Background
Smith was born in San Diego, California to parents, Lon Smith and Constance Farmer, who were vaudeville performers and encouraged his interest in music
Smith was born in San Diego, California to parents, Lon Smith and Constance Farmer, who were vaudeville performers and encouraged his interest in music
He performed in various genres of jazz, most typically bebop, but is best known as an accompanist of singers, especially Ella Fitzgerald. He began studying piano at age 8, and led a jazz band in high school and became a professional musician at 19 with the Johnny Richards band. After playing with Richards in 1941 and spending 1943 to 1945 in the military, Smith worked with Les Paul (1946–1947) and Tommy Dorsey (1947–1949) before moving to Los Angeles and becoming a studio musician.
Smith recorded frequently both with his trios and as a soloist.
In addition he is featured on work of artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Anita O"Day, Buddy DeFranco, Louie Bellson, Steve Allen, Stan Kenton, Mel Tormé and others He was the musical director on The Steve Allen Comedy Hour television show in the 1960s.
Between 1956 and 1978, Smith was active as a conductor and pianist for Ella Fitzgerald, although he continued to work with her until the early 1990s. Smith authored a number of educational books and CDs, most of which focus on explaining his particular approach to jazz piano.
He also worked on film scores and his playing can be heard on the soundtracks of They Shoot Horses, Don"t They? and Nickelodeon among some others
Smith died on June 29, 2013, in Torrance, California of heart failure. He was 91 and performed in Southern California nightclubs, including The Velvet Turtle in Redondo Beach during the 1980s and the Terranea Resort hotel until his death.