Floyd George Smith (January 25, 1917 – March 29, 1982), sometimes credited as Floyd "Guitar" Smith, was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

guitarist and record producer.

Biography

Born in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

, Smith studied music theory as a teenager and learned

ukulele The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ), also called Uke, is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four nylon strings. The tone and volume of the instrumen ...

as a child before taking up guitar. He spent his early career in territory bands, playing in groups such as Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks, the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, the Sunset Royal Orchestra, the Brown Skin Models, and Andy Kirk's 12 Clouds Of Joy. Biography by Eugene Chadbourne, ''Allmusic.com''
Retrieved 14 October 2016 His composition "Floyd's Guitar Blues", recorded with Andy Kirk's orchestra in March 1939, has been claimed as the first hit record to feature a blues solo on

electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gu ...

. Jas Obrecht, "Electric Guitar Pioneer Floyd Smith on 1930s Jazz and Django", ''Jas Obrecht Music Archive''
Retrieved 14 October 2016 Smith enlisted during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

and was stationed in Britain as a sergeant. He also met and played with

Django Reinhardt Jean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953), known by his Romani nickname Django ( or ), was a Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe and has been hailed as one of its most ...

in Paris. Following the war, he rejoined Andy Kirk's band before forming his own small ensembles. He played with

Wild Bill Davis Wild Bill Davis (November 24, 1918 – August 17, 1995) was the stage name of American jazz pianist, organist, and arranger William Strethen Davis. He is best known for his pioneering jazz electric organ recordings and for his tenure with t ...

in the 1950s, and

Bill Doggett William Ballard Doggett (February 16, 1916 – November 13, 1996) was an American pianist and organist. He began his career playing swing music before transitioning into rhythm and blues. Best known for his instrumental compositions "Honky Tonk" ...

in the early 1960s, and also recorded occasionally with drummer Chris Columbo's bands during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He later settled in Indianapolis and formed his own jazz trio. In the 1970s, Smith moved into writing songs and record production, working with

Dakar Dakar ( ; ; wo, Ndakaaru) (from :wo:daqaar, daqaar ''tamarind''), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Senegal, largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar ...

Brunswick Records Brunswick Records is an American record label founded in 1916. History From 1916 Records under the Brunswick label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, a company based in Dubuque, Iowa which had been manufacturing prod ...

in Chicago, for which he recorded a few singles. He produced two albums with R&B star,

Loleatta Holloway Loleatta Holloway (, ; November 5, 1946 – March 21, 2011) was an American singer known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation". In December 2016, ''Billboard'' named her the 95th most successful dance artist of all time. Acco ...

for Aware Records of Atlanta, as well as two (one completed, but unissued when the label folded) with

John Edwards Johnny Reid Edwards (born June 10, 1953) is an American lawyer and former politician who served as a U.S. senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2004 alongside John Kerry, losing to incumbents George ...

, who later became lead singer of the Detroit Spinners. He produced two Top 10 R&B hits on Aware with Edwards ("Careful Man", No. 8 in 1974) and Holloway ("Cry To Me", No. 10 in 1975). In the late 1970s, he produced tracks on several albums with Loleatta Holloway for Gold Mine/

Salsoul Records Salsoul Records is an American New York City based record label, founded by three brothers, Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre (the Cayre brothers). Salsoul issued about 300 singles, including many disco/post-disco 12-inch releases, ...

. He managed the former gospel singer and later married her. He died in Indianapolis,

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

in March 1982 at the age of 65 and was buried in the New Crown Cemetery.

Discography

As leader

* "Floyd's Guitar Blues" // "I'm Weak For You" ( Hy-Tone 29, 1947) – with Jo Jo Adams * "Around The Watch, Part 1" // "Around The Watch, Part 2" (Hy-Tone 30, 1947) – with Jo Jo Adams * "I Get The Blues Every Morning" // "Voodit" (Hy-Tone 31, 1947) – with Jo Jo Adams * "Blue Moods" // "Saturday Nite Boogie" ( Aristocrat 409, 1950; reissue:

Chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...

