Smith, Buster (Henry)

Smith, Buster (Henry) , jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, guitarist; b. Alfdorf, Tex., Aug. 24, 1904; d. Dallas, Tex., Aug. 10, 1991. Brother of pianist Boston Smith, he was a mentor and early influence on Charlie Parker. He began playing piano and organ, then switched to clarinet in late teens. Smith worked with the Voddie White Trio (c. 1922), and began doubling on alto sax. Smith gigged with many bands in Dallas, then went to Oklahoma City in 1925 as a member of the Blue Devils, then led by trombonist Emir Coleman, and later by Walter Page. Smith remained in the band until late 1933, then went to Kansas City to join the Bennie Moten-George E. Lee Band. He worked briefly with Buster Moten (1935), then co-led the Barons of Rhythm with Count Basie. Smith left Kansas City late in 1936 to join Claude Hopkins (then in Iowa). Returned to work with Count Basie as staff arranger, worked briefly with Andy Kirk, then returned to Kansas City to lead his own band. He worked with trumpeter Dee “Prince” Stewart early in 1938, then from summer 1938 led his own band again. Left Kansas City in September 1938, moved to N.Y, worked as an arranger for Gene Krupa and Hot Lips Page, and did extensive gigging on alto and clarinet. Led his own band in Va. in 1939, then worked in N.Y. with Don Redman, Eddie Durham, and Snub Mosley, among others. Returned to Kansas City in 1942, formed his own band, which had a long residency at the Club Shangri-La. From the 1940s on, Smith led his own band in Tex., Okla., and Ark.; in 1959 his band recorded an LP in Fort Worth, Tex. He lived in semi-retirement in South Dallas from the 1970s.

Discography

The Legendary Buster Smith (1959).

—John Chilton , Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter