Buster Smith

Born Henry Smith on August 24, 1904 in Alsdorf, Texas, the jazz alto saxophonist is better known by his nickname Buster Smith. Also referred to as Professor Smith, he was mentor to future jazz legend Charlie Parker. Smith played with artists such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Earl Hines. Smith’s earliest musical influences were his parents, who played guitar. By the time he was four, he was playing the organ. In 1919, he purchased a clarinet and spent the next three years learning to play other instruments as well. In 1922, his family relocated to Dallas, where he began playing the alto saxophone and clarinet in the Voodie White Trio. After earning a living playing in medicine shows, he joined the Oklahoma City Blue Devils in 1925. The band also featured future jazz legends Count Basie and Jimmy Rushing. After Smith and Basie left the band, they formed the Buster Smith-Count Basie Band of Rhythm. Lester Young joined the band and Smith and Young created what is now known as the Texas Sax Sound. In the 1930s, Smith mentored Charlie Parker, developing a strong ‘father & son’ type of relationship with the young saxophonist. Smith returned to Dallas, Texas in 1941 and stopped touring, although he became active in the local scene. Apart from playing live, he also recorded with many artists including Eddie Durham, the Don Redman Orchestra, Pete Johnson’s Boogie-Woogie Boys, and many others. In 1959, he released The Legendary Buster Smith, his only album as a leader. He was injured in a car accident in the 1960s and could no longer play the saxophone. He became a bassist and continued working with the with the local music community. Buster Smith died on August 10, 1991 of a heart attack.

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