Carter, bass Ralph Armstrong, bass Ben Riley, drums Jim Haddad, congas, percussion
Funk Reaction Lester Radio Corp. LRC 9317 recorded june 1977 in New York City/USA	Lonnie Smith, keyboards, vocals Eddie Daniels, tenor sax Richie Hohenburger, guitar Lance Quinn, guitar Jerry Friedman, guitar Richie Hohenberger, guitar Bob Babbitt, bass Will Lee, bass Francisco Centano, bass Jim Finnen, bass Alan Schwartzberg, drums Jimmy Young, drums Gary Mure, drums Steve Gadd, drums
Funk Reaction Lester Radio Corp. LRC 9317 recorded june 1977 in New York City/USA	Lonnie Smith, keyboards, vocals Eddie Daniels, tenor sax Richie Hohenburger, guitar Lance Quinn, guitar Jerry Friedman, guitar Richie Hohenberger, guitar Bob Babbitt, bass Will Lee, bass Francisco Centano, bass Jim Finnen, bass Alan Schwartzberg, drums Jimmy Young, drums Gary Mure, drums Steve Gadd, drums
Gotcha' Lester Radio Corp. LRC 9323 recorded 1978 in New York City/USA	Lonnie Smith, piano, organ, synthsizer Tom Browne, trumpet Alvin Flyth, sax Curtis Weaver, guitar Jerry Friedman, guitar Jay Berliner, guitar Neil Jason, bass Peter Caccamo, bass Hal Lichenbaum, drums Brian Blake, drums Jimmy Maelen, percussion
When The Night Is Right Chiaroscuro CR 2019 recorded 1980 in USA	Lonnie Smith, piano, organ, synthsizer orchestra conducted by Bard Baker Joe Lovano, tenor sax George Benson, guitar and many more
Lenox And Seventh Black & Blue 33178 recorded may 1985 in Paris/France	Lonnie Smith, organ Melvin Sparks, guitar Alvin Queen, drums
Live At The Blue Note ProJazz CD629 recorded live november 1986 at the Blue Note in New York City/USA	Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Lonnie Smith, organ Randy Brecker, trumpet Ronnie Burrage, drums
Come On Down MuseMCD 5375 recorded september 1990 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Jimmy Ponder, guitar Houston Person, tenor sax Lonnie Smith, organ Winard Harper, drums Sammy Figueroa, congas
Play The Right Thing Milestone MCD-9190-2 recorded december 1990 in New York City/USA	Lou Donaldson, alto sax, vocal Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Bernard Purdie, drums Ralph Dorsey, conga
Sonny Lester Collection LRC CDC9032 recorded ???	Lonnie Smith, organ, piano, synthsizer Hal Litchenbaum, drums Brian Blake, drums Neil Jason, bass Peter Caccamo, bass Curtis Weaver, guitar Jerry Freidman, guitar Jay Berliner, guitar Jimmy Maelen, percussion Alvin Flyth, sax Rubens Bassini, percussion Alan Schwartzberg, drums Jimmy Young, drums Gary Mure, drums Steve Gadd, drums Will Lee, bass Francisco Centano, bass Jim Finnen, bass Pat Rebillot, keyboards Paul Griffin, keyboards Sam Johnson, keyboards Moe Daniel, keyboards Yaron Gershovsky, keyboards Lance Quin, guitar Richie Hohenberger, guitar and horn section
Caracas Milestone MCD 9217-2 recorded july 1993 in New York City/USA	Lou Donaldson, alto sax Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Kenny Washington, drums Ralph Dorsey, conga
Purple Haze Music Masters 65135 recorded march 1994 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ John Abercrombie, guitar Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums
Foxy Lady Music Masters 65158 recorded march 1994 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ John Abercrombie, guitar Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums
Sentimental Journey Columbia 478117-2 recorded march 1994 in USA	Lou Donaldson, alto sax Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Fukushi Tainaka, drums Ray Mantilla, congas, bongos
Organic Grooves Hip Hop Essence HIBD S010 recorded january 1996 in New York City/USA	Joey DeFrancesco, organ Lonnie Smith, organ Idris Muhammad, drums Tony Purrone, guitar Kenny Garrett, alto sax Grover Washington jr, tenor sax
A Look Within Blue Note CDP 72438 36490-2 recorded february 1996 in New York City/USA	Javon Jackson, tenor sax Lonnie Smith, organ Cassandra Wilson, vocals Fareed Haque, guitar Peter Washington, bass Billy Drummond, bass Cyro Baptista, percussion
One Foot In The Blues Rounder 2144 recorded june 1996 in New Orleans, LA/USA	Johnny Adams, vocal Lonnie Smith, Hammond B3 organ Jimmy Ponder, guitar Ed Petersen, tenor sax Donald Harrison jr, alto sax Jamil Sharif, trumpet Shannon Powell, drums
Bongobop Hip Hop Essence HIBD 8017 recorded 1997 in New York City/USA	Reuben Wilson, Hammond B3 organ Lonnie Smith, Hammond B3 organ Idris Muhammad, drums Josh Roseman, trombone Michal Urbaniak, violin Papo Pepin, bongos Bob Franceschini, clarinet Jorge Sylvester, alto sax
Modern Man Delmark DE-530 recorded june 2000 in Chicago, IL/USA	Bobby Broom, guitar Lonnie Smith, Hammond B3 organ Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax Idris Muhammad, drums
Secret Agent Men Sons of Sound Productions 20012 recorded 2002 in USA	Akira Tana, drums Rodney Jones, guitar Lonnie Smith, Hammond B3 organ Rufus Reid, bass Chuggy Carter, percussion Robert Kenmotsu, flute, soprano sax, tenor sax
Boogaloo To Beck Scufflin' Records 8481 recorded 2003 in Mamaroneck, NY/USA	Lonnie Smith, Hammond organ David "Fathead" Newman, tenor sax Doug Munro, guitar Lafrae Sci, drums
Coast To Coast Milestone MCD-9335-2 recorded february 2003 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Red Holloway, tenor sax, alto sax Frank Wes, tenor sax Lonnie Smith, organ Melvin Sparks, guitar Paul Humpgrey, drums
Crash - The Doctor Is In Cellar Live CL090603 recorded live september 2003 at The Cellar in Vancouver/Canada	Cory Weeds, alto sax Jerry Cook, tenor sax Dave Sikula, guitar Mark Humeniuk, bass Bernie Arai, drums Lonnie Smith, Hammond B3 organ
Too Damn Hot Palmetto PALM2105 recorded january 2004 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Greg Hutchison, drums Fukushi Tainaka, drums Rodney Jones, guitar
Greasy Street Zoho ZM 200511 recorded 2005 in Stamford, CT/USA	Richie Hart, guitar Rick Petrone, bass Joe Corsello, drums Clifton Anderson, trombone Pete Levin, keyboards Lonnie Smith, Hammond B3 organ Jerry Weldon, tenor sax
Jungle Soul Palmetto Records 2119 recorded november 2005 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Matt Balitsaris, guitar Allison Miller, drums, percussion
The Art Of Organizing Criss Cross Records 1318 recorded december 1993 in USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Peter Bernstein, guitar Billy Drummond, drums
Spiral Palmetto PM 2142 recorded january 2010 in Buck's County, PA/USA	Lonnie Smith, organ Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar Jamire Williams, drums

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