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Dr. Lonnie Smith (1942–2021)

Lonnie Smith (July 3, 1942 – September 28, 2021), styled Dr. Lonnie Smith, American jazz, soul-jazz and funk Hammond B-3 organist. Member of the George Benson Quartet in the 1960s, Blue Note solo artist, and later owner of his own label, Pilgrimage. Named organist of the year by the Jazz Journalists Association nine times.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]

Early years

  • Born in Lackawanna, New York; raised in a family vocal group with a radio program — gospel, classical and jazz all came through his mother.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]
  • Sang in 1950s vocal ensembles including the Teen Kings (with Grover Washington Jr.); Art Kubera, a local music-store owner, gave Smith his first organ — a Hammond B-3.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]

Career milestones

  • 1965: moved to New York City; 1966: formed the George Benson Quartet, featuring Lonnie Smith, after meeting Benson (ex-Jack McDuff band). Two Benson-led albums, It's Uptown and Cookbook.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]
  • 1967: first solo album, Finger Lickin' Good Soul Organ (Benson and Melvin Sparks on guitar); appeared on Lou Donaldson's Blue Note hit Alligator Bogaloo.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]
  • 1968: signed by Blue Note; five albums including Think! and Turning Point (both with Lee Morgan and Melvin Sparks), the live Move Your Hand (1969) and Live at Club Mozambique (1970).^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]
  • 1971: one album for CTI's Kudu subsidiary; mid-1970s with producer Sonny Lester's Groove Merchant/LRC labels, moving through jazz, soul, funk, fusion and disco.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]
  • Over 30 albums under his own name; sidemen ranged from Lee Morgan and King Curtis to Joey DeFrancesco and Joe Lovano.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]
  • 2015: rejoined Blue Note after 45 years — Evolution (2016), All in My Mind (2018), and Breathe (2021) with guest vocals from Iggy Pop.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-dr-lonnie-smith.md]
  • jimmy-smith — the tradition he extended into funk-oriented soul jazz
  • hammond-b3 — his instrument from a gift B-3 onward
  • jimmy-mcgriff — fellow Sonny Lester/Groove Merchant organ star