Monday 26 January 2015

Huey "Piano" Smith born 26 January 1934


Huey "Piano" Smith (January 26, 1934 – February 13, 2023) was an American rhythm and blues pianist whose sound was influential in the development of rock and roll.

His piano playing incorporated the boogie styles of Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, and Albert Ammons; the jazz style of Jelly Roll Morton; and the piano playing of Fats Domino. At the peak of his game, Smith epitomized New Orleans R&B at its most infectious and rollicking, as showcased on his classic signature tune, 'Don't You Just Know It.

Smith was born Huey Pierce Smith, in New Orleans' Garden District, and was influenced by the innovative work of Professor Longhair. He became known for his shuffling right-handed break on the piano that influenced other Southern players.  Smith wrote his first song on the piano, "Roberson Street Boogie" (named after the street where he lived), when he was only eight years old, and performed the tune with a friend. They billed themselves as Slick and Dark. Smith attended McDowell High and Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. When Smith was fifteen he began working in clubs and recording records with his flamboyant partner, Eddie Jones, who rose to fame as Guitar Slim. When he was eighteen, in 1952, he signed a recording contract with Savoy Records, which released his first known single, "You Made Me Cry". In 1953 Smith recorded with Earl King. 

In 1955, Smith turned 21, and became the piano player with Little Richard's first band for Specialty Records. The same year he also played piano on several studio sessions for other artists such as Lloyd Price.Two of the sessions resulted in hits for Earl King ("Those Lonely Lonely Nights"), and Smiley Lewis ("I Hear You Knocking"). 

In 1957, Smith formed 'Huey 'Piano' Smith and His Clowns' with Bobby Marchan, and signed a long term contract with former Specialty record producer, Johnny Vincent at Ace Records. They hit the Billboard charts with several singles in succession, including "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu". The lyrics were written by John Vincent, and the record sold over one million copies, achieving gold disc status.
 
In 1958, Vin Records, a subsidiary of Ace Records, released a popular single "Little Chickee Wah Wah" with Clowns singer Gerri Hall, under the billing of Huey and Jerry. Meanwhile, Ace Records released several more singles from 'Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns', including "We Like Birdland", "Well I'll Be John Brown", and "Don't You Know Yockomo." (Later, in 1964, New Zealand artist Dinah Lee took her cover version of this last song to number 1 in both New Zealand & Australia.) 



The Clowns' most famous single, released in 1958, was "Don't You Just Know It" b/w "High Blood Pressure." This hit number 9 on the Billboard Pop chart and number 4 on the Rhythm and Blues chart. It was their second million seller. 

In 1959, Ace Records erased Huey Smith's vocal track from the now classic single Smith composed, arranged and performed entitled "Sea Cruise", and replaced it with a vocal track by white singer Frankie Ford. The tune was a huge hit for Ford. 

Smith left Ace Records for Imperial Records, to record with Fats Domino's noted producer (and fellow Louisianan) Dave Bartholomew, but the national hits did not follow. Instead, Ace Records again overdubbed new vocals by Gerri Hall, Billy Roosevelt and Johnny Williams on another one of Smith's unreleased tracks, to produce the last hit single credited to Huey "Piano" Smith, entitled "Pop-Eye". 

Smith spent part of the '60s recording for Instant and touring not only with the Clowns, but alternate groups the Hueys and the Pitter Pats as well. Unable to return to the charts, he eventually converted to the Jehovah's Witnesses and left the music industry permanently. In 2000, Smith was honored with a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. He died at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on February 13, 2023, aged 89. 

(Info mainly edited from Wikipedia)

6 comments:

D said...

Sadly, just heard Huey "Piano" Smith just passed away on Feb 13, 2023.
By chance BB, a new link?
Thanks,
-D

boppinbob said...

Sorry Denis, Can’t find the file BUT I have reconstructed this better play-list for your perusal.

For “Huey Piano Smith - The Singles & Albums Collection 1953-62 (2021 Acrobat)” go here:

https://www.imagenetz.de/er5AS

01. Huey Smith - You're Down With Me
02. Huey Smith - You Made Me Cry
03. Huey "Piano" Smith and Rhythm Aces - Everybody's Whalin'
04. Huey "Piano" Smith and Rhythm Aces - Little Liza Zane
05. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu - Pt 1
06. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu - Pt 2
07. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Just A Lonely Clown
08. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Free, Single And Disengaged
09. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Don't You Just Know It
10. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - High Blood Pressure
11. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Havin' A Good Time
12. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - We Like Birdland
13. Huey & Jerry - Little Chickee Wah Wah
14. Huey & Jerry - I Think You're Jiving Me
15. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Don't You Know, Yockomo
16. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Well, I'll Be John Brown
17. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Would You Believe It (I Have A Cold)
18. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Genevieve
19. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Dearest Darling
20. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas And The Sinus Blues
21. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Beatnik Blues
22. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - For Cryin' Out Loud
23. Huey Smith - I Didn't Do It
24. Huey Smith - They Kept On
25. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - She Got Low Down
26. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Mean, Mean, Man
27. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Pop-Eye
28. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Scald-Dog
29. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - The Little Moron

boppinbob said...

CD2

01. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Someone To Love
02. Huey Smith And The Clowns - Behind The Wheel - Part 1
03. Huey Smith And The Clowns - Behind The Wheel - Part 2
04. Huey Smith And The Clowns - More Girls
05. Huey Smith And The Clowns - Sassy Sara
06. Huey "Piano" Smith - Don't Knock It
07. Huey "Piano" Smith - Snag-A-Tooth Jeanie
08. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Talk To Me, Baby
09. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - If It Ain't One Thing, It's Another
10. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Hush Your Mouth
11. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Somewhere
12. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Rockin' Behind The Iron Curtain
13. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Somebody Put A Tack (In My Cotton Pickin' Chair)
14. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Doin' The Beatnik Twist
15. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - We Want Him Under Alimony
16. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Susie Q
17. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - I Tried
18. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Twas The Night Before Christmas
19. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Almost Time For Santa
20. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Rock & Roll Santa Claus
21. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Doing The Santa Claus
22. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Why Did I Do (Wa-Do-Do)
23. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Somebody Told It
24. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Psycho
25. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - I Didn't Do It
26. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Heart Trouble (Part I)
27. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - The Hill Ain't Far
28. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - Able Mabel
29. Huey "Piano" Smith And His Clowns - I Don't Play Like That

RFelis said...

Hello, please can you reactive the file? Thanks

boppinbob said...

Hi RFelis....here's Huey
https://www.imagenetz.de/mdnnV

RFelis said...

Great!! All the best
Ramon