Christopher M. Smith (October 12, 1879 – October 4, 1949) was an American composer and popular

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

performer.

Biography

Smith was born in

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...

. He started traveling with

medicine show Medicine shows were touring acts (traveling by truck, horse, or wagon teams) that peddled "miracle cure" patent medicines and other products between various entertainments. They developed from European Charlatan, mountebank shows and were common ...

s when he was young and joined

Vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

, where he performed with Elmer Bowman and

Jimmy Durante James Francis Durante ( , ; February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, Lower East Side New York accent, accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced son ...

. He also wrote music for Bert Williams. Smith died in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

on October 4, 1949.

Selected works

Smith composed many songs, including the following: * "Good Morning Carrie", lyrics by Cecil Mack (pseudonym of Richard Cecil McPherson), music by Smith & Euday L. Bowman; Windsor Music Co. (1901); * "Mandy, You and Me!" Smith and James H. Burris ''(né'' James Henry Burris; 1876–1923) (w&m); Attucks Publishing Company (©1905); * "Honky Tonky Monkey Rag" Words and Music by Chris Smith, 1911 * "Junk Man Rag", lyrics by Smith & Ferdinand E. Mierisch, music by Charles Luckyth Roberts ("Luckey"); Jos. W. Stern & Co. (1913); * "Fifteen Cents", Words and Music by Chris Smith, 1913 * " Ballin' the Jack", lyrics by Jim Burris ''(né'' James Henry Burris; 1876–1923), music by Smith; Jos. W. Stern & Co. (1913); * "Never Let the Same Bee Sting You Twice", Cecil Mack (pseudonym of Richard Cecil McPherson), music by Smith; Broadway Music Corporation (1916); * "Down in Honky Tonk Town", music & lyrics by Smith & Charles R. McCarron (1891–1919); Broadway Music Corporation (1918); * "I've Got My Habits On", lyrics by Smith & Bob Schafer, music by Jimmie Durante; Goodman & Rose, Inc. (1921); † * "At the Honky-Tonk Steppers' Ball", lyrics & music by Smith & Jimmie Durante; Goodman & Rose, Inc. (1921); † * "The Camel Walk", lyrics by Cecil Mack & Bob Schafer; music by Smith & James Tim Brymn; Broadway Music Corporation (1925); Note * † – Goodman & Rose, Inc., was a New York music publishing firm founded by Frank Goodman and Justus Rose

References

External links

Chris Smith Biography by Tom Morgan
*
Chris Smith recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database catalog of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The 78rpm era was the time period in which any flat disc records were being played at ...

.
Chris Smith recordings
at the UCSB Cylinder Audio Archive. 1879 births 1949 deaths 20th-century American composers 20th-century African-American male actors 20th-century American male actors African-American composers African-American male composers American vaudeville performers 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century African-American musicians {{US-composer-19thC-stub