1439) * "Gloomy Evening" // "Floydynasty" (

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in W ...

48257, 1951) – with Horace Henderson * "After Hours" // "Me And You" (Decca 28208, 1952) – with Horace Henderson * "Don't Cry Baby" // "You May Be Trash To Someone (But Baby You're A Queen To Me)" (Decca 28801, 1953) – note: B-side by the Billy Valentine Trio (with

Mickey Baker MacHouston "Mickey" Baker (October 15, 1925 – November 27, 2012) was an American guitarist, best known for his work as a studio musician and as part of the recording duo Mickey & Sylvia. Early life Baker was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His ...

on guitar). * "Grandpa's Gully Rock" // "This Is A Miracle" ( Fortune 540, 1961) – with The Montclairs * "Getting Nowhere Fast" // "Soul Strut" (

604, 1968) * ''Floyd's Guitar Blues'' (Disques Black & Blue 33.046, 1972) – with

and Chris Columbo; reissued on CD as ''Relaxin' With Floyd (The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions)'' in 1996 by Black & Blue (BB-875). * "The Bump" // "I Want 'Cha To Let Me Come Home" (Aware/GRC 042, 1974) * "I Just Can't Give You Up" // "I Just Can't Give You Up (Instrumental Version)" (

Salsoul Salsoul Records is an American New York City based record label, founded by three brothers, Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre (the Cayre brothers). Salsoul issued about 300 singles, including many disco/ post-disco 12-inch releas ...

2001, 1975)

As sideman

With Jo Jo Adams (featured vocalist with Floyd Smith's Combo) *''The Chronological Jo Jo Adams 1946–1953'' (Classics 'Blues & Rhythm Series' #5083, 2004) – includes Smith's December 1946 six-side Hy-Tone session featuring the classic re-recording of "Floyd's Guitar Blues". With

Mildred Bailey Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker; February 27, 1907 – December 12, 1951) was a Native American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Queen of Swing", "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing". She recorded the songs " For Sentimenta ...

and Her Oxford Greys *''The Chronological Mildred Bailey 1939'' ( Classics #1187, 2002) – includes Bailey's March 1939 six-side

Vocalion Vocalion Records is an American record company and label. History The label was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Company, a maker of pianos and organs, as Aeolian-Vocalion; the company also sold phonographs under the Vocalion name. "Aeolian" was ...

session with Mary Lou Williams, Floyd Smith, John Williams, Eddie Dougherty. With Krazy Kris / Chris Columbo and The Swinging Gentlemen * "Floyd's Guitar Blues" // "Wishy Washy" (

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

4991, 1956) * "Oh Yeah!, Pt. 1" // "Oh Yeah!, Pt. 2" (King 5012, 1957) – with Johnny Hammond Smith With

Trio *''Here's Wild Bill Davis'' ( Epic LG-1004 0" LP 1954) *''On The Loose'' (Epic LN-1121 0" LP 1954) *''Wild Bill Davis At Birdland'' (Epic LN-3118, 1955) – reissued as ''Lullaby Of Birdland'' in 1972. *''Evening Concerto'' (Epic LN-3308, 1955) *''Wild Bill Davis On Broadway'' ( Imperial LP-9010, 1956) *''Wild Bill Davis In Hollywood'' (Imperial LP-9015, 1956) *''Impulsions'' (Disques Black & Blue 33.037, 1972) – reissued on CD in 1987 by Black & Blue (233.037). *''Midnight Slows Vol. 2'' (Disques Black & Blue 33.045, 1972) With

and His Combo *''Oops! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett'' ( Columbia CL-1814/CS-8614, 1962) With Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra *''The Chronological Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra 1949–1950'' (Classics #1168, 2002) – includes the 18-piece Gillespie orchestra's January 1950 four-side

Capitol A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity. Specific capitols include: * United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. * Numerous ...

session. With

Al Grey Al Grey (June 6, 1925 – March 24, 2000) was an American jazz trombonist who was a member of the Count Basie orchestra. He was known for his plunger mute technique and wrote an instructional book in 1987 called ''Plunger Techniques''. Care ...

*''Al Grey & Wild Bill Davis'' (Disques Black & Blue 33.041, 1972) – with

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (born Edward L. Vinson Jr.; December 18, 1917 – July 2, 1988) was an American jump blues, jazz, bebop and R&B alto saxophonist and blues shouter. He was nicknamed Cleanhead after an incident in which his hair was ...

With Earl Hines Swingtette *''The Chronological Earl Hines And His Orchestra 1947–1949'' (Classics #1120, 2000) – includes Hines' December 1948 four-side

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

session with Floyd Smith, Arvell Shaw,

Sid Catlett Sidney "Big Sid" Catlett (January 17, 1910 – March 25, 1951) was an American jazz drummer. Catlett was one of the most versatile drummers of his era, adapting with the changing music scene as bebop emerged. Early life Catlett was born in Eva ...

. With Andy Kirk and His Clouds Of Joy *''The Chronological Andy Kirk And His 12 Clouds Of Joy 1939–1940'' (Classics #640, 1992) – includes the Kirk orchestra's original Decca recording of "Floyd's Guitar Blues". *''The Chronological Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy 1940–1942'' (Classics #681, 1993) *''The Chronological Andy Kirk And His Orchestra 1943–1949'' (Classics #1075, 2000) With

Johnny "Hammond" Smith John Robert "Johnny Hammond" Smith (December 16, 1933 – June 4, 1997) was an American soul jazz and hard bop organist. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he was a renowned player of the Hammond B-3 organ so earning "Hammond" as a nickname, wh ...

*'' The Stinger'' (

Prestige Prestige refers to a good reputation or high esteem; in earlier usage, ''prestige'' meant "showiness". (19th c.) Prestige may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films * ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnet ...

PR-7408, 1965) – reissued on CD as ''Good 'Nuff'' in 2003 by Prestige (24282). With

Buddy Tate George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All A ...

*''Buddy Tate & Wild Bill Davis'' (Disques Black & Blue 33.054, 1972) – reissued on CD as ''Broadway'' in 1987 by Black & Blue (233.054). With Noble Watts Quintet *''Honkin', Shakin' & Slidin' (A Singles Collection 1954–1962)'' (Jasmine #3115, 2019) – includes Watts' first session ("Mashing Potatoes" // "Pig Ears And Rice" on DeLuxe 6066, 1954) as a leader with backing by the Wild Bill Davis Trio (Davis/Floyd Smith/Chris Columbo). With

Mary Lou Williams Mary Lou Williams (born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs; May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded more than one hundred records (in 78, 45, an ...

(featured pianist with Six Men & A Girl) *''The Chronological Mary Lou Williams 1927–1940'' (Classics #630, 1992) – includes Williams' January 1940 four-side Varsity session with Earl Thompson, Buddy Miller, Dick Wilson, Floyd Smith, Booker Collins, Ben Thigpen.

References

;Sources ;Further Reading *"Floyd Smith". '' Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2nd ed, 2001. *

John Chilton John James Chilton (16 July 1932 – 25 February 2016) was a British jazz trumpeter and writer. During the 1960s, he also worked with pop bands, including The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Escorts. He won a Grammy Award for Best Album Notes in 1 ...

, ''Who's Who of Jazz''. 1972. {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Floyd 1917 births 1982 deaths American jazz guitarists Musicians from St. Louis 20th-century American guitarists Guitarists from Missouri American male guitarists Jazz musicians from Missouri 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Jeter-Pillars Orchestra members Decca Records artists Black & Blue Records artists